When people talk about me from behind, they call me “bitch” and “shark.” I expected violence and humiliation after my pregnancy, but instead I received kindness and an illusion of freedom. In everyday life, General Shelter—by the nickname “Bloody”—turned out to be pleasant and sweet, and my heart couldn’t stand it: I fell in love with the conqueror. The fairy tale didn’t last long—master and slave see a “happy future” too differently. We said a lot of bitter things to each other, and now Shelter is somewhere far away, the Magistrate is frozen in anticipation of a new war, and I need to find a way to save myself, because intrigue swirls around the general—someone threatens his life, and it seems I’m about to get caught in the sweep. The whisper of the wind points me the way, but where does it lead? Maybe all this isn’t accidental, and someone is controlling us, moving us like pieces on a chessboard?