Another thug handed over to the guards and another bag full of diamonds being placed in Hunter`s hand as Dev watched from her horse. She was now twenty summers and already tired of chasing down men just for her Master to use the money at a bar for him to drink and exchange stories with other guards.
Bars.
There were now bars on her land. Filthy places where men went to drink and meet women to…she shook her head at the acts performed there.
Hunter , as he was coming back with a grin, it slowly died when he saw the look on his helper`s face," What is it now?"
Not wanting to alert him to her thoughts, she simply sniffed and looked away, "You promised that I could visit Ferdinand after this one? Are you still keeping your word?"
"You just saw that Minotaur last moon!" He exclaimed as he got on his horse and urged it go forth.
Once their backs were to the guards, Dev pushed her hair away from her face and she glared at Hunter," I want to see him again. Plus, it's a chance for you to drink again. It is a win-win situation for us."
Hunter huffed," I regret teaching you that concept."
"Are we going Master?" She asked again.
Hunter nodded but he was still unhappy.
That was all she needed. Digging her heels into her horse's side, it took off down the path with Hunter calling out for her to slow down.
She grinned over her shoulder," Keep up, Master!"
The ride took them through a field of flowers and past a hill. They rode over a bubbling brook and she stopped to pick some Makena before mounting her horse. They continued on riding and this time, they were side by side. Finally, the scent of salt hit her nostrils and she grinned as she cut through a grove before breaking through the woods.
The Blue greeting her from her left when she brought her horse about. A tall three-story building with a stable to the left side of the building stood them. The Shady Rest was etched onto a log that sat up on the foot of the building.
When they arrived at the Shady Rest, she grinned and got off her horse before racing into the bar.
As the doors slammed open, she winked at one of the waitresses. A female minotaur who replied with an air kiss. A few of the males inside grumbled at the attention she got. One by one when she passed the four other waitresses, they either kissed her cheek or patted her cheek if their hands weren`t full.
Ferdinand was lucky. He had five waitresses who were willing to deal with the customers and the rush of riders during the night. It was also good luck on his part that they were all his wives.
Yeah.
He had five wives.
Dev wasn`t sure how to feel about that when she first met him seeing as she was from a culture where they looked down on having multiple partners. Being unfaithful to your partner meant facing judgment from Inka and being turned to stone.
When she told Ferdinand this, he was shocked but he respected her beliefs. Unlike her, his kind believed in sharing love amongst many spouses. As long as there was respect and boundaries enforced. He also said it wasn`t just the males who could take on multiple partners, there were females as well. But they were all married in the eyes of their people.
And Ferdinand had crossed the Blue to open his bar in her land to live out his days peacefully. Them coming across him and his wives were a stroke of luck on her part.
Dev smiled as walked straight to the counter where Ferdinand stood with his back towards her.
"What does a man have to do to get company in here?"
With his back towards her, Ferdinand chuckled," Find me a man and I will give him company."
Dev narrowed her eyes slightly at the minotaur, "Very funny."
He also knew that she was a female and not male.
"What brings you back, little boy?" He asked as he placed the drinks onto a tray.
From his chest down, he wore breeches and his hooves clopped a bit when he turned. On his nose was single ring that had five gems encrusted on it. One for each other his wives. Dev liked it. She was even thinking of getting a nose ring as well. As soon as her Master permitted her. Ferdinand`s chest was bare and he was holding two large pints of drinks.
"Stories," She replied before leaning closer to him, "We also turned in another bounty and I may not be looking forward to spending another night at an unfamiliar bar."
"That`s why you dragged your Master here," Ferdinand summarized with a chuckle. Behind her, Hunter entered the bar with a grin. He waved at Ferdinand as he approached the counter, "Do you have anything new for me to try?!"
Ferdinand shook his head with a grin and Dev resisted the urge to groan, "Not since last moon."
"I`ll have my usual then. Have fun telling stories, "Hunter ordered before he turned to go over to his usual table. When it came to Ferdinand, he was positive that he could leave her on her own because she was always listening to stories more than thinking about doing something rash.
"Any new stories for me to hear?"
"A third of a party has made it through the barriers. All young ones. One adult and no children," Ferdinand said in a low tone. Dev sat still as the news sank in. Everyday more of her people were dying and only a small number of them were going through the barrier.
It was good that a few of them had managed to get through the barrier but that was it.
"That`s not the worst of it."
Dev frowned and tried not wince," How much worst is it then?"
Ferdinand scanned the bar before he leaned close," Rumor has it that the barrier isn`t holding."
Dev`s heart stopped.
Her mouth moved wordless as she tried to search for the words and her mind ran in a million different directions.
The Barrier wasn`t holding?
Finally, she spoke," W-what do you mean the barrier is not holding?"
Ferdinand shook his head," I don`t know. I heard rumors that those that use to wait at the edge of the barrier for escapees have now retreated. A Summoner shattered the barrier for a second and was able to get through before your God`s power kicked in and spat him back out."
Dev released a relieved breath before running a hand through her hair. The barrier was falling. Would that mean that Inka was weakening?
Brina, one of his wives, came over to get another round of drinks and seeing her face, she huffed at her husband, " What did you say to her to upset her so?!"
She reached over to slap his arm and he reacted by pretending to wince and rub his arm. Brina turned to Dev," Lovie, whatever he told you. Don`t be too down about it."
Dev tried to muster a smile but it wasn`t enough. Ferdinand` 'story' was enough to make her sad. Turning in her seat, she patted Brina`s shoulder with a small smile, "I`ll be fine. That old bull' isn`t scaring me."
