Ch.4

Adrian was the first to awaken from the depths of slumber, for one reason or another Lilith did not enter his dreams nor was he summoned to the Palace of Carnal Desires. However he was very, very confused upon awakening, Annabelle was still cradled in his arms, her bountiful chest rising and falling with each breath. If Annabelle was in his arm who in all the planes was wrapped around him, he tilted his head upward cautiously to see a cascade of dark red curls flooding out around the pillow. "Maybe she was tired and just happen to lay there by chance" Adrian thought to himself as he let out a sigh. Suddenly there was a strange warm sensation on the back of Adrian's neck causing him to stiffen like a board. She was licking him, the crazy warrior wolf maid was licking the back of his neck, not that it didn't feel good, how ever his stiffening member was firmly and uncomfortably jamned into his leather trousers. "Whats that stiff thing poking me in the back" a tired grogy Annabelle yawned. "Probably just a buckle or something, anyway its morning lets get up" Adrian replied trying to ignore the Margitte's strange behavior.

Annabelle rolled over to face Adrian only to see the wolfish grin of Margitte staring out from behind Adrian's head. She unconsciously let out a squeak before trying to get up, it took a few seconds for them to become untangled. Thankfully a sharp knock on the carriage door saved Adrian from trying to explain a situation he couldn't even comprehend. "Alright it's sun up time to get a move on" Tagrid called out to them. "After you milady" Adrian cooed with a flourished gesture towards Annabelle. With a yawn she lazily climbed out of the carriage, Adrian turned back to only for Margitte wo give him a wolfish grin. "Oh, this is going to be fun" Margitte thought to herself.

In the early morning Tagrid managed to find the two horses in a field and build a liter for the horses to pull their luggage, even a dwarven warrior is still a craftsman at heart. He also took the time to clean up the goblin corpses and pile them away from the road, he wished they had the supplies to burn them so they didn't attract any large scavengers or preadators that would put traverlers at risk, but noving the to the edge of the forest would have to do. Now he was handing out adventurer's rations, which consisted of a hard smoked sausage, dried fruits, a portion of cheese, and a draught of ale, to each of them. Adrian gratefully accepted his meal and was suprised by the richness of it's flavors.

"The good news is we're close to town, the bad news is that we're going to be stuck there for a day or two, also I have to report to the local guild office once we get there, afterwards I'll meet you in the tavern" Tagrid explained as they walked. "If its not too much of a bother, I'd like to visit the guild office as well" Adrian inquired. "Heh, planning on joining the guild, with those skills I'm not suprised, it'd be my pleasure" Tagrid replied idly stroking his beard.

As the party walked what had once been untamed grass lands slowly gave way to rolling fields of wheat at barley, further in the distance a slow moving river flowed cutting a great serpentine path through the landscape. The town was still situated with in the borders of his father's province, he had ridden here a few times with and without his father to hear about the "going on's" as the locals called it. Mostly just rumors and speculations about the provinces in the surrounding area.

The town bore the uninspired name of River's Bend, because it sat on a bend in the river, the buildings bore a mix of cultures, stone long houses from northern settlers mixed with the plastered walls of the locals. At the town's center lay the Drunken Trout Tavern & Inn, a large stone brick building with a roof of jointed timber and clay roofing shingles. A sign of a trout hanging out of a tankard swayed gently in the morning breeze.

The women and the men at arms headed for the tavern whilst Tagrid and Adrian headed for another stone brick building off to the side of the main boulevard.

Annabelle looked up at the sign of the Drunken Trout, with a deep breath she push open the door of the tavern. Her village was not far from River's Bend and her father often came to the town to trade his wares for stocks of coal and iron that were brought in by river traders. She was hoping that he was not in town trading, she would have a hard time explaining how she became the personal attendant of the Duke's son much less why she was with a heavily armed and armored demi-human acompained by two men at arms.

There was also the morning's incident in the back of her mind, "did Margitte always scold Adrian's more lewd behaivor because they had a secret relationship". The thought was enough to make her want to stomp her feet and pout. Growing up Annabelle was ostracized by the girls in the village because she was too much of a tomboy, and the boys only ever saw her as a friend due to her lack of feminine hobbies. No boy wanted to marry a woman who smelled of sulfur, smoke and iron, and none of the girls wanted seen with a girl covered in stains and calluses. Adrian was the first man to show any interest in her as a woman, when ever he would whisper in that dark seductive tone her heart would race and her head became filled with a fog of lust. Even thinking about the feeling of his arms and the deep silkiness of his voice brought a deep flush of crimson to her pale cheeks. At times she had to fight the desire to throw herself at his whims, still she managed to keep her selfish desires in check, throwing yourself at the man sinply for your selfish desires was a behavior only worth of one called a harlot.

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"Eeek" Annabelle expelled in shock from the sensation of some one pinching her round full buttocks. "You're just standing there with a blank expression on your face, come on" Margitte whispered into her ear.

