“The second is that I’ve asked for Freddie, the human you had sent to the pits, to be returned into our care.” Gregory’s words suddenly caught Jte’s attention as the girl jolted upright.


    Bolut openly snarled at this particr request, clearly unhappy about Gregory’s deal with Grolfir.


    “He is no more than a dog and a coward!” The orcined.


    “Oh I know, believe me I know. But he’s my responsibility. We’ll take him and make sure you chain him up somewhere. I don’t want him getting ideas. He’s to be fed, cleaned and treated well… and very firmly chained to a post. Alright?”


    Bolut seemed about to argue but he visibly stopped himself. This meeting had gotten him more than he’d ever hoped and he wasn’t about to risk throwing it away over an argument about how a coward should be treated. In the end he said nothing but nodded his acquiescence.


    “Alright, thank you Bolut, for the gift and for your understanding.” Gregory nodded respectfully to the orc.


    Bolut looked at Gregory for a long moment before offering a respectful bow and then moving off to begin preparations for his trip and suitably sheltering his new master.


    “What was that?” Jte asked as Gregory stood up and stretched out his sore muscles.


    “I asked Freddie to be released. We’re going to keep him here at the camp.” Gregory didn’t even like the sound of himself saying it so he could hardly hold it against Bolut for getting angry at the arrangement.


    “You did that for me?” Jte stood up along with Algra.


    “Mostly. The guy deserves to be locked up, but no one deserves to die like that.” Gregory heard Algra’s grunt of disagreement and dutifully ignored it.


    Jte was going to say more but she was suddenly interrupted when one of the other humans approached carrying a tray on which rested two very small cups filled with a pale blue creamy drink. The carrier was a woman who Gregory would have guessed to be in her veryte thirties or early forties. Her face had begun to show pleasant lines that ented her equally pleasant features. As she stepped before them she gracefully curtsied and Algra casually stepped up to take one of the cups and knock it back like a shot.


    “What’s this?” Gregory asked.


    “It is for yourdies, master. Unless you wish to have a child?” The woman seemed unsure she was doing the right thing.


    “Nope! He’s fine for the minute. Gimme.” Jte reached out and took her cup, downing it quickly as Algra had. She noted that it smelled very faintly of eucalyptus and tasted somewhat like cough syrup.


    Gregory remained wisely quiet on the subject. In truth he hadn’t exactly considered the necessity for birth control. It had been an awfully stupid thing to forget about.


    “Thanks! I’ve been worried about that all morning.” Jte smiled at the woman who nodded with understanding.


    “What’s your name?” Gregory asked of the woman.


    “Valise, master.” She supplied.


    “Thank you Valise. We’re going to go wash up. If anyonees looking for us then let them know we’ll be back in an hour or so.” Gregory moved but was suddenly stopped by Algra’s hand snatching his.


    “Two hours,” The orc firmly corrected.


    Gregory grinned as Jte hid a littleugh behind her own fingers.


    “Two hours… or so,” Gregory affirmed.


    Algra nodded contentedly and led him out of the merchant’s part of the camp. Jte walked on his opposite nk and he caught her hand in his and lifted it to lightly set a kiss upon her smooth skin. She silently smiled at him and walked with her cloak partially open. Many orcs looked at them as they passed through the encampment, they were obviously the talk of the town. Jte scooted a little closer to Gregory as they walked, obviously somewhat un-nerved by the enormous beasts. Algra paid them no mind and Gregory gave Jte’s hand a reassuring squeeze as they made their way to the outer gates.


    As they stepped out of the camp the two guards on duty smashed their fists to their chests and lifted their arms to salute Algra who continued to ignore all but her destination.


    Once they were out of sight of the orc settlement Jte seemed to rx a little more.


    “Sorry, could we slow down a little? These sandals are too big to walk in. I feel like I’m gonna trip up at any minute.” The pretty redhead humblyined.


    “Piggyback?” Gregory suggested.


    Jte looked at him in surprise and then her lips curved into a beautiful white smile. Gregory released Algra’s hand and bent his knees as Jte opened her long cloak and hopped up onto his back. Her long slender legs wrapped around his hips as her arms folded around his shoulders from behind. She was light to hold and felt incredibly good settled against his body. His hands snaked beneath her thighs and squeezed the firm flesh encouragingly.


    They continued to walk toward the tree line and soon found themselves walking along a dirt path in amidst the Embervine Forest. Gregory enjoyed the feel of Jte holding onto him as he watched Algra’s shapely bottom moving out in front, d as it was in her short fur skirt.


    It was a pleasant enough walk, though the forest was slightly more tropical than he was used to.


    “Is there anything dangerous living here Algra?” He asked curiously.


    “Many things are dangerous here. Great cats prowl the forests, serpents slither through the trees and other creatures crawl beneath us. We need not fear them so much. The forest is a home for the orcs and our guests. There is old magic here that protects us.” Algra reached out to run her fingers along the bark of a tree as she passed.


    “What did she say?” Jte whispered in his ear. Obviously Algra had been speaking in orcish.


    “She said we’re fine.” He turned his head and kissed her rosy cheek affectionately.


    They continued to walk, detouring from the road to make way directly for the stream.


    “So what are you going to do with Freddie?” Jte asked


    “Keep him restrained, treat him decently and hope to hell he doesn’t do anything stupid.” Gregory’s expression darkened.


    “Thanks for getting him out of there. I know you hate him. God knows you have a reason to. It’s just… I know his mum. He’s…” Jte was obviously struggling to exin the unexinable.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “A person,” Gregory helpfully filled in. “I know.”


    “You’re a pretty amazing guy Greg.” She lightly nipped his earlobe with her teeth.


    “I know that too.”