{Lady Luhea Deveros, McDonalds}

  Luhea was in her Knight. It was freezing and she hated that she had to sit here in winter, but it would all be worth it as soon as she had her love. Her mind drifted off to his almost elven frame. She had fallen in love with him from the first moment that she laid her eyes on him. The way he pretended to be mean, but worked hard to make others happy, warmed her heart even now despite the cold of winter. If anyone could break through his shell, it would be her.

  He had stayed in the town, Happy Valley and refused to go with them, go with her. This had to be because they were holding him hostage and she knew she could save him. That had to be the only reason he would stay away from her. She would save him through and then they would run off together with him worshiping her for the rest of their lives. A slave collar dangled at her belt would make sure that happened. This is how she would save him; this is how she would make sure no other woman would ever come between them. She would make him hers and care for him until he realized that he loved her.

  A drop of something hit her hand as she leaned over the controls. She was drooling, thinking of the things that she heard he had done to that animal, things he would soon be doing to her. It was shameful, disgraceful, but he was a wanderer and didn’t know any better, but she could teach him. Only she could save him from himself. She was a noble, from a noble family and he would come to love her. He would come to see how wonderful she was.

  She had sent spies into the town and found out that he had been tricked into using a time-honored training tool as a game for peasants. They were forcing him to build abominations for a child beast and toys for the unwashed masses. The worst part is he was being forced to breed with animals and take care of their offspring. Forced to the worst humiliation. She couldn’t leave him like that. She had to save her one true love. She had to work so hard just to reach this point, just to be here to save him and she WOULD save him. She had betrayed Von Gon Halthos and signed up with bandits, wrecked his caravan just to get back to him. That and the trophy from that animal that had the nerve to touch him. Her mind drifted to the item sitting in a trunk back at her camp made her smile in a way that her love would be proud of. She loved his evil smile, but she knew how to twist it into something more pleasant. His smile and his love were for her and her alone.

  They stopped just before the tree line and waited. Pulling a blanket from behind her chair, she wrapped it around herself and waited. Soon the two remaining Knights will leave, only leaving behind a Squire in an old useless Astreal. She scoffed thinking of the Squire being a lowly woodsman. It wasn’t right, squires should be from noble families if not growing noble ones. This whole thing wasn’t right.

  Hovioys had his Knight sit and she lowered her own beside him. His older model was not as useful or beautiful as hers was. She started drooling again thinking of what it will feel like to have her love in her cockpit, holding her and apologizing for not staying by her side. What would he smell like? What would she make him do to make up for not staying with him? A fresh line of droll leaked out and she let her hands wander overhear cold leather armor. She wanted to wear something sheer, but it would have been too cold and that could wait until she was back in her tent. She had even picked out something nice for him and her both for their first night together.

  The ground shook as a Knight walked away in the distance followed by what looked like a huge, armored wolf. That must be the monster they are forcing him to work on. That thing was a blight on this world. Once she had her love safe, she would have to come back and rip it apart. She was sure that he would be grateful that his shame was erased from this world. They waited in the trees for another hour just to be safe. Those two would be gone for a few hours chasing the story of a pair of giants roaming the woods. She and Hovioys had placed leather blankets over their Knight’s feet to make the footprints and walked to a clear spot before coming back. It was a common plan used on towns like this one. Normally one would stay behind and Luhea had gotten lucky as the third Commander had just left with the last caravan. Truly the Gods must be smiling on her and saw her love needed to be with her.

  Once time had passed, she removed her blanket and Hovioys stood. She could almost see the smile of the ugly man’s face as they walked forward. Once in the open, they could hear an alarm bell ringing across the valley. That’s right it will know fear for treating her love like that. Luthea kept walking slowly and calmly. She could see her love’s prison where he was held captive. It looked like a normal workshop and somehow that made it all the worse. She had expected something much darker. Something evil to match the evil things they had done to him. She had heard that he was under constant guard by a huge ugly orc who followed him around everywhere. Just one more injustice her love had to endure. One more she would help him forget in the only way she knew how. “Stay strong my love. I am coming to rescue you.” She said to herself and walked closer. They stopped on the road leading up to his prison and she turned on her magical speaker. “Alex,” her voice boomed out over the small town. “I Lady Luhea Deveros, am here to save you. I will leave the evil scum of this town alone if you bring me my one and only true love.” A hungry smile lit her face as she started to drool.

