Janette lowered the bowl from her Lips and nodded sadly. "I'm really sorry for all that. I mean I know I was horrible to you but I always tried to talk him out of hitting anyone." She explained.

“Well let's forget about it. One on one I could wipe the floor with Freddie. Besides you just made up for a lot of being a bitch." His words caused fresh colour to spill onto her cheeks and the tops of her breasts.

“I never knew it could be like that...I mean you're..." She stopped, not quite having the words to express herself

“He fucks good." Algra supplied a simpler option before glugging down more of her stew.

That made both Janette and Gregory Laugh together as Algra shrugged and ate some more.

"You know this isn't half bad..." Janette admired the culinary skills of the cook just as he announced his return from the outside of the tent.

“Enter.” Gregory called out.

“Is this the ring you seek master?" The slave carried a pillow in his hands, sat on top of which was the ring itself.

"Yes! Thank you!" Gregory hopped up, set down his half empty bowl and moved to take the ring.

It was the same one to be sure. He looked at the silver band with those strange etchings along the inner rim and then closed his fist over it. Looking to the slave he reached out and grasped the man’s shoulder firmly.

“Thanks. Is there anything I can do for you?" Gregory asked.

The man looked at him as if he'd just sprouted antlers. Clearly this was not a question he was used to.

“Well...I-I have a brother. He still lives in the lowlands of the southern kingdom. I have been trying to get him safe passage here but our former orc master could not afford to keep more slaves. It would be just him, his wife, his son and his two daughters. All are hard workers. If you could do anything to bring them here..." Hope ignited in the man's eyes as he looked at Gregory.

“You want them to come here and be slaves?" Janette interrupted, incredulous.

The man looked to her and back at Gregory, unsure as to whether he should answer. The young man nodded and the slave turned to speak with the scarlet haired girl.

“I do not know from where you hail but Life in the kingdoms is hard for many. We work the fields but own nothing for they are the lord's Lands. A poor crop often means some of us will die that winter and the work is back breaking in terrible conditions. Orcs might be a hard people but they treat us fairly. If we get sick we're taken care of and if they want us to plough their fields then they get of their asses and pitch in. We don't get beaten or taxed. We get fed and sheltered. If it comes down to it most peasants would rather be orc slaves. What's more if we're good at somethin’ they keep us well tended to. I can cook and I know numbers so I get a share of what my master gets for using my skills. My son would have died on the fields where I‘m from but here he's Learning how to shape metal."

"That's a weirdly fair system for one based around slavery." Gregory sat back down in the tent.

“It isn't slavery based on taking away freedom and working the saps to hell my lord. It's more about honourably knowing and bowing to those who earn it. Sir Rudd could probably explain it better than me." The man scratched his stubbly chin.

“I'll ask him and I'll also try to speak with someone about your brother. Thank you for your time." Gregory nodded.

The man gave a deep bow and then turned and slipped out of their tent. Gregory sat and finished his bowl before taking the other empty vessels and placing them outside the tent for someone to take care of.

“So, who's the guy we ask about this?" Gregory opened his hand to show them the ring.

“I will speak of it tomorrow. Your day has been long and you need rest, master. It is a long journey from here to the one whom you seek.”

Gregory hesitated a moment before shrugging his shoulders and slipping the ring into his pocket.

“So I have some questions." Janette looked over to Algra as Gregory moved to Lay down between them.

Algra grunted for the girl to continue.