“Sorry, but she does," he spoke without hesitation. "She knows the world I'm from, and how people from that world think. More than that, she knows what I'd consider right and wrong and I trust her to speak for me when I can't. I also think that she just called the right play when it comes to dealing with Wren, so she gets a shot at the big time." He shot a challenging look over to the redhead.

“I know everyone here has my back, but you all don't know how I'd want things done. Jan does."

“Right, what am I now? Psychic?" Janette lifted her arms in exasperation.

"Closest thing I've got to one. Besides, you wanted something more to do around here, didn't you? And it's not like I'm totally throwing you in the deep end. You'll still have Emmet, Talina and everyone else to help you out."

She'd been about to protest again, but at the mention of Emmet and Talina she actually looked at Valise. After a moment of contemplation, Janette simply nodded.

“Alright. I'lL do it. Just don't come crying to me if I accidentally get your head chopped off."

“I won't." He nodded.

“Ok then, now that's sorted, let's get down to it. I like what Janette said before. Wren's actions point to some serious shit that we're going to have to prepare for, but there's sweet fuck all we can do about it without any evidence. Talina, I want you and Valise to go out into the forest during the day. Valise, you're the closest thing we've got to a sorceress here. If Wren's been summoning demons do you think you'll be able to find out?”

Valise seemed oddly comforted by the more businesslike tone of Gregory's question. It sure beat having to deal with Janette's behaviour, which she found quite unsettling. Not to mention the disturbing sensation of raw envy at the girl's actions that was beginning to simmer in her belly. She was already pretty sure that it would heat up into a stew if she was allowed to rest on it for long. Work would be a suitable distraction.

“I have no magic, master. It would be easier with power of my own, but I might be able to manipulate the energies already present into giving away some sign of corruption. Demonic magic is not subtle in its workings, but it is dangerous. It may take some time."

“Then set out at first Light tomorrow. Talina, you go with her since you're apparently chief spymistress around here. Keep each other safe.”

"Chief spymistress?" Talina tested the title on her tongue for a moment before grinning broadly. "I love it! Thank you, master. We will depart at first Light. May I be dismissed now? Watching Janette suck your cock has made me awfully wet, and I feel the need to go jump on Torren's."

“Enjoy the ride." Gregory gave her a salute, finding himself getting used to her sexual bluntness.

Talina yelped with glee before unfastening the cloak she'd borrowed to let it fall to the ground and streaking naked out of the tent to hunt down her lover's cock.

Gregory cleared his throat after the slightly inappropriate departure, but after what he and Janette had just done he wasn't exactly in a position to chide her for it. Instead, he turned to Emmet and Valise.

"I want you both to report your findings to Janette unless you think it's an emergency. Janette, let me know if there's any progress. From this moment on, I'm leaving the whole thing with you whilst I focus on The Runts. We all agree that this is the best course of action here?"

Emmet nodded, and Valise soon followed suit. Janette hesitated for a moment before finally giving her own uncertain nod. Algra folded her arms and glowered at the bed furs for a few minutes whilst she considered the whole thing. Finally, she offered her traditional grunt of agreement.

"Great." Gregory nodded. "If this all works out then we can get me proven to the orcs and there'll hopefully still be orcs around for me to be proven to. Now, go try and get some sleep before tomorrow. I get the feeling that we've got a Lot of Long days in our future.”

Valise bowed gracefully whilst Emmet let out a sharp laugh at his assessment, then they both turned and left the tent together.

“I still want to learn how to kick ass, you know." Janette walked back along the bedside to stand before Gregory.

"I think you're pretty kick-ass as it is, Jan. But I get your meaning, and this isn't me trying to distract you from it. I'm just covering my bases. I'd trust Algra with my life, but everyone else around these parts is a stranger to me. They all seem like real nice strangers, but still, I'd rather not trust this whole ‘Wren going insane’ thing to people I've only known for a few months." He reached out to wrap his arm around her shapely waist, and gave her a Little pull to settle that gorgeous figure against him. Then he kissed her lips, caring not a jot what they'd been covered in only moments before because she was Janette, and wasting kisses just wasn't on the cards.

“Now, I'm headed out to the glade to get some early training in before the others show up. Algra? Do you want to come with me?"

Algra rolled her eyes at him before walking back to her side of the bed and collapsing back onto the furs, her eyes closed as she nuzzled into the warm material.

“Guess not then," Gregory surmised.

Training continued over the next weeks, as did the provings themselves. The Runts continued to be a dangerous force in the pits, and Gregory began to see more positive changes in them. All the fancy manoeuvres in the world couldn't quite hold a candle to their increased aptitude for teamwork. Before long, he wasn't even calling out the shifts in tactics because the pack would react just the way he wanted before he could get the words out. It took much less time to prepare attacks and counter-attacks, and allowed them much more time to wreak havoc on the opposition.