Chapter 111

The cold wind in the mountains whipped around us and I was glad for my outfit. Someone lifted the hood up so my head stayed warmer. Master Damien took a hand and slipped a mitten on it. Master Bane did the same with my other hand.

They didn't know everything about the mining. It was hard work, the men could not do it. Master Christof had been curious so she had taken him to see an active mine lower down the mountain.

Nu-reeh told them you earned the right to work. Once you were producing you may earn the right to mate. Once they were old enough some women kept men, like Nu-reeh and some women just rented breeders. If the women were lucky those breedings resulted in offspring.

The men weren't sure how the women put the boys together once they were born. All they knew was that once a boy was joined into a family the mothers sold the five of them. They were very particular about where their sons went. Women that owned men were strong and protective, that's how it was a