Chapter 203 The Dawn of a Warrior II (2/2)

Aegin sighed, ”Good. Because I'd rather have you look at me as the friends we've come to be”.

Ebony took Aegin's hand in her own, ”If I ever begin to look at you differently, tell me. Or, if it comes to it, I'll tell you my concerns first”.

”And I you,” Aegin replied.

”It's not so hard for me,” Ebony admitted.

”Perhaps not, but that doesn't mean it won't become that way,” Aegin said, ”We get through this together. Agreed?”

”Agreed,” Ebony responded.

In the silence between them as they held hands in the silence, Ebony whispered, ”They gave me an hour in here, I think they believe we're...you know...”.

”Together?” asked Aegin, ”Well, they can believe what they want. It's no longer our place to make them believe otherwise. And frankly it may be dangerous to make them believe otherwise”.

”So what should we do?” asked Ebony.

”Continue as we are,” Aegin replied, ”If they ever question why we're not being intimate. Just tell them that you'd rather not have a child here”.

Ebony paused for a moment, then nodded. They lapsed into silence once more before Ebony whispered her confession, ”I can't have children”.

Aegin turned to look at her in surprise, realising that he may have been too insensitive with his last comment, ”Shit, Ebony, sorry...I-”

”It's okay,” Ebony assured him, ”It wasn't until I tasted freedom that I even entertained thoughts of having children...they were more like dreams. My Masters made it so long ago that I would never have any”.

Aegin hesitated before he spoke, ”I would have thought the Masters would have liked the idea of...breeding their next generation of servants”.

Ebony scoffed, ”Some did. But prior to being sold to Jerrica I was intended to be sold to a Brothel when I came of age. Brothels, particularly higher class ones, look down on workers who suddenly can't work because they're with child”.

Aegin could understand the logic, he'd been in plenty of such brothels. But he hadn't ever thought about what it was like for those women.

”Well,” Aegin said, ”It's probably not any consolation to you, but I think you would have made a great mother”.

Ebony chocked on a laugh, ”Thanks, Aegin. You cold bastard”.

Aegin chuckled softly in reply.