Part 11: That night

That nod was all she needed to follow Kalen back to sit down. She didn`t dare take off her hood or cloak. She checked the cups to see if there was water inside any of them.

"Your master? Does he treat you well?" Kalen asked, the question making her turn to him. He was now seated with his back towards the others and giving her his full attention.

She nodded at his question, "Yes."

"I`m glad," Kalen said softly. She then noticed how he was studying her face intently from under her hood, "What?"

"You still look like a girl and now more so like a woman," Kalen admitted.

"I`ve had too," Dev told him solemnly.

"Ranger Holloway, more drinks?" One of the soldiers asked as he handed over a large pitcher full of purple wine. Kalen took it with a nod and poured himself a cup before hesitating when it came to Dev`s cup. He remembered that Zelowalli didn`t drink alcohol like them. Instead, he scanned the table for a pitcher of water that a barmaids had brough to their table beforehand.

"Ranger Holloway? "Dev asked.

Kalen nodded as he gave up on finding the water pitcher and instead focused on the younger man before him, "That is my title now."

"From Prison Guard to Ranger. Fate smiled on you," Dev surmised.

"And you?"

"We shall see."

"Ladies!" Someone shouted from behind them.

A group of young women were coming downstairs and dressed in scraps of fabric again. Some of the men and soldiers cheered and called a few of them over to their tables.

Dev`s eyes widened and she stood in a hurry. Before she could get away, more girls surrounded them. One even attached themselves to Kalen and he grinned at the red head. Kalen turned to Dev to see her backing away from them, "Where are you going?"

Dev frowned at him," Are you still promised to that girl?"

Kalen shook his head," No. She`s moved onto someone else."

"And yet you wish to sully yourself with the likes of these women?" Dev asked and flinched when one of the women pulled her hood back with a grin.

"Oh, a native, never been with one before, "The woman simpered.

Dev shook her hood," Apologies, I am not interested. Enjoy the other men. Look, that one," She pointed at Levi, "He might want your company."

She then pushed the girl towards Levi who took to her like bees to pollen. Grimacing, she turned back to Kalen and looked away as the red head was kissing his throat while he looked like he was enjoying it. Seeing his look, Kalen smirked at him, "Why don`t you bed one? Maybe it will make you less scared."

"I have values. One of which states staying pure until I wish to mate with someone," Dev said before she turned away from them and left without a backward glance. Once she was outside, she took a deep breath and rubbed her face before she moved to the stables where her horse was waiting for her.

Peeking into the stall next to her horse, she realized that it was empty and it didn`t look like there was horse living there for some time. It would be perfect for her to stay the night. She just needed her blanket and some more hay. Turning to her horse, she smiled, "What do you think? Shall I spend the night?"

Her horse simple bumped his head against her chest which made her stumbled back with laughter.

"Leaving?" Hunter asked from behind her.

"I don`t wish to be there for the night," Dev replied as she rubbed her horse's nose and turned to her Master," May I spend the night in the stables? "

"It might rain," Hunter suggested even though the night sky was clear.

"I`ll take my chances," She replied and turned to smile at Hunter, "I'll be outside waiting for you all in the morning."

"No running," Hunter reminded her in a teasing tone.

"I haven`t forgotten what happened the first time I ran away," Dev simply replied.

The first time was just a few days after they had met and it was when she was sure she was fully healed and able to run away. She picked a moment when he wasn`t looking and bolted. She didn`t make it far when she was ambushed by three soldiers.

All hope of being free crumbled and she cried, begging for them to let her go but they had simply told her that since there was a camp breakout, they needed new 'Zelo`s'. She was about to be bounded and dragged back when Hunter came out of nowhere to save her.

He told the soldiers off for taking away his slave. Apparently, they respected others who had 'bought' Zelowalli people so she was released and given back to Hunter.

What had been a swift escape was now an eye opener for her. To further show her how dangerous the place was, he took her to the Wharf town and he gave her one simple task to do along the way. Keep count of how many times they come across soldiers.

By the time they reached their destination, she had lost count and any hope of her travelling through her own land safely was extinguished.

She had been shattered by the knowledge and in time, accepted that until Hunter brought her home himself, she was not going anywhere.

"Will you be okay by yourself?" Hunter asked, which shook her from her memories.

"I`ll manage," she answered. He nodded and then turned to leave but he reminded her to watch their supplies to which she waved her hand at him. She quickly got to work on cleaning the stall and moving some fresh hay for her to use. Going over to her bag, she pulled out her blanket and got to work spreading it out.

She was just settling down when she heard footsteps coming closer to her stall. Standing from her hays tack, she pocked her head out and was surprised to see Kalen.

"What are you doing here?" She asked which made the man jumped slightly and turned toward her.

She brought her arms up and leaned on top of the stall gate before leaning down to perch her chin above her arms. She then arched a brow at him as she shuffled nervously and moved to lean on the opposite stall, facing her. He cleared his throat," Your…Master?" He asked her and she nodded him questioning tone. He then continued," Your Master said that you wanted to sleep outside. I just came out to check on you."

