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Grace arrived at the guild hall the morning after her day off. She saw the normal dead beats that were too cheap to pay for a room and Lily was too lazy to kick out. She kicked a few as she passed them. One young newbie jumped up ready to fight. Grace glared at him. Once he saw who it was he backed down even flipping a few coins on the table and leaving. Grace just shook her head and looked for Lily. She wanted to check on Ranz.
"Lily, where are you girl?" Grace called out. She could hear a clattering from the back room and then Lily came stumbling out wiping her mouth. Grace sighed, but did not make a comment as one of the young maids left shortly after Lily.
"Good morning master. How was the memorial?" Lily walked to her normal spot straightening her dress.
"Same as last year, dower and depressing." Grace left it at that not really wanting to talk about it. Lily knew better than to ask a follow up question so just tired to look busy.
"What room is Ranz in? I wanted to check on him." It put a smile on Grace's face thinking of the young boy.
"Ranz?" Lily thought for a minute and then remembered the boy who registered first thing in the morning the day before. "Oh ya he joined a party first thing. I think they already left town."
"Damn, I knew a party would snatch a fine piece of ass like that up, but that was fast. I had hoped to see him before he left town." Grace's shoulders sank some as she moved back to her office. Turning back. "Who did he join up with by the way?"
Lily turned around almost afraid to say, since the guild master was showing an interest. "Landis's party, the black serpents." Seeing Grace's face wash over with anger Lily tried to defend herself. "I tried to stop him. He seemed like such a sweet kid, but Landis kept me from pointing it out."
"You Stupid SLUT I dont give a shit who his father is. He cannot stop you from informing the members of charter clauses." Grace stomped over to Lily. It looked as if she may strike her but Grace held back.
Lily held her hands up. "I adjusted it and since Landis did not explain it to the boy. I did not explain it to Landis."
"Moron, show it to me." Grace barked. Lily rushed to the back and came over with the charter she had Ranz and Landis sign.
"Right here." Lily pointed to her adjustment. "I hate that fucker too."
"You devious little harlot." Grace folded the charter and tucked it away in her coat. "Spread the word I want to know the second that shit head is back in the city."
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I awoke at dawn the next morning. No one but Draga was awake. I went to check on my clothes. They were still damp but only just. I moved them to a rock that would be getting direct sunlight very soon in the hopes they would be dry before we broke camp.
Draga spent time collecting Firewood. She rebuilt the fire from the embers it had died down to. Once she did she came over to me and dragged me back to the fire and placed me next to it. It was a rather cool morning and once I was next to the fire I could feel how cold I had really been.
"Thank you" I smiled at her. She merely nodded and went about the camp preparing for our eventual departure. I stood by the fire for a while before I decided to prepare a little breakfast. I knew to only prepare five meals. I still made six servings. Splitting it amongst the others. I am not sure it would help in the end but really it would not hurt.
The other party member started to wake with Fay being first. She quickly left the tent and joined me by the fire while I was cooking. She still said nothing but she sat right next to me this time. The day before She had pretended I did not even exist. I thought about hugging her or maybe rubbing her back. Something to show support. However, she seemed so tense I was not sure I should. I just gave her a warm smile.
Triss and Landis were awake but still in their tent. I could tell at first from the slurping sounds. Then a few minutes later I could hear Triss moaning accompanied by the sound of flesh slapping together. They exited a few minutes after the noise died down. Triss took a bowl from me and said nothing. Landis took his bowl but instead of joining Triss he sat with me. He nodded his head to Fay with a glare and she moved to sit somewhere else.
"I am sorry about last night Princess. I sort of forgot this is your first party and you must have lived a fairly sheltered life before now." Landis sighed, taking a spoon full of the porridge I made. "Damn this is amazing. It normally tastes like warm snot." He looked at me and could tell his complement was falling on deaf ears.
"Either way I am really sorry. You have to understand that adventures die all the time. Because of that we live each day like it is our last. That is because for a lot of us it is. When you face death every day you make sure you find time to enjoy the life you have."
I could not believe he was trying to justify his actions last night. I was about to tell him off when I caught Draga's eyes and she ever so slightly shook her head. If this man was really the sadist I think he is, maybe Draga is right, pushing back will not end well. He knows I am mad. I cannot if I just give in to his weak justification. It would be better to let him think he has to win me over.