Ferdinand huffed in indignation while Brina grinned at her. Dev then moved to join her Master at his seat. He looked to be on his second cup and Dev wrinkled her nose in distaste at the sight of him just drinking all of it in one go.
When he had his fill, he put down hi scup and licked his lower lip before leaning back against the wall. His usual seat was against the wall with a window in the left that had the view of the road. He liked to joke that it was his way of keeping an eye on who was coming and going from the bar.
Hunter studied his helper before speaking, "Bad stories?"
"The barrier is weakening," she admitted quietly.
Hunter hissed," Keep your voice down!" He then scanned the place to see if someone was listening. When he saw that no one had paid any attention to them, he brought his attention back to Dev," Must you say that at out loud?"
"If it goes down, where will I go when our deal is done?"
Hunter mulled over her words before leaning back and folding his hands over his stomach, "I'm not sure I can answer that."
Dev leaned back in her chair in a huff, "Even if I left now, I wouldn't-"
She caught herself before she could finish the sentence. There was no place safe for her now. When their time was over and done with, where would she go?
"You could go somewhere else and make it your home?" Hunter suggested as he picked up another cup and drank from it.
Dev glared at him, "This is my home. My land. I can`t just leave it."
Hunter shrugged and Dev rolled her eyes. There was no getting anywhere with him. He was good to her but even he was useless when it came to matters of home and family. Even he didn`t want to mention his family when she questioned. Their talks about his home life usually went sort like this.
"They are learning to forget me," He`d tell her.
"Surely, at least someone must think if you," Dev pressed.
"There is one."
"Well?"
"She is my hope."
"She?"
"She."
That was the end of the conversation and she would have to accept it.
Hunter put down his drink and spoke after swallowing, "A long time ago, I heard something about God`s weakening when they lose their source. That may be why that barrier is weakening."
Dev frowned, "Source?"
Hunter waved around his cup, "The people that believe them. Pray to them and keep their traditions alive. That sort of thing."
"People have stopped believing in him?" Dev questioned as her confusion set in. They were starting to not believe in him?
Hunter shrugged, "He hasn`t actually been coming to their rescue lately. Hard to believe in someone whose power isn`t effective." He then lifted his cup and took a large gulp.
Dev winced but then tried to defend the God, "His power is still alive, protecting Ulsa-,"
Hunter slammed his cup down and wiped his mouth as he spoke, "But even the whispers are saying his power is waning when it comes to his beloved Ulsa," He gave his helper a hard stare," No one still truly believes and keeps his rituals."
"But I have," Dev insisted. And it was true. She gave thanks when healing. Before taking the pants of the land. She prayed at morning and night when nature awoke or went to sleep."
Hunter shook his head sadly, "Just because you have doesn`t mean others have. Be honest, my little helper, do you think your people still believe in your God?"
Dev looked away in frustration, "Inka is the God of Kindness. In matters of violence, he would not be able to step in. I understand that -"
"Yes, you understand that but I ask again, do your people remember that?" Hunter questioned her.
Hunter went back to drinking and Dev stewed over his words.
She didn`t know if her people still believed or remembered Inka.
Slowly, she rose from her seat and left. Going out the back door, she went over to the cliffs and looked out. The Blue. Endless Blue. It was what separated and yet connected her land to the Other Landers.
When they came, they destroyed their land and now had effectively destroyed the belief of their people. So much so that it was affecting their God. If Inka was dying, what was the purpose of her people being born?
Sinking to her knees, she clasped her hands and forced back her tears," Were we put here to just suffer and die out?"
Licking her lips, she reached up and dug her palms against her eyes.
Later that night, she changed into something to wear for the night and was focused on braiding her hair while thinking about the barrier. She almost missed the knock on her door. Another knock brought her out of her daze and she turned in her bed before standing.
"Love, are you in here?" Alana, another one of Ferdinand`s wives called out from behind the door.
Dev smiled, "Yes."
She then crossed the room and unlocked the door for the female minotaur. Alana was tall, just like the others and so she had to bend slightly when she entered the room. Dev locked the door behind her before turning to face her.
"What brings you here? I`m surprised Ferdinand let you take a moment off your night shift," Dev said as she approached the minotaur who smiled and rolled her eyes at the thought of her husband.
"I have something for you," The female minotaur said as she gestured for her to take a seat on her bed. Nodding, Dev moved to sit with both her legs folded but she was close to the edge of the bed. Alana pulled forth a chair and sat in front of the Zelowalli girl before holding up a brown bag with a smaller bag attached to the drawstring of the large bag, "One of our travelers arrived from the Land in the East with this. I bought a few off of him and thought of you."
"What is it?" Dev asked with excitement. Gifts from across the Blue were always so strange but interesting for her. Alana loosened the smaller bag and pulled out a small stick that had fine hair attached to it.
"This is a brush. The hairs are from a Skree. The softest in the land beyond your Blue," Alana said as she held up the brush. She then moved to loosen the drawstring on the second bag and revealed the contacts to Dev. There was sort of brown powered inside.
"And this is?" Dev asked looking up at the minotaur.
"Powder for your face," Alana stated with a she held up bag," Dab the powder on your face with the brush. It`ll ease your worries about your tattoos on your face. That way you can wear your hair up."
Dev`s smile grew at she looked at the powder. It was getting tedious trying to eat with her hair constantly in her face being used to hide her tattoos. Now she could actually be able to disguise herself.
She stood shuffled back and tried to offer a bow of gratitude but Alana reached out to stop her by grabbing her hands, "Please, no need for that."
"But I wish to say thank you," Dev tried to explain.
"And I can accept your thanks little one, without your bowing, "Alana said gently, "I'm happy to help you."