Part 9: The Royal Guard

When they were done resting at Ferdinand, Hunter announced that they were going into the Wharf Town to check for the last bounty which made her smile. The morning went off without a hitch as she exited the Shady Rest with her hair tied back and her face with the newly applied powder.

Hunter had to do a double take when he saw her face.

Humming a happy tune, she went over to saddle her horse and then climb on all the while humming a song from her childhood. Finally, as they eased their horses out, Hunter reached out to poke her cheeks," What happened to your face?"

Dev jerked her head away from him and grinned," A gift from Alana."

Hunter pursed his lips and grumbled," How come they always have gifts for you and not me?"

"Because I am me," Dev replied with a cheeky grin. Hunter shook his head in amusement before they urged their horses to go faster.

When they arrived at the town, she kept her hood up, head down and stayed behind Hunter. They were headed straight for the Trading Post where everything happened. New soldiers, shipments and news came in or out there. There were several bars and hostels around the place for the soldiers and travelers.

It was also a territory for the soldiers. Dev was relieved to see that they didn`t have any prisoners to sell. 'No Zelos', they would say.

And if they tried to take her, Hunter would simply say that he owned her.

She was not a thing to buy and sell but she understood that in this time, it was better to hold your tongue than to face problems or fights.

They both got off their horse at the entrance of the Trading Post before tying up the horses' reins. Dev kept a little distance from Hunter until he went inside. That was as far as she was supposed to go. The last few times, she had entered, men asked for her so many times that Hunter had to resort to hitting them.

It made Dev nearly made her faint. And so, they came to an agreement that she would stay out of sight. Outside.

Hunter patted her hooded head before going inside with a loud shout to the Post Master who returned it heartily. Beside the door, there were scrolls stuck on a wooden board. She didn`t bother reading them, just search for drawing of faces and places.

Hunter had offered to teach her to 'read' but she stayed firm that she`d rather stick to her culture than to learn the culture of a race of people that was trying to erase hers. She only learned the words 'buy', 'steal', take', 'owner', slave and 'hello.'

When she was in prison, she had learned other words but it was only for survival.

She then turned when she heard the sound of men shouting and horses galloping into the town. Each of them dressed in new uniforms and they carried a banner that had strange creatures on them. There were seven of them and they reminded her of the soldiers who had captured her and brother.

 Moving slowly, she hid herself behind a wooden board and waited for them to stop in front of the place.

If Hunter wanted to find her, he would have to search for her. She wasn`t far. They didn`t bother going into Trading Post when they stopped. Instead, they all got off their horses, exchanged a few words before five of them entered a hostel while the other two tended to the horses.

The sound of footsteps made her turn her focus back to the Trading Post entrance where Hunter was coming out of. In his hand was a scroll and a small pouch. She watched him come out and frown at sight of the horses, "Where did- "

"Over here," she called from her hiding spot.

Turning to his left., he frowned at her, "What happened?"

Dev pursed her lips and instead jerked her chin at him, "Is that the one?"

Scoffing, he stuffed the scroll into his jacket, "Never mind that, why are you hiding?"

Dev sighed. Seeing as he wasn`t dropping the subject, she turned and looked directed at the hostel," Soldiers came in. New uniforms. Carrying banners."

"Still scared of them?"

"I do not like soldiers."

"Well, then, let`s go and see what they want?" Hunter suggested. When he tried to take one step, Dev reached out to hold him still by his arm, "What? What are you thinking? Did you not hear me?"

Hunter tugged his arm loose and chuckled, "The Post Master let it slip inside that the Royal Guard had been sent here on a new mission. One that is very sensitive."

Dev drew up, "Sensitive? Wait-what is this 'Royal Guard?"

"That. I`ll explain later. Come along, little helper," Hunter announced before marching down towards the hostel.

Dev tried to protest but the man didn`t listen to her. Huffing, she adjusted her hood and pulled it down even more before running after him. They entered the hostel and Dev`s nose wrinkled at the smell of sweaty men and perfume some of the girls inside wore.

No one here was a Zelowalli but there were women from across the Blue. Most with pale or alabaster color skin. None possessed the dark rich earthly brown colored skin that she had. The women were all dressed in scraps of fabric that made her look away.

Even when she was in her tribe, they all dressed similarly but it was more comfortable and natural. These women dressed to draw attention. At the counter, one of the solider stood ordering drinks while the others lounged around a single table that they all brought chairs to.

As they approached the counter, Dev caught the topic of the men`s words, as the Counter Master shook his head, "I'm sorry, captain, but to go that way is a lost quest. The land is protected by magic."

"What`s this I hear about a quest?" Hunter questioned out loud. Which made everyone in the room turn to him. Dev stopped behind her master and prayed for the ground to swallow her.