  “And all the coins you have.” Hovioys added. He was such an idiot. Her love was the real goal.

  “Yes, those too, but I will not leave without Alex.” She demanded as she shook her head. The door opened and she gasped when she saw him. He looked pale and far too thin. They were starving him. “Alex, my love. They have been torturing you, starving you, but worry not my love, I am here to save you,” she cried, holding out her arms. She would have to nurse him back to health. He frowned up at her, he must be putting on an act due to someone watching him.

  “NO THANK YOU! GO AWAY!” He yelled up at the Knights. They must have forced him to say that.

  “I am here to save you, show you the love of a real woman and not the fake love of that animal Yen.” She shouted over the town hoping to show them that her love would cost them dearly if they tried to take him from her again. She would make them all pay if they were tired. He growled up at her and the pain on his face showed her that she was right. He was being controlled. They must have him under contract. If that was the case, the slave collar would break the contract. They must be true monsters to make him turn against her. “It will all be better my love once I get you out of here and get a collar on you.” She had to wipe her chin again as the drool was starting to drip down. He was just so close, almost hers. He covered his face with those strong hands. He must be so overcome by her show of compassion and love.

  “Just come here my love and I will whisk you away from here and to my bed,” She was starting to pant as she leaned closer. She could pick him up, but it might hurt him. Her love was just too manly for her, and he was just so close. Surely that animal had tricked him to make him turn her away that time. She held out her hand to him standing on the ground and willed him to get in. Hovioys called out.

  “Get us the coins or we start smashing houses. We don’t have all day.” Hovioy called out, his hands on his hips. She could hear the anger in his voice but didn’t care.

  “Hush, you are scaring my love.” She scolded. Couldn’t he see what all this was really about? The doors opened and an Astreal stepped out. It looked a bit strange though. They had forced him to butcher that Knight. Does the offense these villeins offer never end? “Come with me my love and I will make sure these fiends can never hurt you again.” Her love pinched the bridge of his nose and looked at the ground shaking his head. He must want to join her, but thanks to the contract, he would be unable to. She would wreck this town, break all their Knights and take her love away to become her lover in every way.

  The strange Knight swung a spear and there was a flash of something, but she couldn’t see anything other than her love. She heard Hovioys cry out and she looked over at him. Why was his leg missing? Had the idiot forgotten to fix his Knight again? That thing was always breaking down. She looked back at Astreal and saw a red bolt fly at Hovioy again. He was using a wand. How dishonorable were these thugs? This Squire was using a ranged weapon in a fight between nobles. She would expect nothing less from swine like that. Alex ran back to the door and just watched. He must not be willing to leave her side even in the sight of a fight between Knights. “Very well fiend. I will cut you low and prove to the world that my love for Alex is strong.” Alex was covering his face again. He must be so overwhelmed by her strength and beauty. The squire shot twice more and severed all of Hovioy’s limbs leaving him a torso that lay still on the ground. Luthea drew her sword and turned to the squire who swung his spear. “I will not let you win. I will save my love.” She cried out, running at the squire. The squire swung his spear and Luthea was falling back. She tried to roll, but her arm was missing. She tried to roll the other way, but it failed as he severed her arm before she could move. She screamed and tried to kick her legs but those were quickly taken. She screamed in her Knight in outrage as she tried to roll uselessly.

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  Turning her head, she saw Astreal standing over Hovioys. That bastard had taken off Hovioys’ arms. They were both stuck there unable to move. She heard a knock on the hatch and sighed as she unbuckled and stood ready for a fight. All she had was a small knife, but it would be okay if she could just fight them off and save her love. A strong swine of a man looked in at her. This must be her love’s jailer.

