Redsand Canyon I could let you have it

The medic opened up more than he had anticipated, not that he minded; he was in awe of it actually. He could never be that honest about his past, especially with someone he didn't know very well. She told him of her mother and how she had died and how her father had sold her into a marriage to a terrible man—that had him clenching his jaw. He didn't know her very well yet, but still, he could see her kindness; he knew she didn't deserve that.

He understood why she had to leave, and now Mereo had gained a highly skilled healer. But he felt for her. His icy walls melted some. I'm sorry, he offered. About your mother. Mine died when I was very young, so I can understand on some level. Her loss seemed more devastating, considering she had actually grown up to know her mom, but in the end, they had both been robbed of a parent.

Now it was the auxillary's turn to be honest. Aquene asked what had earned him a punishment. He was ashamed of it, and he didn't want to tell her, but neither did he want to lie after she had been so open about her past. Um, well— He paused as he searched for the words. I broke the rules. While I was away from the canyon, I was with a woman. It's possible that she could be pregnant now, although she was gone before I knew anything about her. It sounded even worse to put it all into words. The imperator does not allow children to be born to the auxillia outside of marriage. He couldn't look at her as he went down his familiar spiral of shame. So he punished me to teach me self control. It might seem harsh to some, but Kallik had learned his lesson. I have no intention of breaking the rules again.