"Okay, well, the next question is, why was that woman you spoke with a while ago not wearing anything?"
The priestess looked at Beth like this was something else, maybe even something that Beth should have known already. Though if that was the case, she couldn't help but also wonder where she would have learned about that in the first place.
"I see you're not from the wealthier areas then," the priestess said after several minutes of just looking at Beth.
Although, Beth felt a little confused at what that last part had to do with anything. After all, it didn't take much money to just walk around without any clothing on.
"She was actually wearing a suit of pure aluthium armor. The thing about that metal is that it's completely transparent. As armor, it's very sturdy and just about the same strength as steel," the priestess said, sounding like she was making a sales pitch. "However, the style of wearing just the armor is from the scripture that says: Nothing is as beautiful as where life enters the world."
Beth felt like she was going to be sick. She didn't see how that scripture would be accurate. She certainly never thought of her reproductive organs as the 'most beautiful' thing ever. In fact, she felt it was more than a little weird, if not downright creepy to think of them as that. However, she tried to push her initial reaction back because this wasn't the culture she was used to or even considered hers, so she should judge.
Still, it was difficult for her to keep from letting any of her feelings about that show. She hoped that there was a mistake somewhere in the scriptures about that, even though she really had no idea where to even begin to verify that point. Which meant she needed to get out of there as soon as she could.
_
At the end of the day, Ralph couldn't help but feel satisfied about how much they'd been able to get from their 'performance.' Hesha did quite well, though Ralph had wondered about why she insisted on leaving her brother Frolla back at the inn.
While it wouldn't really hurt to have the place cleaner than it currently was, Ralph couldn't figure out what Frolla could do that would actually be useful. Unless Hesha expected her brother to just rest the entire day, though Ralph couldn't be sure that, that's the reason behind it.
For one thing, Hesha didn't actually give him instructions, just an assurance that they'd be back, when they left the inn. Ralph had thought that Frolla would be able to help collect the coins from people who wanted to give those as they listened, just like Hesha. Yet, when that didn't materialize, Ralph couldn't help but wonder what the reason behind it all would be.
When they returned at the end of the day, Ralph couldn't help but wonder if they'd have gotten just a little more if Frolla had joined them, but he wasn't going to complain. It wasn't like they were struggling to get by. Which was what Ralph had initially thought they'd be doing when they first started out.
When they returned to the inn, Ralph was happy to see that Beth was back and hat some of the slaves she'd purchased, in order to save them, weren't in the room anymore. The remaining ones that he could see were: Lily, Aerbris, Raeys, Serris, and Resith.
Ralph had hoped that more would have essentially disappeared, but he wasn't going to complain. It wasn't like he understood what was going through their heads anyway. Especially with how many things on this world were so backwards from what he was used to.
"So, did the church decide to buy them or did they decide to leave you?" Ralph asked when he saw that three of the slaves had disappeared. "Or did you send them out for some take-out or something?"
"Ha ha, Ralph," Beth replied dryly, eliciting a smile from him. "They chose to stay at the church and the priestess was willing to let them, though I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't end up essentially joining the church if they weren't already a member."
"Doesn't matter," Ralph replied, not caring to dwell on the subject.
"It could," Wes countered. "You never know when we might meet them next as well as if we might need to go back to that church or something."
Ralph rolled his eyes. He was confident with what he'd heard that they wouldn't need to worry about doing that. Not that he had any examples or reasons to point to, to justify that confidence.
"Whatever," Ralph remarked, not willing to say any more. He didn't really care either way. If they weren't with them, then he wouldn't need to worry about where they might be at any time or if something might have happened to them. While he would have been willing to just let them remain wherever they might be if they got in trouble, he was confident that Beth, and maybe even Wes, wouldn't feel the same. Which meant that he'd need to help out as well, regardless of that he felt about the matter.
–One thing bothers me, though.– Beth said using her magic, letting Ralph know she didn't want the others to hear this. –When we were leaving, I mentioned to the priestess about how I didn't really believe in miracles and she told me: 'Just because you can explain how a miracle happens, doesn't make it any less miraculous.'–
–What's wrong with that?– Wes asked.
Beth sighed as she walked over to where she'd established her bed on the floor, given there wasn't anything other than a pile or straw for a bed in the entire room to begin with.
