Author's Note: This is a work of fiction, exploring taboo fantasies, not an endorsement of behavior, sexual or otherwise, in real life. Remember: Keep it Safe, Sane, and Consensual!
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The horses trotted as they pulled the carriage through the dark forest. Over the sound of stomping hooves and clattering wheels, the sounds of the women inside chattering away could be heard.
"Oh, your Highness, are you sure it was a good idea to travel without an escort? They say these woods are infested with orcs..." The buxom blonde servant did her best to stare out the nearest window of the carriage while also trying to keep from being seen through it. Her simple but well-crafted dress clung to her curves as she shivered in fear.
Beside her, a regal looking brunette in a purple silk dress and a wine cloak chortles. "Relax, Courtney. My father's men gave them a good thrashing a few months ago, they'd be foolish to threaten a carriage traveling on the Royal Road. Besides, we have an escort. We brought Liz!"
Seated on the other side, a tall redhead leans forward and reaches for her own curtain, peering intensely into the darkness as if daring danger to reveal itself to her. The swinging light of the lantern hanging from the ceiling glints off of the rich polished leather of a bracer.
"Princess Maria, you know I would slaughter every filthy orc in the Royal Forest for you, but I really do wish you had agreed to a full escort on this trip. Even with the importance of discretion, there are still threats lurking in these woods that we know nothing about."
Maria grinned at her armored companion. Dame Elizabeth had lived in the castle with her for their entire lives, training in the arts of chivalry and combat to become one of the most famous knights of the realm. What the beautiful knight lacked in years of experience she more than made up for with fierce determination and proud stubbornness, never backing down from a fight if it meant leaving another helpless.
"Now, Liz, we couldn't risk anyone learning about this meeting. The more of my father's men who know of it, the more likely word will leak out. The capital is full of spies, you know. It is of the utmost importance that nobody learns where we are going until we arrive in Seacrest to deliver this message to my uncle."
Elizabeth bit back on the question she wanted to ask. She knew better than to ask the Princess to share more than she wanted to when it came to matters of state. Beyond the rules of propriety that applied to a knight in service to the Crown, Maria was also notoriously well-guarded when it came to keeping secrets. Elizabeth doubted an entire orc hunting party would be able to get Maria to share the details of the message. Not that they'd ever get the chance to try with Dame Elizabeth standing between them and the Princess.
Courtney, despite knowing the Princess just as long as Elizabeth had, did not know better. "Princess, what is so important that the Queen has us riding down such a worn out road through such cursed woods in the middle of the night?!" Elizabeth tried not to roll her eyes. The Princess's faith in her abilities was flattering, for certain, but her duty to protect Maria would be far easier to fulfill if the Princess ever listened to her counsel in matters of her safety. The redheaded knight sighed as she glared through the window to avoid glaring at Maria.
Courtney screamed as something landed on top of the carriage. The driver gave a short cry, silenced abruptly as he fell past Elizabeth's window and landed limply in the road. As Elizabeth jumped from her seat and reached for the door, the horses could be heard whinnying as they slowed suddenly. Sparing a look over her shoulder, the knight shouted an order at the Princess.
"Stay in the carriage!"
Dame Elizabeth threw the door open and suddenly saw a party of tall broad-chested orcs in leather armor approaching from the side of the road. Remembering the driver, she looked up just in time to see another orc on the roof throwing a lasso at her. She grabbed it before it could ensnare her, and pulled back hard. The orc tipped forward and fell from the roof, hitting the road like a sack of rocks.
There was no time to gloat, as the other enemies were upon the knight. The first orc to reach her was rewarded with a dagger driven into his gut, and the second one hesitated just long enough for her to get her sword free of its scabbard. Behind her she could hear one of the other women slam the carriage door shut as she slashed outward with the sword.
The orcs had stories of the warrior woman with the fiery hair. She did not know it, but she was held in very high regard by the orcs for her fighting prowess and her beauty. The orcs intended to pay her the highest compliment, in their own way.