A few steps later she followed her companions through a pair of large open doors into an enormous room. Windows lined opposite walls. A wide screen painted with scenes of lovemaking stood on a raised floor at the end of the room. The main floorspace was filled with girls.

Emerahl looked around, surprised to see so many. Some she had only met briefly since arriving at the brothel, others had introduced themselves and welcomed her warmly. There were girls here she had never seen before. As she scanned the faces she saw a distinctly masculine one, and realized that there were young men in the room as well as women. She hadn’t seen male whores here before, either.

“This is the dancing room,” Tide murmured. “Rozea has two or three big parties in here each year. Sometimes the king attends. Last year he—”

Her words were lost behind the clang of a bell. Faces turned toward the raised floor. Rozea had appeared. The madam waited until the room was quiet, then handed a large gold bell to Leaf.

“It is good to see you all in one place again,” she said, smiling. “So many lovely faces in one room.” Her gaze flickered around the room, then her expression became sterner.

“You will have all heard by now that Toren’s army will be leaving in a week to join the fight against the Pentadrian invaders. Many of our customers will be going to war to risk their lives for our sakes.” She paused, then smiled. “And we will be going with them.”

Emerahl felt her stomach sink. The last thing she needed to do was tag along after the very priests who wanted to find her. She would have to leave the brothel.

“Well, not all of us,” Rozea corrected. “Some of you will stay here. I’ll leave the choice up to you. We will travel as comfortably as we can. I have already arranged for tarns and tents to be made. Our customers will still be of the same quality and they expect a certain degree of luxury for their money.”

She smiled. “For some of you this will be a rare opportunity to travel outside Porin. You will also witness a great event. It is not every day you have the chance to see the White in battle. You may even, if you are lucky, meet one of them.”

Emerahl resisted a smile. Rozea was making tagging after an army sound like a wonderful adventure. There would be a lot of work, in rough and dangerous conditions. Surely none of these girls—and boys—were fooled by this pretty speech.

Her senses told her that the room was buzzing with excitement. Emerahl sighed. These young women and men know nothing of war, she reminded herself. There hasn’t been one in over a hundred years, from what I’ve heard.