A few days had passed since Peter had undergone his transformation. Both he and Catherine were starting to get used to their changed bodies, and they were enjoying them thoroughly. Whereas before they might have had sex once or twice a week at most - less if Catherine was feeling poorly - they were now vigorously fucking at least twice a day, and each session was an extended marathon with multiple orgasms for both of them.
Their days weren't entirely spent immersed in pleasure however, much as they both wished to do so. Catherine had been poring over the stack of books that Peter had pilfered from Alexei's workshop - she seemed to find reading them a lot easier than Peter - but so far she hadn't found anything that described the potion they had both drunk from. She also had to spend quite a lot of time preparing food, as their rampant libido came with a price - a massively increased appetite.
For his part, Peter spent quite a large portion of his day out in the city. They had discussed what to do next, and had decided that they should leave the city. Both of their appearances had changed dramatically, and while most people didn't seem to notice or comment on Catherine's changed appearance, whatever magic had altered people's perception of her didn't seem to have had the same effect on Peter. After the first extremely awkward conversation with a casual friend where he tried to claim he had gained muscles simply by exercising more, Peter took care to try and avoid anyone who knew him too well, and if he couldn't, he tried to keep the conversations short. At least he didn't need a completely new wardrobe like Catherine - most of his clothes still fit, even if they were now a lot tighter in some places than they used to be.
Most of his errands in the city were either shopping for more food, or in preparation for leaving the city. They didn't have much to bring with them, but they also didn't have much of a goal of where to go. But wherever they went, they needed to head out soon - their landlord had come by the previous day. Paying him their rent combined with the cost of feeding their insatiable appetites and the need to buy Catherine fabric to make new clothes meant their savings were rapidly dwindling, and without any income forthcoming they would soon be out of money.
So far, Peter had been trying to supplement their funds by selling off anything which they didn't think they would be able to travel with, which included most of Catherine's old clothes (which no longer fit her anyway). It was while he was in the market haggling with an ornery vegetable seller that he heard the recruiter. There was a small rotund man standing on top of a box trying to gather a crowd, and Peter wandered over to hear better.
"...great opportunity! My lord has need of able bodied workers and settlers, and promises fair compensation for one and all! Whatever your trade - be it tailor, carpenter or farmer, he will have a place for you! You there!" The recruiter pointed at a burly man to Peter's left, "what is your trade?"
The man seemed surprised to be singled out. "Uh...what? I mean, I'm a journeyman candlemaker." he said.
The small man clapped his hands in delight. "A candlemaker! A fine trade indeed! And sir, does the prospect of having your own business, your own shop, appeal to you?" The candlemaker nodded, but before he could continue the recruiter continued, raising his voice to address the crowd even as he focused on his target. "If you were to sign up to my lord's town charter, you would be given the opportunity to run your very own business! Perhaps take on an apprentice or two of your own! A town will always have need of candles to light the dark nights after all! Doesn't that sound like a fine offer? All you need to do is review the charter and sign up!"
The crowd was growing, and there were murmurs as people digested what had been said. The recruiter saw that he had the crowd's attention, and raised his voice once more, clearly enjoying his job.
"And we don't just need candlemakers! Millers, masons, shoemakers, chandlers, brewers - my lord has need of any and all professions! But what if you don't have a trade I hear you say? Fear not! My lord's new town will need men and women to help build it as well as to work in it! Be you a laborer, sailor or field-hand, there is work for any who wish it!"
Seeing the crowd was now completely focused on him, and clearly eager, the little man now changed tack - he had dangled the carrot, and now it was time to draw them in. "My lord is generous and ambitious, but this is a limited opportunity! I call out to all amongst you who seek to start a new life, sign up now! My compatriots will be taking names and signatures, and will provide you with any details you should require! Don't worry if you cannot read, my friends here will happily take care of that for you!"
With a flourish, the man gestured towards a pair of men who had set up a small stall beside his make-shift podium, with ledgers, ink, quills and stacks of paper instead of goods to be sold. A freshly painted wooden sign above them proclaimed "Silvanford", along with a crude painting of a house.
The recruiter hopped down from his podium to take a break and grab a drink, and while most of the crowd dispersed to return to whatever they were up to previously a few approached the stall, and Peter found himself amongst them.
******
Catherine was sitting by the window and reading. She had never really been very interested in books even though she had learned to read as a child, but she had found herself growing fascinated as she read through the books they had taken from Alexei's shop. She had even had Peter spend some of their savings on a dictionary to help her understand the plethora of strange words she had never come across before. She put the book down and sighed, wondering when Peter would come home.
Today she was wearing a simple one-piece dress that was belted at her waist, but even wearing such a basic piece of clothing she knew that her curves drew attention, and she wanted to see Peter's reaction to her choices. Thankfully she didn't have long to wait, as a minute later the door opened and Peter entered.
