Steel and Thunder

When David went exploring with his friends, he figured they might come across some old ruins or maybe even fight a few monsters. He never expected that he'd wind up captured by an orc and turned into his pet; he expected even less that he'd actually like it! It all started when he was sitting in a jail cell, so desperate to escape that he agreed to trial by combat: The Ritual of Steel & Thunder. He opens the fight strong, but when his competitor manages to overpower him, things start to heat up and he realizes he may have signed on for more than he bargained for.

After a rocky start, David is settling into his new life with Khazak, the orc who is his... Owner? Friend? Lover? He's still figuring that out, and with his friends in jail for the next two months, he's got time. Or at least he will when he's not working with Khazak and the other rangers to keep the city of V'rok'sh Tah'lj safe. It would also be nice if the weird dreams he's been having would stop. He's done a lot of growing (and not just emotionally), but he can't say this is where he saw himself winding up after leaving the knight academy. At least it's only temporary, right?

Can they make it to the top before it all comes crashing down? Khazak has been feeling a little lost lately. By the age of thirty, he'd become the youngest Ranger Captain in his city's history. He thought he had the rest of his life figured out until he was betrayed by people he trusted and forced to resign. The one bright spot is David, his human lover and former captive (though "former" doesn't always apply in the bedroom). After coming so close to losing him, Khazak didn't think twice about leaving everything behind to follow after him.

Sacrificial cults, giant man-eating serpents, even ghosts - Khazak has seen it all lately. But with his avakesh David by his side, he knows they can weather any storm that blows their way. After unexpectedly doubling the size of their group and a brief detour to the ruins of the ancient elvish city of Karthani, things are finally back on track. As long as they keep following the road north, they’ll reach their destination in no time. The group just has to keep the stops they make and the trouble they cause to a minimum. Easy, right?