Valise raised her gaze from Gregory to the girl at Algra's side. "He will not begin to recover for a few days. I have sedated him to make sure he feels no pain. We will need to watch him at all times."

“Very well. Come now then. Who will take the first watch?" No sooner had Emmet asked than Algra stepped forth and placed her hand on the table. "Very good," he continued. "Then the rest of us should get some rest."

Valise stayed for a few moments to speak with Algra about the signs of trouble and what to look for in his breathing before taking her leave. Emmet stepped out with Talina shortly afterwards and placed his hand upon the woman's shoulder when they were out of earshot.

“Do you have any news?"

"I am not a miracle worker, old man. I've only had hours and much of that was spent with the red-haired one." Talina was tired and angry. She shot an icy Look towards Emmet that warned of her edgy mood. "I shall ask the questions that need to be asked tomorrow. The day is for talking and the night is for spying."

“I see. Well, please report your findings to me, and to Gregory when he awakens."

“What do you intend to do? Lecture the suspect?"

“No, I intend to make sure you have enough evidence."

“And then?"

“Then I'm going to give their name to Algra.”

Talina held his stare for a moment, then the old man and the dancer smiled at each other like wolves in the night, hungry for the blood of the one that had harmed their pack-mate.

Under the care of his friends, Gregory was allowed to recover in peace. Murmurs of the camp and his former possessions being permanently acquired by Grolfir after the boy's shambolic performance were quashed soon enough. The warchief himself appeared before them all on the second day after the accident to affirm that Gregory would be allowed to recover before any further action was taken. An elder orc, who seemed to almost constantly inhabit Grolfir's wake, did not seem pleased at all by this news. The warchief's mind seemed to be made up on the matter. If anything, the gesture was likely a very slight attempt to get his neice to talk to him once again rather than just glower with barely suppressed fury in his presence.

Either Algra or Janette were always at Gregory's side as he slept. Often both together. Algra was occasionally called away to show her presence in the great hall beside her uncle. She did not often speak on these occasions, but she did play along with them as it was part of her duty and station. At first, some of the younger males took her presence in the hall as a sign that she had moved on from her human lover. It only took three bruised ribs, a broken nose and a rather serious concussion before they took the hint and stopped pursuing her.

Janette had been pried away from Gregory and into Talina's tent on the fourth day after spending a great deal of time at the young man's side looking incredibly worried. Her eyes had a habit of welling up whenever Valise stopped looking cheerful around him. So, upon Emmet's insistence, she had been coaxed away to allow the courtesan to keep her mind occupied. Janette's interest in Talina's profession intensified as she learned the finer points of the art. Orcs, of course, were very boob-oriented. In truth, as long as the goods were on display, they usually left happy. Talina seemed versed in the greater subtleties of companionship however and was a veritable wealth of information on how to drive a man or so-inclined woman to the edges of madness using only herself as an instrument of desire.

Dancing, singing, storytelling, conversation, fashion, intrigue, sex. Janette was only too happy to start her journey in learning everything Talina had to teach along with the aid of Lydia and Fiona.

On the third day, they were treated to a positive and yet uncanny application of alchemy from Valise. Gregory was recovering well enough but they were all becoming worried that he wasn't able to eat or drink. After considering their options, Valise decided to use a form of her art that was considered highly illegal in the human realms due to its potential for abuse. Gregory was painted from head to foot in various patterns that seemed to oddly reflect his nervous system. Then, once those markings were in place, Valise painted a simple eye on her brow in the same substance. After settling down with her legs folded and closing her eyes, it only took her a few moments of concentration before Gregory lurched up in bed, still fast asleep, and awkwardly took a bowl of soup from his bedside before beginning to drink it down. A few glasses of water were added a moment Later. Once he was done, he flopped back down on the bed and resumed the sleep of the dead.

The markings left Valise able to do a number of other things for him and, more importantly, allowed her an insight into his body. Janette and Algra were both trying to balance being slightly terrified and impressed all at once in reaction to the display of the woman's abilities. Emmet seemed troubled, though he made no issue of the matter. He seemed almost familiar with the act and didn't like the performance one little bit.

It did, however, get results. Ten days after Gregory had fallen at the hands of the Berserkers, his mind finally awoke shortly after the sunrise. The constant stillness made every muscle inside him ache for movement and yet he still felt somewhat weak and disoriented as the sounds of the world were poured into his ears and the feel of air on his skin made him tingle all over.

Then he heard the noises beside him and a distant yet pleasant warmth lifted up from deep inside his belly.

Soft little feminine moans seemed to caress his ears, harmonised by the sounds of wet, gentle suckling. He felt the softness of the bed beneath him and the warmth radiating beside him before taking that final step and opening his eyes. The canopy above passed aside as he turned his head to look upon the partner beside him and saw Janette Laid on her back, her head resting on a soft pillow with her gorgeous red hair spilled across the casing. Eyes were shut tight and her mouth hung slightly open, releasing those breathy Little noises.

It was the nicest sight he could think of awakening to.

As his gaze slid down the nude girl‘s shapely body, he saw those plump breasts and peaked nipples. Down beneath, across that wonderful flat stomach and between her raised knees was Algra. The orc had her eyes closed, her gorgeous emerald features were glistening around her cheeks with Janette's sweet nectar as she hungrily Lapped at that delicate, pink flesh.

“D'yohugh." Gregory tried to speak and failed spectacularly, his words failing to rise up from his dry throat and parched Lips.

The noise startled Algra and Janette so much that the human girl almost kneed Algra in the face. If it wasn't for a lifetime of fast reflexes, the orc would Likely have had one of her tusks snapped off. As it was, she dodged out of the way and they both Looked to Gregory with wide eyes. Janette looked downright cute with her mouth hanging open and those big blue eyes conveying her dumbfounded shock before it slowly shifted to glimmering glee.

Algra, on the other hand, Looked downright hilarious. Largely because the look of genuine all-out surprise was so out of character for the normally reserved female. Gregory saw her regain her senses and break out in a rather Large grin. He closed his mouth and tried to force some moisture back in his throat so that using his vocal cords didn't feel quite so much like rubbing sandpaper together. Then he rallied himself and tried to speak again.