Margitte sighed mentally, the poor girl had fallen madly deeply for the young Lord, however Adrian was a strong man and only strong woman would be worthy to stand at his side. What Adrian needed was a partner he could count on, some one who could watch his back and not just admire it from afar. She was hoping her mischievous behavior would set a fire in Annabelle's heart, instead it only seemed to make the simple country girl even more anxious. Margitte nodded to herself, she would guide Annabelle to a path where she could stand at Adrian's side, however she too would be at his side, long as he desired to have her. "Powerful men attract many women" Margitte thought as she pondered just how many women would be drawn to his side. She certainly wasn't put off by the idea of her young Lord surounded by a harem of women, she enjoyed the pleasures that both sexes had to offer. She licked her lips as she admired the roundness of her protege's posterior, though she was more cute than beautiful in the face, her body was packing some serious armaments.

The Drunken Trout was currently fairly empty, the row of comunal tables were sparsely populated by town watchman grabbing a quick breakfast before they changed shifts and the odd traveler. No one in particular stood out, that didn't stop the men-at-arms from keeping their hands resting on their sword hilts. Taverns were often enough places that attracted rough and tumble sorts, they weren't about to take any chances. Annabelle stuck close to Margitte who strode up to the tavern's counter with the confidence of a battle hardened veteran, the gold plate hanging from her neck a testament to the skills and experience that gave her that confidence.

"Welcome to the Drunken Trout, the name's Torvald, be it rooms, food, or booze the Drunken Trout has what you need" a stated large burly man with a warm friendly tone. The man looked like a red haired grizly bear wearing a tunic, he was certainly of nothern stock. Looking at the large barrel chested man Margitte imagined that only very foolish men made trouble in the tavern. "I'm Margitte, my lord will be requiring a room, myself and my lord's attendant will require a room as well, also I'd like a bath if possible" Margitte informed Torvald. Torvald eyed the two men curiously, he certainly recognized their tabbards, " and for the Duke's men" he inquired. "Hay loft is good enough for me" one of the men stated, "aye me too" the other added. They chose the hay loft for two purposes, to give their young Lord some privacy, and to watch who came and went from the tavern.

The bath wasn't really a nessecity, Margitte had requested it for another purpose, privacy, no one could interfere with the conversation she planned on having with her protege, not with their armed guards present at least.

Two wooden washtubs filled with hot soapy watter sat in the middle of a plain white tiled room, Annabelle quickly undressed and began to wash the dried blood that had stuck to her skin, living and bathing in groups with the other maids had accustomed her to being nude around women. Margitte took more time deliberately stripping each piece of armor to inspect each piece for damage or wear, the actions of a meticulous veteran who knew how quickly ones arms could degrade if not properly cared for. With her bow unstrung and her armor neatly polished and aranged she made her way to the washtubs, Annabelle was already scrubbing away at her porecelain skin.

She was a a little shorter than average and a bit stockier as well, her arms and legs now free of her livery showed a good deal of toned muscles. Margitte pondered for a little while, the scent of levendar soap drifted pleasantly in the air. "Tell me, Annabelle, how do you feel about the young lord" Margitte questioned as if simply talking aloud. "W-w-why do you ask" she stammered shocked at the sudden question. Margitte gave her one of her stone cutting glares to stop the girl's stammering, "I do not know, I mean when he holds me close and whispers in my ear I feel my mind become clouded and my heart begins to race, I can only imagine what he might do to me, but once my head becomes clear again I remember that he is the son of the duke and I am but the daughter of a blacksmith" Annabelle sighed in frustration. "I'm not sure Adrian sees it the same way, as far as he is concerned your a young woman whom he finds attractive" Margitte explained.

"You say that, but what could I do, the nobility certainly wouldn't approve of us having a relationship beyond that of maid and master" Annabelle sighed dejectedly. "I have resolved myself to servitude to him, I will forge his arms and craft his armor, even if I may not be by his side I can still serve him proudly" she smiled, it was a somber smile of a defeated woman who found a sliver of hope in a world of darkness. "So you will just choose to live in the shadow of the man you desire, why not fight for the right to stand by his side instead" Margitte questioned in an mocking. Annabelle furrowed her brow in irritation, "then what would you have me do" she practically shouted standing up fists clenched. "Getting angry is a good start, but if you really desire to stand as his equal you'll have prove that you can be his shield on the field of battle" Margitte eyes blazed with a passion that cause Annabelle to take a step back in confusion. "W-w-what do you mean, me a fighter, but" Annabelle stammered before being cut off. "Thanks to those years growing up swinging a hammer your arms and legs are well developed, combined with your stocky build you'd be a perfect vanguard like Tagrid" Margitte explained rapidly. "Yes" Annabelle responded with a confused questioning tone. "Good you're serious, not one of those wishy washy princess types who can'tmake up their minds, after the men get back we're going shopping" Margitte stated triumphantly with an arm pump.