It gets complicated.

Problems start the moment we arrive at the gate.

"You know the rules, by order of the high king, any orc travelling these lands must present their official rite for doing so." The guardswoman spat her words out like venom as she scowled at Vulca.

"This again? Really? I was here only a few days ago."

"Papers, now!" The guard and several of her colleagues all reached for their swords. Vulca's imposing figure, looked like she could take them all easily, but she simply sighed. Reaching into her satchel, she pulled out a folded peice of parchment. The woman practically snatched it out of Vulca's hand before reading it.

"We'll have to verify this. Until then you will have submit to a period of confinement. So you better come peacefully you filthy orc bitch!"

"But she's done nothing wrong!" I protest, stepping forward between the two of them. The torn and dishevelled state of my dress made me initially want to hide behind Vulca, away from the lurid gaze of the other guards but the moment this bitch started being rude to her, my hackles were up and I was out for blood. I had barely know Vulca for less than a day but the thought of someone talking down to her had me stomp forward, arms folded and angrily pouting like some pissed off anime girl.

"An elf, sticking her neck out for an orc? Ha! Larrs! Better check the livestock; see if any of the pigs have sprouted wings and started flying."

"Frieren it's fine. I've been through this before."

Da' fuck you just call me? It took a lot of willpower to not say that out loud.

Vulca just layed a hand on my shoulder and smiled. Turning back to the guardswoman, she huffed before taking off her shethed greatsword. "I suppose you'll be wanting this then? I'll expect it back afterwards, so don't get any funny ideas."

The guard looked like she was going to try and snatch the sword as well but thought better of it once she felt the weight. Vulca watched, her expression daring the woman to carry it with her own strength. Alas, she thought better of it a took a step back. "Private! Releave our guest of her weapon and take it to storage."

What a fucking cop-out. I thought with a smirk as I watched a younger guardsmen struggle to take the sword, dragging it off as other guards started to flank Vulca. I still wanted to rage, to protest the injustice of it all but my orc companion once again gave me a reassuring look and went quietly. Bastards didn't even have the guts to try and restrain her.

But this left me with a new problem. I was now standing outside the gate to the outpost on my own.

The remaining guards whispering amongst themselves, jokes and laughter (at my expense no doubt) could be heard as I awaited for, whom I now figured was their captain, or at the very least a ranking officer, to deal with me next. Regardless I had already decided that I hated this bitch. The feeling seemed mutual.

"So elf. What's bloody knife-ear doing all the way out here?"

"Quite frankly, madam, that's none of your fucking business. But if you must know, I'm travelling to the next town. My friend, whom you've just arrested, was acting as my guide."

Seeing the guardswoman up close, her helm made her face look like squished pig. But I'm willing to admit my opinion might be biased. She looked at me with contempt. Not something I had ever experienced before. Despite my outward bravado, I was frightened by it. I'd known people who disliked me in my previous life, but this was very different. The woman hated me; hated what I was, what I represented possibly even hated how I looked. I could feel all of it radiating from her.

Puha!

She spat past me.

"You're guide, huh? Likely story. We'll know for certain if that's true once we check her papers. Larrs! Get this elf to the warden's office. He'll want to ask her some questions."

Now it was my turn to be surrounded. This new life was just getting worse by the second.