"Lord Kevin."

It was the sergeant again. I waved him to come and not to kneel.

"The Sobeck force has split in two, Milord," he said. "Half seems to be advancing toward Sir Ishen's caves while the other still heads this way. There are humans in the group heading here."

"Is Orvin leading them?"

"No, Milord," he replied. "It is Sir Ishen."

My brain must be tired. I should have thought of that. Maybe this wasn't some final assault.

"Assume them to be friendly," I said. "Do not make any attacks until they begin them. Pass that on to Sir Lucian. Understood?"

"Yes, Lord Kevin."

Nathan gave me a scared look. "Are you sure?"

"No," I replied. "I'd like it better if Orvin were dead."

Nathan swallowed and nodded.

It was only a couple of minutes later when Ishen approached with the usual two Sobecks flanking him, both carrying spears, and the sergeant limping next to them. Add another sergeant on the other side, and this had a resemblance to the Aussie attack back at the Dome. Hopefully, it was just paranoia kicking in.

"Good news, Lord Kevin," Ishen lisped. "I have recovered the human captives."

"That is good news," I replied. I felt like I was still holding my breath, like another shoe needed to drop. "How did you manage that?"

"When Orvin attacked here, my forces moved north and took over his encampment. Most gave up, so there was little bloodshed, unlike here. Orvin didn't leave reserves behind." He gave me a toothy smile.

"So...bring the captives here," Nathan said.

Ishen glanced at one of his guards, who jogged away.

I asked, "These are the ones who were taken during the last few months?"

"Yes, Lord Kevin," Ishen replied. "Understand that not all of them survived. We do have over a dozen, Milord. Unless they wish to live here with my people, I don't know what to do with them."

"And the Sobecks and Ilyen?"

"Mainly women and children, Lord Kevin. I am taking those as mine, if you have no objection."

I shrugged. "That works for me."

Heads with blond hair appeared over the rise, followed by more dark-haired people. A man around my age walked in the front, arms helping to support two women, one older, the other younger. All were blond, meaning they were probably all some sort of relation to some cavalier or higher. Clean clothes...cleaner than their bodies were, it looked like. Was Ishen doing a PR stunt here?

They all looked scared to death. If they looked at me like that, I wondered how it was when they were brought to Orvin. The commoners look scared, but not like these three.

"You need to separate those three from the others," Sinense whispered, suddenly next to me. "Keep the others here, and we'll take the first three to your tent, or maybe Cornelia's would be better."

I looked over to our mentors. "Lady Cornelia, I need to use your tent for a little while. Would that be okay?"

She gave me an amused nod, and Reginar seemed to be holding back a smile.

"Sir Ishen," I said. "Those common should stay here while the others come with us. Those here can be given food but have plates brought to Lady Cornelia's tent for our new guests."

He bowed with a flourish, then cut the first three out. His guard brought them behind us as we walked to Cornelia's tent. Once inside, I sat in one of the chairs while Tansy and Elspeth scrambled to their feet. Sinense sat in the chair next to me with Nathan on the other side, and the three former captives dropped to their knees, foreheads on the ground.

"There's been a lot of changes lately," I began. "Do you know who I am?"

"You're Lord Kevin of the Realm, Milord. I saw you in Suata," the younger girl responded. "I...I don't know the others, and I don't see Maid Elexus of the Realm, Milord. I told them that the Realm had returned, Milord, but they didn't believe me."

"How long ago were you captured?"

"It was three weeks ago for her." The man spoke this time, his voice trembling. He didn't raise his head from the ground.

"And who are you?" I supposed I should be talking to him first in this society.

"I am, or was, Sir Cizar, under Lord Boian," he replied. "I was captured two months ago when Fortis was attacked."

"And the two women with you," Sinense asked quietly.

"Lady Luli is to my right," Cizar said. "She was wife to the late Sir Durkin, also under Lord Boian, and captured when Dambu fell."

Luli let out an anguished sob.

"You're Teo's mother," I said, and she froze a second.

"Where is he?" Her voice shook.

"In Suata," Nathan replied, amazement sounding in his voice. "He's my page."

"He mustn't see me...ever. I must be dead to him."

"Why?" Sinense's voice was suddenly sharp.

"I'm defiled," she wailed, raising her head to look at Sinense. "I will bear one of the Sobeck beasts. I'm not fit to be his mother."

"I doubt that you're not fit, but we can discuss that later, Lady Luli. Just consider that you and the others are safe right now. Tell me who the younger woman is, Lady Luli."

"She is Maid Mircea, Maid Sinense of the Realm."

"I'm not a Maid," Mircea responded, head still on the ground. "Not now. Not ever again. I might even be pregnant. It's too early to know."

Sinense sighed theatrically. What was she doing now?

"Lady Luli, I require a lady-in-waiting. You shall take that position. Sir Cizar, Lord Nathan of the Realm requires a valet. I think you would be suitable if Lord Nathan agrees."

She glared at Nathan, who nodded. "Sure. That sound good...great, even. You're my valet."

"Maid Mircea," Cornelia said. "I wish you to be my Maid of Honor. You will serve me as such, and you will conduct yourself as befits a Maid to a Lady of the Realm. Do you understand?"

Cornelia smiled at me. "That is if this is all to your satisfaction, Lord Protector Kevin of Baemardis and of the Realm?"

I found myself nodding, then found my voice. "That...all that is satisfactory. Quite satisfactory."

Sinense had railroaded this through, with Cornelia's help, and I wouldn't have known what to do or how to do this. How would I, as a man, be able to tell them that none of that mattered or that it didn't matter enough in our eyes? Sinense didn't understand the word 'empowered' when I used it on her, but she did understand it. I doubted that any of these three believed it yet, but with time, maybe they would.

"Sir Cizar, if you would go with Lord Nathan," Cornelia said, "and if Lady Luli and Maid Mircea would stay with me tonight, Lady Luli can begin her duties with Maid Sinense in the morning."