Tansy of the Wilds

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Five days later

Xer'tal had done a fair amount of working on the large walls, instructing Ricktus that they needed to build what was essentially a rampart around the main portion of the lumberyard, perhaps even building along the back and just have some gates for hauling lumber in from the forests. The man had seemed hesitant but Xer'tal had explained in great detail how a band of bandits or cutthroats could breach the walls and kill everyone inside rather easily.

That had worked, so he was overseeing the second barrier being erected, as well as laying out where the new guard barracks would be. A messenger had been sent to the closest rocky quarry if they could order stone. They were waiting on their first shipment of it to help fortify the already existing wall. What he hated most was the fact he couldn't spend a lot of time with Tansy, he knew she went to the big house every day and Archibald let him know it was because she was writing missives for foreign trade agreements.

He did, however, get to spend an unpleasant amount of time with Rose. The female was fucking persistant and her flirting was growing more bold and Xer'tal could barely stand her voice now. Her dress tops seemed to migrate lower down her chest when he was around, her tits pushed up as well to create an unnecessary amount of cleavage. Several times he had been so tempted to ask her if she was trying to look like a low class whore or if it came naturally to her. He held his tongue because for some stupid reason, Tansy loved her family, the viper Rose included and he wouldn't risk his position. He didn't want to be tossed out and never see Tansy again.

"Xer'tal! You look absolutely gorgeous this morning! Did you have a good sleep? I tried to get my papa to give you a room in the big house but he says you are too big for any of the spare beds. I don't think you should sleep in the bunkhouse though." Rose's voice was sweet, overly so, and grating, like an unpleasantly rusty blade dragged down his spine. He grunted, refusing to look at her as he swung a wood axe into the log to make it the right length. The rhythmic chopping of the log helped him try and drown out her unpleasant presence. "You are so strong. You must hear that a lot but you really are." She moved around the log and stood so he was forced to face her.

"I'm an orc." It came out with a grunt as he shifted his hands on the axe handle. He wanted to tell her to fuck off, to leave him alone, and that he would never ever want anything to do with a damned viper like her. Her face was painted up, bright red lips, overly rosy cheeks, shadowed eyelids. She looked like a cheap whore and her cleavage was obscene. He couldn't help the upturn of his lip in sheer disgust. She had even put on a corset, lacing it so tightly that her waist looked whip thin. It was disturbing.

"Yes but I have seen other orcs, none are quite as... robust as you." She fairly cooed the words and Xer'tal's eye twitched. How did Tansy ever come from the same family that produced Rose? He had zero fucking idea. The female was only eighteen, he didn't fucking understand how she had managed to learn all of the techniques one only saw in a hovel brothel.

"Xer'tal!" Archibald's rasping voice was a saving grace and Xer'tal quickly turned to look at the stooped old man. "Rose, aren't you supposed to be in the garden? Your mama was asking where you were." He sounded suspicious and looked at Rose with narrowed eyes, as if squinting to see her better. "And what is all over your face?" Xer'tal fought the smirk that wanted to cross his face as Rose bolted with a hasty goodbye.

Archibald chortled to himself as she leaned against his walking stick. "Want to come with me to have coffee at Tansy's?" Xer'tal couldn't help how he straightened up, an eagerness filling him at the prospect of seeing Tansy. The few glimpses he saw of her during the day were not enough. He hadn't stopped wanting to witness all the domestic scenes with her, the need had only grown.