Snake skin
Speranza could feel that those two definitely did not hold any good intention toward her. They likely were even more sinister than that dark-hearted stupid elf man. She needed to find a way to flee but what could she do? This man had an arm around her waist and controlled her movement thanks to this, she did not want to beat the grass and startle the snakes.
The hydra stopped at the door and laid down she could feel it's malicious stare of the beast, giving her a chill that ran down her back. Every cell of her body screamed at the danger that it sensed.
She closed her eyes as she walked, her brain going a thousand mile per hours trying to find a way to refuse the man's offer to stay overnight. Then an idea flourished inside her mind.
"I am sorry I can not accept your offer my companion will likely look all over for me."
His eyes meet her as she spoke a smile curled his lip giving him a perfect gentlemen face.
"I understand your concern. However, how can we find him now? Isn't the best way to reunite is in Astria? Which is your destination? Turning around and going to where you were is also a possibility but if he's not there and thinks you might have fled the enemies toward town? What then? It could cause both of you to miss one another and in this world once someone is separated there is no telling if one will meet again.
If I were you I would head toward the final destination."
Making a cliche perfect mr.right smile while it did not reach his eyes it was enough to deceive Speranza that had very little knowledge of the world outside her village thanks to the to tight leash her parents had to keep on her.
Finally entering the mansion, Build in an old English style the heavy metal and wood door seemed to weight a lot as the servants opened the doors using two strongmen per door.
Those wood doors were made of rare redwood the metal work was fine and exquisite snakehead depicted as doorknobs and snake bodies serpenting the lower edge and the upper giving the reinforcement to the solidity of the door as well as embellishing it.
With a heavy heart, she crossed the entrance looking at the men that were chained to the doors they could not leave their post they wore chains between there wrist and ankles with a heavy slave collar with a snake logo print.
Those ruff men were likely men brought from Astria as a slave to use as manual labour.
She glanced to her left maids held their head low but it did not hide their slave collar
Skimpily dressed likely for the entertainment of their master the girls had barely anything to cover their bodies.
Those that had more beautiful shapes got off better and seemed to be given better articles of clothing. Loose and large pants with a tight fit at the ankle and low waist with a bra or some did not get the bras and had to walk bare-chested with some more or less fine gold or silver pieces of jewelry.
The girls were clearly better off than the men none of the girls looked injured or mistreated aside the lack of clothing as for the men they had to do all heavy labours and walked around with chains at there feets whip marks and other torture marks visible on their backs. Although they also were clean there pants seemed old and over washed tattered beyond what someone would normally use.
He flicked his fingers to summon a bare-chested servant girl. " You take the young missus to a guest room, help her settle down and tell to the driver that tomorrow the carriage needs to be ready I have business in Astria and so those this young miss."
The girl nodded her head answering "Yes master, Miss if you would please follow this lowly one. This one will show you to your quarters.
"Thank you mister?" she paused there he had not told his own name after naming his pet.
"Dravik, no need for titles for pretty little guests like you." Again his tone and manners were of perfect and flawless mannerism, somewhat too perfect…
"Hmm, thank you Dravik for the help I hope I can reunite with my companion tomorrow." saying this she followed behind the girl.