Chris sat down and looked over the map carefully, mindful of the hot glare the hot blonde was stabbing him with the whole time. Lana sat beside Alexis and looked more dismayed then upset. Easy for her, she hadn't been in charge of the map.
Alexis frowned, "Well?"
"Well, I can safely say we are not lost."
The Knight raised a brow, "Not lost? What do you call being someplace we are not supposed to and not knowing where?"
The hunter put down the map and pointed at the road they had been on, "We are hardly lost, Sir Knight. When we came to the split in the road we just took the wrong one...and then the other split in that road. These paths must be recent if they are not on the Temple's map. We just follow the roads back to the right way."
Alexis looked at the map before frowning again, "But where exactly are we?"
Damn this woman could be stubborn. Chris checked the map before waving his hand vaguely at one point, "Here, somewhere. This map is old, but there must be settlements around now. This path seemed to lead close to the border to the northern lands of Haron. I would break my bow if there wasn't an inn or two for traders or sellswords."
Lana bent over the map like a child in school, "Haron?"
"The northern lands. Snow and ice and worst. No need to visit that war-torn place."
Lana blinked before asking, "Snow?"
Alexis and Chris stared at Lana. The tan girl blushed and looked between them. Alexis was at least glad she wasn't lowering her head anymore.
"Lana, you have never seen snow?"
Lana shook her head, "I might have heard the name before, but it has never come to Sabacc."
Of course not. Snow was the last thing to see in a desert land, "It is sort of like frozen rain. Small white drops at fall when it is cold and covers the ground."
Lana's eyes went wide, "Can we see it?"
Chris shook his head, "Not now. We have a desert to see first. Plus Haron is not the safest place right now. Seems the new lord of Stormhold is on the warpath, looking to make himself king. We have enough problems without being caught up in a war."
Lana looked downcast, and Alexis sort of felt the way. Knights of the Heart sometimes made pilgrimages to holy sites in places like Haron. She would like to one day visit places like the Crystal Forest or the castle where the legendary Huntress was said to have killed her first Vampire Lord.
"Now then!"
Alexis looked up as Chris spoke and rolled up his map. The girls stood as well and they were ready to backtrack when Chris suddenly took out his bow, spun around, and fired an arrow into some bushes. A pained growl came from the foliage before something slumped out. The arrow was imbedded in the head of the biggest wolf Alexis had ever seen.
"What the..."
Chris walked up and pulled the arrow out, "Dread wolf. A bigger, nastier wolf native to Haron. Used to have a cloak made of their fur."
Lana looked at the wolf in shock, "Why is it here then?"
"Better hunting grounds. War is draining on the land and animals. Better to hunt a deer down south then try to find an army's leftovers."
Alexis nodded, and then drew her sword as the sounds of horses approached. Three mounted warriors sped toward them. The leader wore steel armor and a sword and was human. Lana made a noise of discomfort toward the other two. Alexis needed them to come closer for her to notice they wore leather armor and had green skin. Orcs. Alexis shivered as she remembered how an Orc had violated her pussy and ass. She raised her sword and motioned Lana behind her.
The warrior stopped in front of them and the human leader dismounted. The Orcs stayed on their horses as the leader's helmed head turned from them to the wolf and to the bloody arrow in Chris' hand. Then he raised his visor to show a shallow brown beard and dark eyes.
The man bowed, "A good day to you, travelers."
Alexis lowered her sword a bit and nodded, "A good day to you as well...?"
The man caught the question and smiled, "Derik. Lord Derik Cros of Castle Cros."
Not any place she had ever heard of. He would be a lesser lord, having only a castle and maybe a small settlement. Still, he was a lord.
Alexis sheathed her sword and bowed, "A pleasure to meet you, my Lord. I am Sir Alexis Rosecruise, Knight of the Heart."
Derik raised a brow in surprise, "A member of the Order? Forgive me my dear, but you do not exactly look the part."
Chris sat down on the dread wolf and checked the arrow, "Good thing too, or we would never get anywhere with people fawning over the shining Knight."