"You should not have bothered. I won`t run," Dev told him. Maybe he thought that she was trying to run in the cover of the dark?

"I did not say you would run."

Devi gave him a look, "But you are implying it."

"Not even implying anything, "Kalen retorted shaking his head, "Whatever thoughts you think I have, it cannot be further from the truth."

Dev studied his relaxed posture before asking, "You are not going to tell your fellow soldiers that I`m your former prisoner?"

"You weren`t -"

"Please do not try to make me feel better."

Dev turned and focused on fixing the hay for her to sleep.

"I will not be telling anyone," Kalen reenforced. When Dev turned, she wasn`t surprised to see him leaning against her stall door," You…got away…and somehow got a Master whom I can tell you are close to. "

"I do not understand why you and the other solders fell the need to stay here when the actual war of your people should be fought back on your land,"

"What have you heard?"

"My Master says that there are warring sides in your fight. And you come here to use our land to fight."

Kalen winced.

Dev sighed, "I don't wish to offend you but please understand, you all have brought my people into a battle of which we know nothing of. I do not even know how we will benefit if either side wins considering all the colors seems to want to enslave my people."

"Colors?"

Dev gestured to his blue uniform, "Your uniforms. The other side wears red. You and these soldiers wear blue."

Kalen nodded as he glanced down at his uniform, "This means we fight for Patron God. Yesh."

"Is he a God of Harm?"

"No. He`s more like the God of Protection and Battles."

"Protection? Inka, is a God of Protection. He does not being harm to his people or land, while your God -"

"I`m apologize, I shouldn`t brought this topic up," Kalen hurried spoke up and Dev huffed, "Then why did you?"

Kalen chuckled drily as he looked down and Dev straighten in her spot before folding her arms over her chest, "What is funny? I do not understand why you are laughing?"

"I just…do you realize this is the first time you and I have spoken since they day we met where you weren`t afraid.

Dev took a moment to think and she realized that he was right. It had been a long time since the exchanged words without her feeling scared. She pursed her lips slightly before admitting, "True, "She then looked away, "However, I was scared that night. If the other guards had found you – "

"But they didn`t."

"They would have,"

"What have you been up to since we last saw each other?"

"My Master is a hunter of sorts. He looks for people he calls criminals and brings them back in exchange for coins,"

"A bounty hunter?"

Dev nodded.

"I admit, I find it very surprising that you are staying with a bounty hunter."

"It is better than the camps," Devi admitted before freezing. When she risked a glance at the Ranger, he gave him a questioning glance. Dev sighed, "Forgive me, I did not say that right," She reached up to pinch the bridge of her nose before gathering her thoughts and speaking," The camps were…a cruel place. With Hunter, I mean, that with him, I am granted a little freedom as well as a way home."

"I do not understand,"

"It is not for you to understand," Devi told him. She then turned to look him over, " When do you plan to go back?"

Kalen laughed, "Are trying to send me away?"

Devi sighed and sat down on her makeshift bed. She took off her sandals and folded her legs, "I`m tired and I am sure the women back there are waiting for you."

When she looked up, she expected him to leave with a good bye or something but the man disappointed her when he opened the stall and moved to sit down. With his back pressed against the wall, the pulled his cloak closer and sat up straighter. Dev wanted to scream. Was he going to leave her in peace? She needed to eat her Makena and dinner in peace. Why couldn`t he just leave her alone for the night.

"Back there, you mentioned staying pure and waiting to mate," His voice made her blink before his statement finally registered in her mind. He waved made a gesture of her to talk," What did you mean by that? When we back there…you never mentioned it."

Devi sighed. This man was not leaving her until he had all his questions answered. She then smoothed out her cloak over legs before speaking, "Are you asking about my customs?"

Kalen nodded, "I am."

"It is simple. We are a people who believe in finding a single soul to spend the rest of our lives with. The Opala isn't just the marks of purity in actions but of the intentions as well. Staying pure and untouched until marriage is the ultimate sign of purity. Find ing a mate and sharing a life with them is one of our great journeys."

"You realize that most of the women of your tribe aren`t around, and even if they were…" Kalen drifted off. Dev`s jaw tighten but she refused to feel dwell on what happened to a majority of the women of her people.

She licked her lips and rubbed the marks on her hands," I`d like to think that for me…things will be different."

"Is that why you want to stay pure?"

Instead of answering right way, she sat up and looked him straight in the eyes, "With all the bloodshed and suffering my people have experienced, they have lost their beliefs in our ways because they see it too late for Inka for to intervene. I…wish to remain as I am."

"And now times are changing. Some customs will have to be let go," Kalen said softly.

Dev nodded," Agreed. But I must remain as I am. Or I risk becoming something worse."

Kalen frowned at her, "What worse than what you are now?"

"A monster."