Chapter 130

Nu-reed the tutors how you would know which Brother in a family sired the child, since the Brothers all wore the same mark. They snidely told me the Brothers were all numbered. They each were aware of what numerical symbol corresponded to them.

"How have you existed here this long and yet you don't realize that?" the lead Brother asked. "You must pay no attention at all."

I sat silently as they pondered my ignorance. In my head I heard Master Damien's outrage. Of course I didn't know the Brothers each corresponded to a numerical value. There was never a reason for me to know that. It was just a system the Child Keeper's used.

Information that was infrequently used came to my memory suddenly. Master Damien was number 1, Master Evan number 2, Master Kein was 3, Christof 4, and Master Bane 5. The number hand no other benefit than to help the Child Keeper's organize the raucous young boys.eh walked past us brushing boldly along Master Evan's chest. Her wings clattered