The big orc nodded, "Yes, there's a large supply of targets and target stands available from the castle's armory." He gestured at the southeast facing windows, "I was planning to set up a range on the meadow between the keep and the main gate."
His pack-leader nodded his agreement, "Sounds fine by me..." He locked eyes with Leavy next, "We're going to take two guard packs with us this afternoon, of which one will lead the way, while the other one covers our rear. Their pack-leaders have already been briefed, but I want you to explain the entire route you and the other girls have planned to them. They'll be joining us at the stables before we leave."
The platinum-blonde nodded, and then Vala spoke up. "Are you expecting trouble?"
Bashuk shrugged, "Not really... Things were a little on edge in the city the first few days after the surrender, but there were no serious disturbances, and the situation quickly returned to normal. When we went on our little trip to the barracks though, there was an incident, brought on by Girl's presence," he ruffled his prize's hair, "which she and Karu defused brilliantly. So, with over half a dozen young human females accompanying us this time I just don't want to take any chances..."
"Will two guard packs be enough then," Denora asked next.
Her pack-leader shrugged, "It should be... It's always an educated guess though. You want to be prepared for everything, but you don't want to overdo it either." He chuckled, "Just imagine us visiting the city 'prepared for anything', which would mean half an army would be escorting us. We would bring city life to a screaming halt, just to do some shopping." He grinned, "Doing so wouldn't exactly exude confidence either by the way..."
***
Lunch time arrived, and once Denora, Moiga, and Polly had set the dinner table, the pack relocated to it. They had well-seasoned cheese, ham & mushroom omelet, with bread, and once everyone was sated and the girls had cleared the table, Bashuk told the males to gear up in light armor. Cassandra then followed her master into the bedchamber and assisted him with changing. She hadn't seen him in light armor up to now, as 'going light' basically meant no armor at all, and only 'light' weapons. Light armor proved to be padded leather, in the same colors as his standard armor, and the same 'light' weapons he carried when he was 'going light'.
She assessed the armor while assisting him with putting it on, and concluded it offered reasonable protection against cutting weapons, some protection against bludgeoning weapons, and no protection against piercing weapons. It offered a nice balance between protection, weight, and mobility it seemed. He put his harness on last, checked his weapons, and then donned a hip-length cape with a fur collar in the same dark red that parts of his armor were in. She hadn't seen him in a cape before, and as the weather was fair, she looked up at him questioningly. He smiled, "It's to express my high status," and then he winked, "it can also come in handy for when one's prize gets cold..."
Cassandra beamed, and her master told her to put on her sandals, and once she had, and had tied up the laces, he led her back into the living room again. The other pack-members had already gathered there, and the girls were bouncing with anticipation. They left the private quarters, and once they had, the males and the girls largely shielded her from view. It was a nice gesture, but she was very aware that soon half of Iriskan would be looking at her, displayed on top of a kurtz, with only her master's bulk shielding her from behind. She knew she would have to get used to it, but felt miserable about it, nevertheless.
They took the spiral staircase down to the first floor, and then traversed the entrance hall and left the keep behind them. The entrance hall had been pretty busy, and so was the square, but for the moment any onlookers were at best going to get a glimpse of her. Beyond the square the large doors to the right wing of the stables were standing open, and two packs of guards were gathered to the left and right of them, the males standing next to their kurtzes clearly waiting for their leader and his pack. As they got closer the stable crew started to lead the pack's mounts outside, horses and kurtzes alike, all saddled up and ready. The girls' horses seemed relaxed next to the much larger kurtzes.
They arrived at the stables, and she watched her girls hurry over to their horses, who neighed in welcome as they noticed them coming. Bashuk led her up to Karu, and as the huge lizard lowered her head towards her, she knew what was coming. She ducked away as the animal's tongue leapt out towards her face, making Karu miss, and the huge lizard cocked her big head to the side in response, eyeing her questioningly. Cassandra laughed, and then she moved in and hugged the animal's large furry snout, rubbing her beneath her massive chin. Karu started to purr. "See, I do love you," Cassandra said, "I just wasn't looking forward to getting my face washed..."
Her master ruffled the fur on top of the huge lizard's head, checked the saddle belts, and then took her rein making Karu squat down as he lightly tugged on it. Cassandra watched her master mount up, and then she grabbed his large hand as he lowered it towards her. She was lifted effortlessly and lowered onto the saddle in front of him. She put her feet in the stirrups, Karu got up, and she found herself up-high again. As she looked around her, she noticed Leavy and Denora hadn't mounted their horses yet, but were talking with two big orcs that hadn't mounted-up either, making her realize they had to be the pack-leaders of the two guard packs.