What was it with him and getting attention?

"What business is that of yours, bounty hunter?" The Counter Master asked. The solider who was speaking to him, the captain, turned and glanced at Hunter before frowning, "Bounty Hunter?"

The Counter Master nodded, "Aye. Man calls himself Hunter. A bit cocky and mysterious but he always captures his bounties."

"My reputation proceeds me," Hunter said with a quick bow that made Dev want to sink lower into the ground, "Now, I hear about a perilous quest and my good heart permits me to offer my services to the Guard if you wish to take on a perilous quest through the land?"

"What exactly do you have?" One of the soldiers sitting at the tables asked. When the soldier's eyes passed over to her, she lowered her head but stepped closer to Hunter. If Hunter noticed he didn`t give her any indication.

"My sword and translation skills plus knowledge of the land, "Hunter answered. He then looked over his shoulder at Dev," I also have a source of local knowledge."

Dev winced and folded her arms under her cloak. 

"I am very resourceful."

Another soldier stood from the table and approached them, "What`s in for you? There`s no money involved."

"The thrill of adventure and the honor of helping someone," Hunter replied with a crooked smile.

"He could be valuable," the Counter Master added quietly.

A moment passed as the captain exchanged glances with his men before he turned his attention back to Hunter and Dev. A feeling of dread settled in the pit of Dev`s stomach when the captain nodded, "Very well. Thank you for offering your help."

Hunter nodded.

"We`ll leave at first light. "

"We`ll meet you at the entrance of the town," Hunter told them.

The other soldiers nodded at them both as they left them to their drinking. They exited the hostel with Dev feeling confused.

Once they were outside, Dev grabbed Hunter`s arm to get his attention before he mounted his horse, "Shouldn`t we be tracking down your bounty? Your last bounty?"

She put emphasizes on the one 'last' in order to remind him of what he promised her. This was supposed to be their last task before she would go free and he would return to home.

"Little Helper. I`m having a change of heart."

Dev felt like crying as she asked, "What?"

Hunter gently eased his arm from her grip, "I am choosing to let go of this bounty and instead have this one last quest to help these guards - "

"But you said - "

Hunter cut in, "And I will keep my word. Once this quest is over, I will bring you to Ulsa."

Dev went silent. Hunter reached up to pat her head gently," I gave you my word and I meant it. You`ve been by my side long enough and I know that it`s almost your time."

"So, you are keeping your word?"

Hunter nodded.

Dev gulped and nodded to show that it was alright. Hunter smiled before he jerked his head at their horses," Come. We`ll spend a night at a hostel."

At that, Dev huffed as the atmosphere around them changed.

Hunter sighed heavily, "You know that that the hostels are not bad."

"Every night we spend in a hostel that is not Ferdinands, men ask to buy me and women try to touch me."

"Well, you do look a bit appealing."

Dev looked the heavens and prayed for patience. Hunter chuckled before surrounding," Very well. We`ll stock up on food, drinks and then camp outside of the town, then?"

Dev nodded, "Better plan."

They both got on their horses before directing them to the small butcheries and fishermen to buy their food. When they moved to an apothecary, Dev simply waited patiently for Hunter to get what they needed before they made for the small clearing near the town entrance. A few other tents were set up but Hunter choose the one near the beach.

While Dev made her dinner, Hunter sat and drank. She had over the years learned that she could eat meat from the fish if it was cooked over the fire. The fish tasted better when she rubbed herbs into the flesh.

It was cooked in no time so she sat down to eat her fish with bread and a few nuts. She decided to smoke some of the meat and fish for the journey. She still did not know where they were going but she wanted to have something meaty for the way.

Eating meat was not the Zelowalli way but Hunter was teaching her to bend a few rules and finding loop holes in her vows to learn a few of his skills.

She knew how to set traps, how to take down a person and even omitting truths from her words. Hunter called it combat skills but they were violent ways. She could learn but never use them against someone.

He even taught her how to handle his 'weapon of choice', a pair of sickles. They were used by the older men of her tribe once to cut tall grass like herbs for her fader. It made her sad to find out that Hunter`s people also used it to harm others.

He called it 'defense."

She just saw it as more violence.

Shaking her head, she wrapped a parcel of meat after eating before Hunter asked what was she thinking about.

"Things change, that is all,," she replied.

Hunter nodded as he leaned back to look up at the sky while drinking his second bottle, "That is true. But change is part of life. We cannot be who we truly are without change."

Dev stopped in her work to look at the man who was her Master, "Even if the change is bad?"

"Especially when it is bad. It is when there is a time of crisis and risk, that a person`s true form is revealed."