Redsand Canyon I never trusted my own eyes

not an ear moved. it was a study in mastery for the imperator, who realized very quickly that perhaps such things had not been greatly communicated. 

"yes." a pause. "there is a chance you will have fathered children with her. you are a man with no rank inside a territory not yet fully reformed. if i allowed every soldier away to impregnate a woman, our barracks would be strained with the children and would leave no room for those who are conceived properly. inside a marriage."

he did not know why this was not common sense. perhaps it was the gap of age between them. he had experienced the season several times now. it was kallik's first. it had been the same for glaukos, but that one was surly. riotous with his impulse. 

"you were not the only one to deviate this year. and you will not be the last. every midwinter to spring's end this will happen. learn discipline now."