Learned Them From You

Rastaban’s brow furrowed. “Pardon?”

Again with that velvet-soft laughter. “You didn’t realize it because you were a child, had never left your village, but --” She leaned in to whisper, so close her breath stirred his hair. “All those rumours you learned about the army of women - you didn’t hear them from your men. Your men learned them from you.” She stepped back, smirking, and Rastaban knew he must look utterly shocked. “After all, your mother taught you to respect the women who defended your nation.”

“My mother is dead,” Rastaban said flatly.

“Killed by the man you called father.”