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three missing men arrived in time for their midday meal, looking as if they'd awakened minutes earlier. Their uniforms were rumpled and they smelled of beer and sweat. I didn't ask them where they'd been. Sitting down at one of the tables in the kitchen, they arrogantly waited for their meal to be placed in front of them. They ate while I put the other plates together and handed those meals to a different set of five women.
    "We just wanted to tell you that dinner last night was excellent," one of the women told me. "I don't think I've ever eaten this well, before."
    "It was the best I could do with the supplies I had," I replied. "We'll have shaved ox-roast for dinner tonight. I hope you like it."
    "Shaved ox-roast? That sounds naughty," one of my three helpers snickered.
    "It could be, if you're speaking in the traditional sense," I muttered, kneading dough. The three men stuffed their faces without another word, left their plates sitting on the counter and took off again.
    * * *
    "Do you have enough for six extra plates? We're entertaining," the third set of five women showed up to get the dinner trays.
    "Yes," I nodded. I had enough for eight additional plates but no more than that. Hastily I prepared an extra six meals and my visitors went away with plates of shaved ox-roast in brown sauce with tiny vegetables, fruit and fresh rolls. There was wine in the pantry and I sent something that would go well with the meat dish. That was the night I met two of the Rangers who worked at the outpost. They came with the five women to return the trays.
    "May I ask your name?" The first Ranger stood across the counter from me as I wiped down surfaces. He stood at six blocks tall with short, dark hair and a neatly trimmed beard.
    "I am Reah," I said, not meeting his eyes. I felt safer that way.
    "Reah, that was the best meal I've gotten at this gods-forsaken hole," he said. "I am Bel, and this is my fellow Ranger, Delvin." The other Ranger was grinning as I looked up at him briefly. He also had dark hair but his eyes were brown, whereas Bel's were a green-gold. Delvin was slightly shorter than Bel, too.
    "Most pleased to meet you," I nodded in a noncommittal fashion. I had no desire for them to find that I wasn't on Mandil legally, or to be hauled off to the Prince Royal for sentencing as a result.
    "You can come and have dinner with us again," one of the women traced a finger down Delvin's cheek in a suggestive manner. I turned away so I wouldn't have to watch.
    Yes, I knew about sex—my dayschool classes had included instruction on reproduction while I was learning. I'd also seen men bring their wives, lovers and companions—male and female—the whole time I'd worked in the kitchens at Desh's. Edan had made me afraid of almost every male. Anyone who'd attempted to approach me saw me shying away from them. Even a few recruits during my basic military training had approached. I had backed away quickly, too frightened to allow them a chance. Perhaps love and sex were meant for others. I truly had no desire to be treated as Edan had treated his female companions.
    Busying myself with putting away pots and pans, my visitors were gone when next I looked up. Breathing a relieved sigh, I made my way to the small bathing room just outside my bedroom, cleaned up and fell into bed, exhausted.
    That became my life for the next two eight-days. Rising early to prepare meals—not finishing until late at night. Guards patrolled the entire post while I slept; I knew that. I couldn't say whether it made me feel safer or not, I just knew that it was. The women had started asking regularly for extra plates of food for the evening meals until it reached twelve in number. I automatically prepared an extra twelve meals, now. My three helpers only showed up for meals, disappearing immediately after and never bothering to take their plates and glasses to the sink for washing. I came to think of them as pigs and figured I knew why they were being