"I mean, I guess I get it, but Fay did not seem like she wanted what happened last night. She seemed to be in real pain." I grumbled.
Landis laughs "That is your pain slut of a sister. Come on sis, tell the princess how you like it."
Fay raised her head but did not look at me. "I love the pain daddy and big bro bring me. They can use me any way they want."
"Ha see, the little slut loves it. We are just giving her what she asks for."
It was clear to me that Fay did not have a choice but to say that. She is in the same trouble I am in. I just don't understand why she did not leave the party when they were back in town. I would leave now if I could but I am concerned about making it back to town alone. Maybe I can convince Fay to go with me, but we would likely have to leave Draga. I am sure the slave collar would prevent her from running. So running was not an option. For now I needed to play along.
"I guess if she says so." I decided it was best not to talk about his treatment of Draga and draw attention to her in any way. Landis took this opportunity to rest his hand on my thigh. I looked up at him and saw Draga behind him looking very upset. It was my turn to give her a look to make her calm down. To my surprise she did not calm down but instead walked away. Maybe it was the best option she had to control herself.
"I am happy we could work this out, princess. You are going to love being part of our little family. Now give Daddy some sugar." Landis leaned on me as he caressed my thigh. He wanted me to kiss him. If I was to keep this up and find a way out I would have to. I started to lean in as well hoping it would be short. Just before our lips touched a loud crash could be heard. Alarmed everyone jumped up, even Nerk who was asleep.
Draga had cracked a huge log over a rock splitting it into many smaller pieces. Then she started collecting it as if it was for the fire. Everyone untensed as we realized what happened. I took this opportunity to get up and go retrieve my clothes. I had been having this conversation with Landis half naked. I moved quickly while everyone was still looking at Draga.
My robes had been in the sun a little over an hour now and they were dry. Between the two robes I could tell the one that I used to clean Draga's wounds with. It was almost tinted gray now. The other robe looked almost new. It did not take me long to decide on what robes I would wear. I was smiling from ear to ear in my new gray robes. I am not sure why. I mean it was horrible how they turned this color, but from that incident Draga and I made a powerful connection. It seemed Draga felt the same way. I could see a half smile as he saw me carrying perfectly clean white robes but instead wearing the stained gray ones.
Once everyone was done with breakfast I collected the food again taking the leftovers to Draga. I had tried to leave half of mine for her plus what everyone else had left over. While it was horrible we made her do it, I imagined it was better than nothing. Plus it was the best I could do for now. She gave me a nod and a smile when she saw how full the bowl was. I only smiled back not wanting to draw any attention. I took the opportunity to look at her back. The worst of the wounds were still there but I was surprised that most of the smaller slashes the whip made were almost unnoticeable now. It had been less than 12 hours.
We finished packing camp up and headed out. The morning was very different from the day before. About every half hour we stopped because Draga spotted a monster. It did not shock me that Landis used Draga as a scout and front line fighter. Whatever the monster was, Draga would be up front alone with Landis behind and Triss and Fay behind that. True to his word at least Nerk was guarding me as the healer.
The strategy seemed to be to let the monster attack Draga and while it was distracted, surround and kill it. All in all it was a sound strategy. Draga was clearly a skilled fighter. It was rare that the others needed to assist her in killing a lone monster. She did all this with no armor and no weapon except her massive fists. If she was properly equipped Draga would be a force to be reckoned with.
After the first few fights I wanted to heal Draga. Landis refused to allow me. She just had minor scrapes, none as bad as the whipping she had received last night. I knew they would not bother her for long. I hated to admit Landis was correct, but there was not really a need to use up one of my spells on what are minor scrapes for Draga. It was better to save their limited uses for something more serious. Still I had a pain in my gut seeing her get injured, even if they are minor ones.
I have been collecting some random forest vegetables as we traveled. I was planning to at least make a half decent soup for dinner. Draga noticed what I was doing a few hours in and started picking rabbits off with rocks. I was surprised she could be so accurate with just random rocks she found on the ground.
By the time we stopped for the day we had several rabbits and more than enough vegetables to make a decent meal. What I made was more than enough for six people, my reasoning being that the food would go to waste if I did not. So once I filled five bowls with food I still had lots left over. I was so happy that Draga would get a full meal tonight.
Landis came over to me as we started to eat our meal. I was only two bites in when he took my bowl away. He poured the soup onto the ground. "Who is in charge?"