  “My Lady, your cell awaits.” he growled down, pointing a wand sword thing at her. They must have forced Alex to make those too. Dishonorable, disrespectful and one more thing she would have to work to wipe from this world.

  “You evil bastards will not keep me from my love.” She cried out raising her knife. He just blinked at her and tossed cuffs down.

  “It’s freezing, let’s get back inside.” He said as he closed the hatch. She wasn’t strong enough to get out on her own and started crying. They were going to leave her out here to freeze to death.

  “You monsters are going to just leave a beautiful woman out here in the cold.” She cried out. It wasn’t right, wasn’t fair and this whole town was messed up.

  “Fucking hell you idiot. Put the cuffs on and we’ll bring you inside.” He said opening up the hatch again. She looked up into his evil face and scowled.

  “Where are you going to rape and sell me?” She cried back at him.

  “NO, I’M FUCKING MARRIED!” he screamed at her. “We are going to put you in a nice warm cell. If you play nice, we’ll even give you a blanket.” He said with a fake smile.

  “Will I get to talk to my love?” Her heart fluttered thinking of being this close and not getting a chance to talk to him.

  “No. now cuffs or freeze. Your choice.” He turned his back on her and she cried as she put the cuffs on. They had won, but she would escape and save her one true love.

  {Alex}

  I am never going to live this down. That is, it, I’m going to go home and lock myself away until this all blows over. Woodcutter was dragging those two hunks of metal into the shop so I could play with them later. It was child’s play for him, and I was happy he was able to keep the engines intact. That being said, cleaning them out would be a challenge. Boss poked his head out of his office and growled at me.

  “My fucking office now, Runt.” I hung my shoulders and dropped my head as I walked in. This is where it starts. He slammed the door and frowned at me. “This is the shit I was talking about. You need to take days off, eat and sleep. Otherwise, people will think I am working you to death.” What? This isn’t about her being a lovesick moron. Well maybe it wasn’t so bad.

  “I do take days off and do eat?” I tried to argue back. He blinked at me and frown, letting his voice rase to mock mine.

  “I’ve only passed out five times today. That is far below my normal.” He said, rolling his eyes.

  “It hasn’t been five?” I growled back.

  “I’ll eat when I’m done with this part.” I huffed and crossed my arms.

  “That one is fair.” I replied, my eyes going cold.

  “I just want to get this done and I’ll go after that.” he said, crossing his own arms.

  “Okay I do say that.” I rolled my own eyes at his words.

  “That isn’t a wrench glued to my face.” He said, rocking his head back and forth. I frowned at him. That was going a little far.

  “One time that happens. One time and I never live it down.” I shouted back at him. He frowned at me and blinked slowly.

  “You know what I’m talking about. Take care of yourself or I will take matters into my own hands.” I didn’t like the sound of that.

  “What do you mean?” I asked, a smile beginning to light my face. If I was getting fired, I was going to do some damage on my way out. He smiled and showed his teeth.

  “Test me Runt. Test me and find out,” he said leaning forward. I gulped and went out.

  The rest of the town seemed happy about getting attacked by rogue Knights. That or they were happy to poke fun at me saying “My love” as they laughed. This was embarrassing as hell. How could that idiot McDonalds even think I wanted her? I would need a night with Lily and Uta just to wipe my mind of this God-awful day. Even Gorloth got in on teasing me as he escorted me home.

  Walking through the door, I saw Lily cleaning the counter. She looked back at me and smiled sweetly. I needed her today. She turned to me and tilted her head, smiling.

  “Master, who is Yen?” She asked, the smile not fully reaching her eyes. FUCK ME! I inwardly growl. This was just not my day. I gulped and moved to the table slow as Uta came in, her own cold smile on her face. FUCK ME RUNNING! Today sucks.

  {Luhea Deveros}

  The cell was small, dirty and slightly cold. Her situation made her cry as she was that close to winning, and thanks to these evildoers she lost everything. They didn’t let her see her love. “Shut up, my lady,” Hovioys said, mocking her. She just kept sniffling as she didn’t care about the fool. She was being treated like a common crook and not like the noble she was. A mean looking thug placed bowls of stew and small rolls on a tray and slid it under a gap in the cell door.

