Chapter 59

Everyone at the keepers was excited to see me, except the keepers, who looked at me askance. My accident had evidently gotten them in trouble, but not killed I was glad to see. The other girls were ecstatic to see me. Out of sight of the keepers, they examined my back.

Rose was particularly relieved. My lack of scarring proved the warriors still wanted me. The last beating she had seen had been much worse.

The girl they had lashed was from an aggressive planet where the women were warriors. She had tried to kill her owners as they slept. Rose had feared any lashing from the General would be that bad, but apparently what you did made a difference. Unlike me, that other girl had been sent back to the slavers.

Once everyone else dispersed we were able to talk more freely about the other problem. Fuji and Rose both told me when the warriors did things together it would help the bond grow.

“Right, they do everything together,” I said, “I can’t help them with that.