Lord Derik glanced at Chris would a certain amount of distain. Even a lesser lord counted himself above someone like the hunter. And Alexis was fairly sure Chris would have no problem with violence if an argument started.
But the lord eventually nodded to himself, "Yes, perhaps. You do not speak like a common sellsword, and your speech and manners are far above that of a peasant. And..."
Derik walked up to her and gazed at her closely. For once Alexis didn't see the usual lust, but simple interest. Derik snapped his fingers, "Ah, of course! You were at Lord Andrew's party! You were wearing your armor then, but it is hard to forget such a face."
A thankful Alexis nodded, "Yes, my lord. I had that honor. I am afraid I do no remember you though."
Lord Derik waved his hand dismissively and turned back toward his horse, "Unlike you, I was not wearing full armor. Besides, one Heart Knight is easier to remember than one noble in a crowd of nobles. Come, let me welcome you."
-
Castle Cros was not at the level of Lord Andrew's manor, but it was still a fine structure. Outside the walls was the small settlement of Cros. The large lake both castle and village sat next to was a source of fish to eat and sell, Derik explained.
Alexis and her companions rode with the lord of the castle. An extra horse had been brought incase the hunt took Lord Derik's. Now the three of them struggled to keep on the same mount. Well, Chris didn't struggle much as he was sandwiched between Alexis and Lana. The hard poking at her rear told her he was far from unhappy. The dead dread wolf was slung on the horse of one of the ever-silent Orcs. Alexis had asked about them to receive a surprising answer.
"They are my slaves." Lord Derik had said with some pride.
Alexis had almost stopped her horse to stare at him, "Slaves? Orcs?"
Derik nodded in delight, "It was my grandfather's doing. A large group of Orcs was raiding Cros for women and loot. The then Lord Cros gathered his men and townsfolk and beat them. Rather than kill them, he forced the slavers into slavery. Every Orc I own is descended from that raiding party."
Chris whistled, something Lord Derik did not seem offended by this time. Lana's eyes were wide as plates. She was from Sabacc, this whole situation must be the very definition of alien.
Alexis glanced at the Orcs then back to Derik, "Slavery is forbidden..."
"In cities like Solan. And by the oaths of your Order. There has not been a king in years to dictate the laws of these lands. Ulric Bloodrose is master of the desert and owns slaves. If he succeeds, the Lord of Stormhold may or may not make slaves in the north. In my small domain, my law is the only law. Besides, it is only Orcs. They raid, rape, and enslave by their culture. It is not like this is not deserved."
Alexis frowned. Her Order was completely opposed to slavery, even if the ones who set down that rule probably never imagined Orc slaves. But Derik would probably cast them out if she argued, or even turn his slaves on them. So Alexis held her tongue.
-
"Cute." Chris leaned against the doorframe and grinned at her. Alexis tugged at the blue blouse she wore. A matching skirt and some shoes were the outfit provided by Lady Cros for tonight. She had been overjoyed to also have some underwear to wear again. Wearing that leather skirt with her pussy bare had done her no good.
Since arriving at the castle time had gone by fast. Lady Cros had given them the usual greetings and welcomed them to their home. More Orc slaves had taken away their horse and the dead wolf. Apparently it had been the last of a pack that had come down south for food. Now it went to join its brothers until they were made into a new cloak or rug. Lord Cros said their coming was perfect, as he was throwing a party on his private ship to celebrate the successful hunt. The beautiful Alexis and Lana had been invited aboard with more zeal then Chris, who had a marked disinterest with nobility. Alexis personally felt the same, but had accepted their host's offer. Now she stood in her room and removed her clothes. She felt naked without proper armor, but Derik refused to let her be seen out on the lake in leather.
"Is your attire any better?" Alexis tossed her blouse on the bed and pulled down her skirt. She felt more comfortable in her new underwear already.
"Didn't check, not going."
Alexis turned to Chris in surprise. The hunter shrugged, "Me and boats don't mix, Sir Knight. I am a hunter, not a fisherman. And a boat full of snobs? I might gag."