–I don't know.– Beth said. –Maybe it's all of what she said, but that last statement seemed to hit me in a way I can't explain.– Beth was quiet for a minute, but Ralph was sure she wasn't done talking. –I don't know. Maybe I'm just tired and overthinking it.–
–Well, maybe she's meaning that you were the miracle to those you saved?– Wes asked, grinning like a fool.
–Maybe.– Beth answered, surprising Ralph.
He was confident that she was going to lash out in some way at Wes for his remark, but here she was letting it go as if she hadn't even noticed the sarcasm in his words.
–Best not to overthink it.– Ralph suggested. –You never know if we're going to need more rest than we usually get.–
–Don't worry, I'm not.– Beth said, as she yawned.
Ralph figured that was a good enough sign for him to turn in as well. He didn't care to think too deeply on what Beth had been told. He knew if he did, he'd probably stay up late, unable to get to sleep as he tried to figure out what might have been meant and what it might mean for them as they continued forward.
_
Beth approached the monument-looking thing, wondering if she should have just flaked rather than show up. She had a feeling that she shouldn't trust this person, but at the same time, she had a feeling not doing as that person had told her would result in some bad things happening. Including to her friends who had no part in this.
She'd told the others she was going for a walk and come out here. She hadn't gone anywhere else on her way to the metallic unicorn's altar, as she thought of it, so she could be sure that she wouldn't be late, since she had no real way of telling the time in this world. Or at least once the sun went down that was.
Though, she doubted that Ralph had forgotten what she'd talked to him about the night before. Which meant that she was certain he was aware of this, even if he hadn't said anything about it since. Although, she also suspected that he'd informed Wes about it too. Not that she cared about if Wes knew. After all, they were all friends and had come to this world for a single goal.
Beth hadn't had much time to even think about looking around the area when she felt more than heard or saw something behind her. Then a hand reached around and began stroking her throat, like it was trying to figure out where it'd be able to get the best grip.
"Glad you came," the same voice from the day before said in Beth's ear.
"Glad to be creeped on like this," Beth replied cheerfully. "If you want, I'm sure you know where the rest of my body is."
Beth glanced at the monument, but couldn't get a good look at their reflection, so she couldn't say how well her remark went over. She hoped to at least get a reaction from this individual, but she couldn't say she was surprised at this either.
"Are you here for your pleasure or to find out what you wanted to know?" the person asked, not stopping their fingers stroking her throat.
"Why can't I be here for both?" Beth asked, a little surprised at how much she found she liked her throat being stroked like that.
The hand then pulled away from Beth, though she could feel the other person still right behind her.
At least they're not poking something in my back this time, Beth said to herself.
"I can't tell you everything that we want to do, but I was given permission to tell you the basics," the voice said, clearly not wanting to carry on the earlier topic. "We're trying to change this country. We have the support we need to stop much of the suffering of the people here. However, we're stopped at every turn by the queen. She'd rather see this country fall to ruin than to do what's right by her people."
Beth nodded, as if she accepted what they said. She wasn't sure what they were suggesting, but she had a feeling part of what they said was true. She just couldn't be sure which parts were. Though, as far as she knew, almost every word that was just said was a load of bull. She just didn't have the information to say otherwise right at that moment.
"You've seen how she treated Marquis Denshia, right? Her messenger basically threatened to replace him with someone else if he couldn't prove his daughter is who she is."
Beth again nodded, feeling like this person knew more than they should. At least if they were on the up and up, that is. Though, she couldn't deny what had just been said.
"So, what is it you're proposing," Beth asked. "You should be aware about how little me and my friends can do, right?"
"How about this, if you get all your friends here, we'll work out a way to ensure you can have access to the queen. If you eliminate her, then we can move forward to helping the rest of this country begin to prosper once more. We'll also ensure that Marquis Denshia's enemies won't be able to strike at him after this."
Beth sighed. She could see that they were using Denshia as a carrot for her, though she hadn't yet seen what they had for the stick. Unless, Denshia was the stick too. As in if she didn't agree to help, that they wouldn't do a thing to help Denshia and he'd eventually be overwhelmed by his enemies.
"How soon do you want to do this?" Beth asked, not seeing a problem with getting a timeframe. If nothing else, she could merely claim that she wouldn't be able to get everyone together in time to effectively do anything right then.
"We're still getting things established," the voice behind her replied. "We wouldn't be able to move for at least a year or two."
