“You are welcome to the fire,” Eric said and the men quickly gathered around the roaring flames. “It is a cold night and very few good things lurk out there so friendly numbers are always welcomed.”
“What brings a lovely lady like yourself out here?” Baron Wilcox asked.
Eric debated what to tell the people about her mission and what to reveal about the transformation that had occurred to herself. She found she was frightened they would leave her alone in the dark woods and she didn’t want that. Many civilized men were frightened to lose their manhood over losing their lives as if being a woman was somehow a fate worse than death. The men were eagerly waiting for her answer, so she decided she had no choice but answer.
“I am on a mission to help calm the anger of the barbarian tribes,” the truth was always her first instinct and the transformation had at least not changed that. “I am afraid I have been transformed by a potion meant to rid me of a curse. From my gear, you can see I was once a large intimidating barbarian man but I am now a rather lovely young woman. I am in need of assistance as well as you are, so I suggest we assist each other. I will act as a guide for you where ever you wish to go and you help me to be restored to my former self.”
The men looked stunned at her reply but to their credit, they didn’t run into the night from her and they instead gathered as a group to discuss what they had just heard. She couldn’t hear what they were saying over the sounds of the fire but the Prince drew close to her to examine her weapons and armor. His eyes caught sight of the swell of her naked breasts under the armor and he pushed back to his group with a deep blush on his face. Eric pulled her arms tight over her chest to try and block her nakedness and she wondered why it made her feel so vulnerable.
Prince Alex finally turned back to her,” I think your deal is very reasonable and we accept. We will travel north in the morning to the outpost if that is acceptable to you.”
Eric gave a slight nod afraid they would see the blush on her cheeks that felt like it would burn her face.
