"Sir," he insisted, "lift your veil. I must see
your face."
31 "Please, Lord," the man pleaded.
32 "Come closer," ordered Red Cat, "so no one else can see. But I must
know why you hide your face."
33 Reluctantly the man obeyed, and what Red Cat saw sickened him. "Good
Lords, man!" he gasped, "What happened?"
34 "I was captured by the enemy," the man explained. "They wanted to
know the whereabouts of my camp. I would not tell them, so they used
their knives and did this. They were about to cut out my manhood and
put out my eyes, when my companions-in-arms rescued me. The Healers did
what they could, but some things are beyond their skills.”
35 "I will speak with these women," announced Red Cat. "You are
excused. Let them come forward. How old were you when you mated with
this man?"
36 The oldest one spoke. "I was almost twelve seasons," she announced,
"my sister was almost eleven."
37 "What did this man say to you when he asked you to mate with him?"
Red Cat continued.
38 "He said, Lord, that we had to come of our own free will, without
shame or fear. If we were ashamed of what he proposed, or, afraid, he
would have to withdraw his proposal. But if we would accept he would
make of us fine ladies, and fulfill our hearts' desires.
39 He would teach us to use our riches wisely, but he warned us that he
would never permit us to do evil. If we did, he would punish us.
40 Now, my sister spoke up and said, 'Sir, we are agreed. We will come
to you willingly, and without shame, but you cannot expect us to be
unafraid. We are both maidens. We have never known a man, and