She helped him remove his armor and prepared a clean shirt for him with practiced hands. "I heard the battle today was fierce, my lord."

"Fierce?" Eoch snapped, straightening his shirt. "We were butchered, Ali. Slaughtered."

The black-haired woman's fingertips fluttered to her lips. "Heavens above! That's... most unexpected. How many did we lose?"

"Nearly a hundred men." The Royal Knights Commander sank into a sturdy wooden chair, defeat heavy in his sigh. "Elite warriors, every damn one of them."

The black-haired courtesan knelt gracefully beside Eoch, her delicate hands settling over his battle-worn ones. "War is beyond Ali's understanding. I can only mourn them and offer prayers for their souls." I still don't even understand why he gave me this name. She squeezed his palm gently. "Ali knows only how to ease my lord's weariness," the courtesan smiled seductively, "with my body."

"Sit down, Ali." Eoch gently moved away the hands that sought to undress him. "Just talk with me."

"You are strange indeed, my lord." Ali's expression mixed amusement with vexation. "For several nights now, you've purchased my time yet haven't touched me. We talk, or read, or simply sit in silence. Why won't you take me, my lord?" Ali tensed, aware she'd overstepped by questioning the Royal Knights Commander thus. Yet the words continued to flow. The courtesan settled into another chair, awaiting his response.

"Very well." Eoch paused momentarily. "I purchase your time precisely for that - your time. Nothing more."

"Forgive me," the courtesan tucked a wayward strand behind her ear, "but I don't quite follow."

"I..." Eoch spoke as if each word were a shard of glass in his throat. "I buy your time... so no other man can have you. With coin, with power. Does that make it clear, Ali?"

The courtesan tilted her head, comprehension dawning slowly as nebulous emotions stirred within. "My lord, surely you don't..."

"It's not what you think." Eoch cut her off sharply. "I do care for you, Ali, but not in that way."

Black-haired Ali's shoulders slumped slightly. "In that case," she ventured boldly, "you could purchase me outright, my lord. Once freed, I need never be a camp follower again." How far would Lord Eoch go for me? Let me see... She quickly amended her words: "Oh, forgive my foolish thoughts... Please forget I spoke, my lord!"

"I've considered that path, Ali." The knight commander's profile looked haggard in the candlelight. "But it won't do."

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"Why not?" she pressed eagerly. "Because you belong to the Marquis of Brennoria." His fists clenched. "The Marquis doesn't appreciate others coveting his women." I've long yearned to escape that fat bastard's control. "But you're the Knights Commander, my lord!" The black-haired courtesan deliberately provoked him. "Surely there are few women in this world beyond your reach."

The Royal Knights Commander shook his head slightly. "Not with the Marquis of Brennoria. I won't risk any quarrel with him. He's Emperor William's chosen regent for Cynthia, once we claim it."

Boundless disappointment settled over the black-haired courtesan. "I see." She shrugged. "I'm grateful enough that you buy my time, my lord. That alone brings me joy." Ali forced a smile, though Eoch failed to notice. "But Ali still wonders about my lord's affection..." She studied his face carefully. "What kind is it, exactly?"

Eoch merely stared ahead, his eyes unfocused. "My lord?"

"Let's continue last night's story," Eoch turned slightly. "Where did I leave off?"

The black-haired girl knew she'd get no answer from him now. "You spoke of her pregnancy."

"Ah, yes." Eoch smiled, lost in memory rather than present reality. "She was pregnant." He drew a deep breath.

"My sweet daughter, Ali, was pregnant, and then..."

----------------------------------------

The playful night wind danced beneath the full moon, darting between campfires and teasing the shy flames to dance with him. Trout leaped from the river, eager to join their revelry. Three shadows stretched and shrank, taking strange shapes in the interplay of fire and wind. This news had struck them speechless.

"She was with child?" Tyler could barely credit his ears. "Lord Eoch's daughter was pregnant then?"

"And had been for some time," Devalosfang smoothed his wind-ruffled hair. "She conceived during the campaign. Before we reached Bridgehead Town, the village witch claimed ten months along, while our army physician said eight. Either way, her belly was so swollen you'd think it might burst. 'He'll be a strong boy,' she'd tell the soldiers, though she couldn't name the father. Even heavy with child, she performed her duties. Later, the supply captain, showing mercy, let her use her mouth or backside for the same price. She was grateful - she knew if pregnancy kept her from working, her traitor-branded father would starve. That girl worked endlessly, right until her final moment."

"They say... those savages do terrible things to female captives..."

"Rape then murder. That was mercy compared to what they did to her. The other camp followers died easily by comparison..." The squad leader bit his lip, momentarily unable to continue. "She was the last questioned that day. They dragged her by her black hair, forcing her to walk. Ready to birth any moment, each step was agony. When she wouldn't walk, they kicked her belly. When she couldn't answer their questions, they'd press her belly-down and spin her like a top. They'd laugh each time her waters leaked. But how could that girl understand their savage tongue!?" Devalosfang's spittle flew in his rage. "She was just a girl! A sweet black-haired girl! A girl with big dark eyes..." His voice faded as his sword hand whitened on the hilt. "She just looked at me, letting her tears fall in the dirt. She was already dead. She lay there, her belly caved in... The savages had stomped her... stomped her belly flat." Carl turned away, hand clamped over his mouth to hold back vomit. Tyler's fists clenched like stone. "They butchered her right in front of me... and I just stood there... frozen..." He sank to his haunches, his hands covering his face. "I couldn't... I didn't save her."