Part I

Joel was tired, hungry and pissed. He lost his money in Belmot city, his horse on the way to Claimonde and about an hour ago he lost his cool attitude too, as a group of riders called him princess and offered a ride on one of their horses pointing in the direction of their crotch. He did not react to such fucking offense, only because they outnumbered him and no matter what his dear parents kept repeating him, he wasn't an idiot. So yeah he swallowed it along with the dust left by the horses as they passed him by. Since yesterday he was carrying with him the last decent thing that left him, a saddle given by a rich wife of his former customer. The saddle was a fine one with ornaments and made of high quality material. Joel wanted to keep it but after everything got so fucked up he might be forced to sell this beauty. Joel sighted, the saddle was gaining weight with every step he was doing. He was heading in the direction of kingdom's capital however it was still a few days away. Right now he was on a route through a thick forest clinging to an undying hope, that he was close to a kind of human settlement. It was quite warm and Joel was all sweaty from the exertion.

He put the saddle down and stretched his hurting back. Fuck it all started in Belmont, the city known or gambling and brothels. After finishing his mission for a noble Esra, his pockets were filled with money. He lost some of it due to ill luck in one of the casinos and the greater rest because of the red hired whore. Shit she was a real beauty and so skilled. He never had such intense blow jobs before. Well it's not that he couldn't find himself a willing female company, Joel was considered rather handsome or even a beauty or angel as he heard a few times behind his back. However red haired Sofia had it all. He even had to sell his fine horse and bought a cheaper lanky one that was so stubborn, that it decided to die rather than carry him any further. And now here he was, in the middle of the forest, sweat, hungry dirty and pissed off with himself mostly. Joel sat down on the saddle. His long blond curls covered his tired and dust covered face. Man he was so worn out that only after a while did he realize, that something was approaching his way. He lifted his head slightly and looked in the direction of a black barouche. Inside this neat carriage equipped with a coachman, Joel could see a plump man in his fifties wearing fancy clothes. The elegant man called for the coachman to stop next to Joel.

"Young lady what happened to you?" - he had a nice voice and he looked at Joel wit concern. The later had to pull his shit together and raised himself.

"Sir – he bowed slightly – I'm not a lady, I just had an accident and lost my horse on the way".

There was a real surprise on the man's face.

"You lost your horse, was it so quick that you didn't manage to straddle it and only the saddle remained?" - a smile appeared on the plump face.

Fuck you, Joel gritted his teeth. However he was in no position to offend a noble rich man, so he just smiled as sweetly as he could.

"Something like that sir".

The man was stunned. After a few seconds of glaring at Joel he stepped out of the carriage.

"Where are you heading young man?" he asked curiously.

"Nowhere in particular sir," there was a strange vibe around this man but Joel wasn't picky and the carriage looked so comfortable "any settlement would do. I'm looking for a job." He added.

"I might have one for you. Get into the carriage we will talk about the details".

Joel picked up the saddle and went into the carriage hoping he will not regret this hasty decision. He placed the saddle between his legs and waited till the opulent man placed his ass next to him.

"So, you are looking for a job than hmm, what have you been doing so far. You look pretty young, don't you?"

"Well yes sir, I'm young. I'm twenty years old and I've done different odd jobs whatever was requested from me. I'm discreet, efficient and good with knives." - Joel smiled again

"That's interesting – the noble man smiled brightly – where are you from?" - he kept on inquiring. "No offense, but you don't look like any other men living around here".

Joel heard that before, he wasn't very tall, had light blue eyes, pale skin and long curly blond hair. Just like his mother.

"I resemble my mother, she was a foreigner from northern border".

"Your mother must be a real beauty than." he man gaze never leaving Joel's face started to burn holes in his pale skin. Joel has already had a few problems with men who wanted him like a men wants a woman, so this might be nothing new. He just has to endure the company till they reach a city or something.

"She was" he agreed bluntly.

At that very moment he saw the end of the forest only to face flat grounds and a fine settlement in a distance. Joel felt a relief.