After a minute or so her two former maidens and the two big orcs mounted their rides too, and then one of the two guard packs headed off towards the nearby main gate. When they had about fifty yards head-start, their own pack followed, with the males leading, and the girls following. They turned left as they reached the massive gatehouse, and then they were passing beneath the heavy tandem portcullis. Bashuk exchanged greetings with the guards on duty and once they were moving along the entrance road, he ordered the girls to form a tight circle around Karu. She watched her girls move into position as ordered, smoothly, and felt proud, and then the males fell back and formed a second wider circle around her master's mount.
She noticed the leading guard pack kept right at Victors' Triangle, and then their own pack was keeping right too, and they were heading for Serin Avenue. A second right turn followed, and she noticed Bolar and Durgat, who were riding point, speed up a little, as, it seemed, had the leading guard pack before them as evidenced by the almost doubled distance they were now in front of them. Serin Avenue wasn't very busy, and the traffic present respectfully made way for them as they started descending towards the lower city. As they got nearer to the Hexagon traffic became denser though, and they slowed a little before entering the large market square, which proved as busy as always.
The pack started rounding the big square counterclockwise, and while they were certainly drawing a lot of attention the crowd didn't block the road like it had done the last time. Cassandra realized she was drawing less attention because the girls were drawing a lot of attention too, with the onlooking people clearly not entirely sure what to make of half a dozen pretty, human girls in orcish outfits. They passed the exit to Castle Avenue, and then they were turning right onto Vanadion Boulevard which proved pretty busy too, with its broad sidewalks filled with the better-off people its many expensive shops catered for.
They moved along the center off the road, with the leading guard squad some fifty yards in front of them once more, and they were drawing a lot of attention, with some people pointing at her she noticed. With about three quarters of Vanadion behind them the leading guard pack slowed down, and then it turned left, coming to a stop on the broad sidewalk in front of Solotun's. The people on the sidewalk scurried away as they did, and then started observing the big orc warriors and the huge lizards they were riding from a respectful distance. The lead guard pack had dismounted by the time they arrived in front of Solotun's too and cleared a small perimeter for them.
***
Solotun's, like most shops on Vanadion, was located in a large opulent three-story building, and a wide selection of expensive looking weapons and gear was displayed behind its barred ground floor windows. The pack dismounted, and the girls tied up their horses to one of the two available hitching rails, while the kurtzes took up position around them, like guard dogs would. Cassandra looked up at her master pleadingly, and Bashuk chuckled "Permission to speak Girl."
She gestured at the girls' horses, "Even if those guard packs weren't present, no one would be stealing those horses, would they?"
Bashuk laughed, "They sure would be welcome to try... Kurtzes are very protective of their masters, and everything belonging to those masters, including their mates, and the mounts of those mates. If someone should be stupid enough to try and steal one of the girl's horses, it wouldn't end well for them." The second guard pack had arrived too by now, and it remained mounted, forming a defensive circle around them. Outside that circle a crowd was gathering, mainly consisting of Iriskan's middle and upper-class citizenry. They were observing them, taking in the orcs respectfully, taking in the kurtzes fearfully, and taking in the girls in their orcish outfits curiously.
She herself drew a lot of attention too, no doubt due to her state of undress, and she blushed with shame. "Let's get the girls inside," Kurgan said, sounding concerned.
Her master nodded, and the pack started moving towards the entrance of the building, but before they were even halfway she noticed her name being called, and then it spread like wildfire, taking on an indignant tone. Cassandra reacted fast, took the Warlord's hand, and felt him turn with her as she faced the crowd, suppressing her shame. She leaned in to him, felt his big arm close around her back, and produced the biggest smile she could manage as she waved at the onlookers. The growing hostility evaporated, and as she turned back towards the store entrance again, she discovered the girls had copied her actions, and were waving and smiling at the crowd too, while hugging their mates.
They entered Solotun's grand interior by its impressive tarkan wooden doors. It wasn't Cassandra's first visit to the place, and as she checked the large high vaulted room she concluded not much had changed since her last visit. Five middle aged men were ogling them from the center of the room, Solotun's staff, clearly unable to decide if they were about to get robbed or if the visitors were there to do business. She looked towards them, while the pack spread out, enticed by the many display cases filling the room, and cabinets lining its walls. The eyes of the most senior looking of the men, who looked vaguely familiar, widened.
The former Kangess realized she had been recognized and watched the man's gaze drop to her nether regions. She fought the urge to cover herself, and then the man's gaze veered up and to her right, where Bashuk was standing, taking in the wares on display. What she assumed was the store's manager had clearly just realized the country's new ruler was honoring Solotun's with a visit. After a short hesitation he approached, with the other staff members in tow, and as he bent like a jackknife in front of the huge Warlord his subordinates followed suit. "To what does Solotun's owe the honor of your visit, my Lord?" he asked.
