The Skollsens were camped just to the right of their pavilion and Ben walked back with them most of the way. As soon as he veered away into his camp, Tanner shot daggers at Jonathan's back. "Will you talk now?" he begged.

"No." Jonathan ducked inside the pavilion.

Tanner let out an involuntary whine. It wasn't fair. You couldn't just drop a bombshell like that and then clam up. Who did that? Jonathan.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw a small dome tent, an old one of his, at the very edge of their campsite. Erica was up and, of course, she had gone to check on her slave girl, Myrna. The two sat close, Erica stroking the woman's hair. Tanner shook his head. Couldn't she see the woman was damaged? Of course, that was the attraction. Erica thought she could save her somehow. Still...

He ducked inside and set his water container down. The others were mostly risen already, Aaron, Arthur and all three packs were gathered in the pavilion. With the sleeping mats shoved around the perimeter or used as seats, there was enough room for all. Amanda was at the stove. Jonathan pouring water into a pot that she held. "Oatmeal be done quick," she shot at Tanner as he ducked back outside. He nodded.

He headed for Erica and Myrna. They broke apart but stayed close. "Oatmeal be ready in a few," he said. Erica looked at Myrna uncertainly. "I'll bring it out," he added. She nodded.

They talked of nothing for awhile. Brianna stuck her head out and shouted at them.

"Wait here," Tanner said. He went back and got three bowls. Aunt Valerie raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. As he settled down next to Erica and Myrna he decided their wouldn't be a better opening. "Myrna, I was wondering about a certain slave."

She gave him a sly look. "You want this slave? Most ask the owner, make some arrangement. Some prefer to sneak, get it on the sly."

"No, not like that. I want information about her. That's all." He did want to play, but not like this. He'd thought about the things Robbie and Greg had told him. He got excited by some of it, but the thought that the other person might be getting really hurt, not be enjoying it, made his stomach queasy. Besides as much he was angered by Greg's crude jokes about every submissive starting out thinking they were dominant, his thoughts had a contrary inclination to shift on him, to being tied or led, forced to do stuff. It was messing with his head, but he knew better than to think this was the place to sort that shit out. "Her name is Grace. I don't know much else. She's Leidulf. Kin."

"If she's a slave," Myrna said. "She's no longer your kin."

"We aren't like that," Erica barked. "We protect our kin. Shelter them. If there is Leidulf kin here, we would go to war to get her back." She looked to Tanner for support.

"Most of us are like that," Tanner muttered. He glanced at their pavilion.

"Who is it?" Erica asked.

"Can I trust you? Serious?"

Both women nodded. Tanner thought a moment, but he needed to get it off his chest and they seemed the most likely to keep his secret. "Grace Sage. Jonathan's sister. The one dad kicked out for not converting. I just need to know how she got here. What's she doing with them."

Myrna nodded. "I don't know this one. But I'm still a slave to them, collar or no. I can find her. Friend her. For you."