Page 10 of First (After the End #1)

THE LAW

Excerpt from the Statute Book, Version XII

(Transcription approved by the Council of Elders)

Section: The Right of the First Night

…and it is therefore to strengthen the bonds between the Great Houses and the military class, to acknowledge that without the leadership of the general of the army, the survival of those who dwell in the stronghold would be impossible, and to offer a symbol of gratitude to those who regularly risk their lives for the civil population, that we grant the general such a right.

In summary, at their discretion, the current general of the army has the legal right to request the presence of the mate of any person of noble birth who lives in the stronghold.

This right is limited to the first night following the mating ceremony.

Once the mate is escorted to the general’s quarters, the general has the right to make use of them for the duration of the night.

Examples of use include, but are not limited to sexual, domestic, and other recreational activities.

The mate may not be harmed beyond what is reasonable during this time.

The general will return the mate to the rightful spouse the following morning.

In the event sexual relations occur, any children conceived and born of such encounters will be considered the offspring of the mated couple, regardless of their genetic parentage, and they will be raised in the household of the mate and their spouse.

Denial of the Right of the First Night will trigger immediate execution of the individual who raised the objection.