Once crossing the golden brick street, Maria and I entered our first store. I noticed Mike and Matt mingled close nearby.
Mostly the two Primary men kept watching over the ladies and one newborn making sure they were safe.
As Maria and I shopped she shared with me. "Matt and Mike are the true jokesters of the clan. They can help uplift a lot of spirits. That's why they're in charge of the slaves and servants. These guys are really nice and they are very gentle with what they do. Right now they're trying to get you to be more comfortable around them. The guys can tell you are scared and nervous around them."
But I rolled my eyes, peeking at the men farther across the store, and said. "Yeah, I kinda figured that. Even though, I didn't get most of the jokes."
While looking through the short-length dresses, Maria reassured me."Trust me, you'll get used to them. Before too long you'll start laughing hysterically over their jokes."
I giggled, "maybe." If anything I felt overwhelmed by them but I wasn't about to admit that to Maria.
Maria added as she shuffled through the dresses. "Keep in mind, if you're ever in distress or upset about something they're really good to talk with. They offer a lot of good advice. After having Clara and this little guy. My emotions were so off, I was stressed and exhausted. I almost lost my mind, I was practically chewing John's head off all the time from it. I was off my rocker but Mike and Matt helped John and me. That's how we recently ended up owning the two slaves. They help me with the baby and Clara."
"Sounds like it," I told her as I was browsing the dresses.
"It's also part of Matt's and Mike's Division field job to help the married women who are pregnant, servants, or slaves. Those men under Mike's and Matt's Division, help comfort the servants and slaves during their pregnancy and after. They're kinda like the counselors of the Kingdom or alienists the other guys might call them. Matt and Mike work well with women and children. If you allow them, Sally they could help you with adjusting to your new home." Maria explained.
But I only asked kinda frustrated and scared "Could they help me get out of this marriage and just let me be free?"
"No, but they could help you adjust better to the idea of marrying Cory." Feeling bad, Maria said sweetly.
Hearing this only caused my face to turn frailer.
"Listen, Sally. No one can stop Cory from wanting to marry you." Maria spoke gently facing me.
"This isn't what I wanted, Maria," I stressed. "I wanna be free."
"Sally, Don't you see Cory is giving you freedom?" Maria spoke with her hands. "These guys are just over there protecting us. They aren't telling us what to do or what not to do. Although yes, sometimes they will for safety reasons most likely. Not because they're taking your freedom. It's their job to keep you safe. And trust me you want to be protected. You don't want a scavenger getting ahold of you or anybody else like the Kingdom's enemy. Within this area, we are in, it's more common that the scavengers could take you." Maria tried telling me.
Now I wanted to change the topic and veered the conversation elsewhere as I searched for dresses. "Maria, what is a scavenger?" I asked. "Everyone keeps mentioning scavengers but I don't know who they are. I've never heard of one."
Browsing within the same clothing rack like me, Maria explained. "A scavenger is a group of men who look out to kidnap women and children. Especially if your from the Kingdom or Baron Society. Before selling the women they usually torment us for fun. Afterward, they sell us to illegal markets or auctions. From there you can be shipped off to a different planet to any of these galaxies. It's unlikely that you would ever see your family again. They're very dangerous to children and women. But Kingdom men aren't intimated by the scavengers. In fact, it's the other way around. Scavengers are intimated by Kingdom men. For the most part, scavengers won't mess with the men from a Kingdom."
"Okay, that sounds Scary!" I said as my eyes gaped in fear.
But Maria said smiling at me "See. Being part of the Kingdom you get protection. These average, commoners, and other society hybrid-people don't have the same protection from them living in their community. Other Societies have to deal with these dangerous threats in their own way with being untrained."
I nodded to her information and understood what Maria was saying. But I still can't handle the idea of marrying someone, I didn't know. Let alone that someone just so happens to be a very powerful Primary King. I can't wrap my mind around this idea and I just want to leave. I felt tears wanting to flow from my eyelids. But I held them back by swallowing hard. It didn't take me long to stiffen up and be strong. I then glanced at Maria to notice she may have found a beautiful yellow and pink flowered dress. Well, beautiful for her that is. Since I wasn't a fan of the color pink. But I acknowledge pink was Maria's favorite color.
Maria held it up to herself beaming even more. When she draped it up to her body. Samuel got covered behind it from inside his carrier blanket. I giggled some to see it.
"Hey, Sally. Come with me to the changing room. I want to try this dress on." Maria asked with this exhilaration in her tone.
I giggled in a gesture and followed her into the changing room.
Just outside it Matt and Mike took knowledge that the ladies went inside. Both Primaries stepped near the changing room door making sure they would be safe.