Beth blinked. At the longest, she expected the answer to be a matter of months at most. "Okay, well let me know when and we'll try to see what we can do, okay?"
Beth wasn't sure if she was going to regret saying this, but at the moment, she didn't think that it would be good to just leave this person without giving an idea that she wasn't willing to agree to what they were suggesting.
After all, if she didn't agree, she had a feeling she'd probably be dead before this person left. Which could also be another stick she hadn't thought of a moment ago. Besides, she had a feeling that she was being asked to get her friends to commit regicide or something. Which wasn't anything she felt she or her friends would be any good at.
What she was confident about was that she and her friends needed to find out what they could about what was going on in this country. If they could figure out that, then they might be able to find out if the queen was really as bad as she was being portrayed right then.
"We're glad we could come to an understanding," the voice said, tickling Beth's ear. "Also, we understand you're looking for a griffin canyon. So, while we don't know which one, we do know of a few in the mountains to the north. So, as a show of good faith, here's a map with the locations of three griffin canyons."
Beth felt a piece of paper being pressed into her hand. Beth wasn't sure what to make of this turn of events, but she wasn't going to complain about it either. If nothing else, they'd be able to rule these locations out and see if they could find what Charlie wanted to find there.
Then before she knew it, the person behind her was gone. As if she had been there by herself the whole time. Though, she couldn't deny that the paper in her hand didn't come out of thin air, so she knew for a fact that it wasn't a hallucination on her part.
Sighing, she finished her 'walk' and returned to the inn. She wasn't sure what they should do about what she'd been told, but she was confident that she should talk with Tim, Amelia, and Hannah before any decision was made in regards to this issue.
When she returned to the room at the inn, she quickly got in her bed. What felt like a moment later, she felt like the world was rocking around her. She wasn't sure if she'd fallen asleep or was almost asleep when she felt someone shaking her gently. She didn't hear any sounds that indicated others were up and about, which made her merely a little confused as to why she was being woken up.
In the dim light of the moon shining through the cracks in the walls, Beth saw the silhouette of two people by her bed. Beth rubbed her eyes, not sure if she was just tired and seeing things, but when the figures didn't disappear, she knew it had to be two of the slaves who'd remained.
"Mistress, would you like me to help warm your bed?" one of the figures asked, Beth recognizing the voice belonging to Aerbris.
Beth wasn't sure she heard the young woman correctly. While she wouldn't mind accepting, with what she was pretty sure would be involved in 'warming her bed,' she first wanted to make a few things clear first.
"Are you saying that you want to sleep in my bed with me or are you looking for something more?" Beth asked, wondering if her being tired was clouding her mind a little with how she felt like her words weren't coming out right.
"If you don't want her, I can help warm your med, mistress," the other figure asked, Beth recognizing the other voice as belonging to Raeys.
Beth was confident that she understood what they were getting at. However, she couldn't help but wonder if this was something she should be doing in the first place. Not counting the fact she wasn't sure if they really understood that they weren't required to do anything for her that they didn't want to do themselves, she couldn't help but recall what the priestess had told her about how the church viewed guys sleeping with guys and girls sleeping with girls.
"Uh, first, Aerbris, doesn't the church not like girls doing other girls?" Beth asked, half expecting her voice to wake the others up.
"The scripture is about who would take care of the children that could be born from two women," Aerbris said, putting her hand on Beth's cheek. "It doesn't say anything else about the subject."
Beth could feel her body responding to the touch. She looked between the two figures and swallowed. She knew they had her and she didn't care about the morality of the situation, but she still felt like she needed to say just a little more first.
"Um, I'm fine with both of you helping warm my bed, but I want to make a couple things clear first, okay?" Beth asked, feeling like her heart was getting ready to beat out of her chest.
"Anything you want, mistress," both said at the same time, the sound coming across as little eerie.
"Well, first, don't call me 'mistress.' My name's Beth." Beth paused for a moment as she felt their hands on her shoulders and chest, pulling her tunic off. "And second thing, both of you need to understand that you have to be doing this because you want to. Not because of you think I might want you to."
"Of course, mistress," Aerbris said a moment before her lips touched Beth's.
Beth wanted to say more, but as they slid under the blanket she had over her, their bodies pressing against hers, she quickly lost the ability to think for herself as she felt herself getting swept away with the sensations and desires of the moment. Especially desires that she hadn't been able to satisfy for a while.