unwanted

chapter twentyone

unfounded

How were you supposed to hunt for someone and keep your head down too? It was impossible. She was there less than half an hour and she's already had a plate thrown at her and she's been threatened with a dagger.

The rat people were nothing like she thought they'd be. They were very pretty, tall, well muscular women. Very pretty considering most of them didn't try to look like women at all. They ate like animals and as far as Jess could tell, most their language was done in grunts and groans. One little offense, rather from each other or from the people they consider slaves, would throw them into a fight. Gold, blond hair that was mostly worn short if not shaved altogether. They had golden skin that looked a little thicker than a human, but Jess didn't want to get close enough to find out.

They're clothes consist of a fur looking bikini bottom and a fur top that covered less than the bottoms did.

They didn't mind showing off their bodies. They're boots came up to their knees and they carried huge swords at their sides. Some even carried two of them.

Jess served her food quickly trying to cover as much ground as she could cover.

The whole atmosphere out here was totally different than on the inner decks. Other than the rat people, everyone else was male and as far as she could tell there were at least a dozen different types of species and none of these men looked or acted like the prisoners she knew them to be.

Most of them were dressed the same as the women just minus the swords. They ate, drank, and laughed the same as the women.

There was one race of men who were small, puny things. You could tell they were a favorite among the rat women because the ones who had one of these men for her own kept hers very close to her. Some even had the men sitting on their laps, so they could shower them with attention.

Why the men didn't mind that the women were covered in greasy food and eating like pigs were beyond her.

"I'll have my dinner now."

Jess had already seen the male headed in her direction. She didn't look long enough to be able to tell you anything other than he wasn't Julian.

Keeping her eyes down, she handed him one of the plates that were on her servicing trey.

"Do you think I should carry it when I have you to do that? Bring two and that jug of ale."

Since she'd already learned her lesson about not listening, Jess grabbed the things and followed after him. It was killing her to not look around and see if anyone was paying any attention to her, but she managed not to.

He led her through one large eating room into another. Once in this room she couldn't keep her head down any longer. She searched over it quickly hoping to find the one person she longed to see.

She didn't get to look long. Her eyes landed on one of the Ratkilgon's staring her down, her hand on her hilt. Bitch did not look happy.

Jess bowed her head low and rushed to follow the guy.

When he left this room, she was more than glad, even if she hadn't been able to look everyone over.

The guy stopped in front of a wall and placed his hand upon it. When it opened, he stepped in.

Did she have any other option but to step in as well? Tamer never mentioned this in the job description.

"You can sit it on the table."