  “Eat up you two. We are turning out the lights soon.” He said and walked out. She picked up the roll and frowned at it. It smelled like peasant food. Food for the low born and not befitting her class. She missed her hope, missed her family, missed her love. It was all gone though, and she couldn’t protest. She would just have to suffer this indignity for now. At least she was not given only bread and water. Hovioys was just eating like the pig he was, and she could hear him sloping and slurping his soup. Was her love allowed to eat tonight? She hoped he was safe. Would they give him a blanket or force him to breed with those animals? They should force him on her instead. She would happily bear his torment. She licked her lips thinking of him forcing himself on her. Treating her like that animal Yen had been treated. The lights went out and she pulled her blanket around her. Now that she was alone in the dark, she could touch herself in the way she needed. In the way she wished he could. A window popped into her mind making her hand pull free of her pants quickly.

  NEW QUEST UNLOCKED. THE GOD OF JUSTICE HAS HEARD YOUR PLIGHT AND HAS DEEMED YOUR QUEST TO BE A NOBLE ONE. LEAVE YOUR CELL, STEAL THE KNIGHT THAT WRONGED YOU, BUILD AN ARMY AND SAVE YOUR LOVE. YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE LUCK OF THE BOLD SKILL. WHEN FOLLOWING YOUR HEART, YOU WILL FIND DIFFICULT TASKS EASIER.

  Even the Goddess saw her noble nature and was on her side. She would break out and work to save her love. She looked closely at the food slot. She tried the door and found it locked. How was she to get out?

  USE THE KNIFE IN YOUR BOOT TO PRY THE LOCK.

  The goddess was smiling on her and she took a moment to thank her benefactor. She had forgotten the knife and those thugs had failed to find it. Pulling it out beaming, she pried the lock escaping the cell. Making her way slowly from the underground jail, she saw the office to be empty. She peered out and saw nothing. Everyone seemed to be asleep or gone. This had to be the Goddess smiling down on her. She turned to Alex’s prison and wondered if she could steal him away?

  LEAVE HIM FOR NOW. RETURN WITH AN ARMY.

  “Thank you, Goddess.” she muttered under her breath. Still, she lingered. She could at least look at him once more before she was forced to run from this den of thieves.

  NO RUNAWAY YOU IDIOT.

  Maybe she was testing her Goddess’s patience and should heed her words. Making her way to the Knight Hall, she found the door unlocked. No one was in here. Must be the work of the Goddess again. Looking around she saw the strange wolf knight. Like hell she would ever use that abomination. Maybe the Astreal. It had been bastardized, but she would be able to use it to escape. Her Knight lay in parts on the floor so she couldn't use it. She sighed and made her way up the catwalks to the seat. It looked nicer and smelled nicer than her old one. He must have known she would be able to get out and get to this Knight. This had to be proof of his love for her. Proof and a promise she would return for him with an army to bring those fools low and make him her’s. She sat proudly in the seat and started powering it up. It came to life smoothly and she made her way clear of its cradle and out into the center of the room. She looked around and frowned as she was forced to take the strange spear as a weapon. She thumbed a strange disk and smiled as it shot out a bolt of fire carving a hole in the roof. That is how he took out Hovioys. Only her love could be this clever. This had to be a gift for her. She could easily take out the other and jumped as another window popped into her mind.

  NO RUNAWAY YOU IDIOT.

  Maybe she was pushing things. The goddess was right. If she took out the other Knights, the king himself would demand her head and she would be honor bound to give it to him. If she couldn’t start a family with her love, there was no point to living. It was a crime punishable by hanging if you took out a city’s Knights, but she could justify it as a gift from her love and would use it to return for him. She fired at the main door and ran out into the night as the alarm bell sounded. She was free and in the clear. Her Goddess was with her, and she would be back to save her love. She would stop at nothing to save him from this pit of rot. She would take this Knight to her mother and let her make more. An army of her love’s gifts could easily set him free, free to make him hers for the rest of their lives.