"When, Nafretiri?" The noblewoman's voice, even in her shock, was almost gentle. "When were you going to tell me?"

Nafretiri wiped her running nose, taking a shaky breath. She took her time answering, because breathing still scared her so soon after throwing up. With every whoosh of air through her lungs, she still tasted acid in her mouth, on her breath.

"I hoped I wasn't!"

"And I hoped we'd never have to take this step. But once we did... I didn't realize how I'd feel," the lady admitted. "It's one thing to know a child isn't really- biologically- yours. It's another to see..."

"Your husband with another woman, my lady?" Nafretiri had been told a hundred times not to speak out of turn, but the woman didn't seem to be able to go on.

The lady sighed. "Not precisely. I mean, logically, I knew he'd have to be with one, but... you with your hand on your belly just now... this isn't right."

Nafretiri could only look confused. "I only did what he said."

"I know, but... it isn't right. What if it doesn't look like him at all? Could I love it?"

"Forgive me, my lady, but surely you had to know there would be that chance. And the law says he can do as he likes with us- the slaves, I mean. Everyone else you socialize with would understand, surely."

"I know. And yet..."

Nafretiri thought, after a minute, that she likely knew where her mistress was going with this conversation at last. Thank the gods, because she might throw up again soon.

"They will know that you can't...that it's not him who can't...." She couldn't say the words.

"Yes."

Nafretiri cocked her head. "He knows, but they don't?"

The lady nodded, and Nafretiri understood. "It is much the same at ho- in Judea. Women who cannot have children are shunned by society there as well. As if it's their fault instead of...something that goes wrong because... because..." There was really no other explanation for Nafretiri but that the gods had allowed it, but she knew better than to say it aloud. For what purpose would any god allow this- even her El Shaddai, as pointless as believing in Him had seemed?

No. Not Nafretiri's El Shaddai. Rivkah's. Rivkah was gone. That part of her life was gone.

"Nafretiri," the lady said with a sigh. "I can fix this, but only by freeing you."

Even though she longed to be free, Nafretiri knew it would be useless. She couldn't go home to that restricting life where even romance was not allowed for those such as she was now.

Not virgin.

Tainted.

But virgin in the eyes of the law, in a paradox that drove her crazy just thinking about it. And any virgin who defiled herself was considered an adulteress. And the penalty for adultery was death by stoning.

Yet she could not stay here, in Egypt, without knowing a place where she could go.

"What do you suggest I do?"

"Go to the temples, and the further from here the better. For while I will not seek the child, my husband may."

"Doesn't he have to be the one to free me?"

"Well- but there are ways."

She wondered if the lady meant forgery, and questioned whether or not she would really be free if that happened. Still, it was something.

"When shall I leave?"

"Tonight," the lady replied.

She wouldn't get very far, being somewhat night blind. Still, she sensed the truth in what the lady was suggesting. At least she could be somewhere before the next day.

Somewhere where she could be free.