"The Straits it is.."
Peyton spent the day wandering through town with Vreek, and she pretended not to know there were another couple of their crew following at a distance behind her but she couldn't help but roll her eyes at how terrible they were acting casual every time she turned around. She picked up more clothes for Lucius, and a she swooned over a particularly fancy jacket for herself of dark navy blue with gold swirling embroidery and gold chains that fastened instead of buttons. She allowed Vreek to carry her new parchments, inks and brushes, and she treated him to a new hat to go with his coat.
"Classically handsome." Peyton smiled down at the goblin after she'd settled the feathered hat on his head. and he puffed his chest and lifted his chin proudly with a little more colour on his cheeks.
"You two could make yourself more useful and carry some things!" Peyton called across the street to Dav and Cherl who pretended they were surprised to see her. Her eyes rolled and she piled clothes into their arms as they exchanged sheepish glances.
They'd been on their way back and Peyton stopped to buy boxes of sweet breads from a market stall when a group of men, headed by a brutish looking orc caught her attention. Or more, the jewel encrusted daggers he wore at his hips caught her attention. Vreek followed her fixed gaze, and as she went to take a step toward the group, the goblin reached for her arm..
"Miss Peyton I don't think that's a good idea.." he grimaced at her awkwardly, an apology on his face as though he'd been too bold and expected to be yelled at.
"No.. It isn't... But they're
mine." she bit on her lip, watching them wander toward the square. There were eight of them, some men, some
orcs, and one huge troll that trudged along behind them. They stood out, but
Teth was massive, and people used it as a base or port, they were more often at sea, she might never see the orc again and he had what was hers, and she wanted them back.
She looked down at Vreek, and to the other twol that waited impatiently for her. They'd never let her go off on her own, and Peyton's jaw clenched at how fine a line there seemed to be between feeling safe and feeling restricted. She'd lived in Teth on her own for all these years and had managed to stay alive. Peyton paid the merchant for the breads and added them to Vreek's pile, making it difficult for him to see where he was going..
"Alright.. Let's get back to the ship.." Peyton sighed and led them down a particularly busy street. She upped her pace a little, and shouldered herself through a thick throng of jeering people gathered around the dice tables outside a tavern..
"Miss Peyton! S--Slow down.. Oomf sorry sir.. sorry.. excuse me.. Miss Peyton!!" Vreek called, flustered as he tried to keep hold of her boxes and his tiny little legs struggled to keep up and fight through the crowds.. She glanced behind her, and when she could no longer see them in the crowd she stole herself away down an alley and hid herself behind crates for a moment until they had continued down the street. She could hear them shouting for her, arguing with one another about who's fault it had been that they'd lost her, agreeing that she'd probably been heading back to the ship and that they'd better hope so or the Captain wouldn't be happy.. She knew he wouldn't. But it was partly his fault that she'd lost her daggers in the first place, she was sure he'd forgive her...
As soon as the coast was clear, Peyton retraced her steps back down the street, past the baker's stall and toward the square. The small group had gathered outside a tavern, each taking a turn at slapping the bar wench's backside as she served their ale. Peyton's jaw clenched, and she reconsidered for a moment before pulling in a breath.. She
really wanted those fucking daggers back.
She took off her jacket and hung it over a barrel, pulling her shirt down to bare her shoulders and show a little more cleavage before wandering over, adding a little more sway to her hips than was strictly necessary. "Mind if I join you boys?.." she asked, hand on her hip, her golden eyes sparkling mischievously as she looked the orc over with apparent delight. He slapped his thigh twice..
"There's some room for you right here, girl.." he grinned, dark and toothy. The rest of the men continued on with their conversations, too afraid to look at her once the orc had claimed her.
Luc forgive me.. She thought to herself as she smirked at him, sitting herself down in the orc's lap and pressing her back against his chest. His hands were immediately on her, sliding up her thighs and wrapping around her stomach as he grunted by her ear..
"Pretty thing int ya.." he laughed under his breath, squeezing at her hips as she ground them against him..
"So they say.." Peyton chuckled.. "Haven't seen you around before." she smiled flirtatiously and leaned forward to pick up his ale and take a long drink..
"I hope you're plannin' on buyin' me another.." he snorted as he grazed his teeth over her shoulder and flicked a tongue at her skin.
"Do you know how long I've been at sea, girl?.. You -are- a fuckin' treat.."
Peyton chuckled at him and groaned as though she was enjoying every abhorrent squeeze and knead, the hot putrid breath on her skin, and she managed to suppress a shudder as those tusked teeth nipped at her. Her heart was pounding, but it could be passed off as excitement. "I can help you out.." She grinned and reached for his hand as she slipped from his thigh and stood, tugging him toward the alleyway across the street.. He growled and followed with a quiet laugh as she led him down the dingy lane.
He was heavy handed, as expected, he slammed her to the wall and tore at her shirt as he kissed, if you could call it that, at her neck. His hands wandered over her, squeezing hungrily at her flesh as he grunted obscene promises against her skin. Peyton's hands wandered too, and she moaned in feigned enjoyment of his bruising touches, glad he couldn't see the grimace on her face. Her hands fell to the daggers, and she quickly clutched and pulled them free to plunge them both simultaneously into his ribs.
The orc growled furiously and bit down into her neck. She screamed, and quickly realised how bad an idea it had been. She twisted the blades and yanked them free, feeling the blood pour from the wounds, and the weight of him start to slump against her until his jaw released and he slipped to the floor.
"Shit.." Peyton's hand slammed to the gaping wound in her neck and she felt dizzy but stumbled over the orc's body and staggered out of the opposite end of the alley and onto a quieter street. She tried to keep her gaze downcast, avoiding the looks and gasps of people as she passed them. Blood seeped through her fingers, covering her bare skin and white corset under her open shirt, and the daggers dripping with orc blood were clutched protectively against her chest as she made it back to the docks.
