Fast Fiction: The Ambassador From Nektulos (Part 1)

D'Vinn sighed as he lounged in flowing robes upon the stone seat of Crushbone. The throne room was spacious, sparse, with nonexistent furniture, and a very bored Teir'Dal.

Gruff centurions guarded the hall outside, but inside there was only one small orc in a leather jerkin grasping a shaky halberd upright.

D'Vinn, one hand supporting his head, watched the little orc. It faced in his direction, but it did not stare at anything in particular as far as the dark elf could tell. It fidgeted in the hot barren room making occasional guttural sounds as if its throat was perpetually full of phlegm. D'Vinn had been expecting his initial meeting with Emperor Crush hours ago. The more time passed the more D'Vinn felt insulted. He was good with insults, though. His reactions had gained him a reputation amongst his people.

"You there."

The orc perked up. The sharp little tusks protruding upwards pinched tight against its upper lip. D'Vinn saw something not only stupid in intellect, but stupid in design. It didn't respond, only eyed the elf creature. The pristine indigo skin, snow white hair, and bright flickering jewels that encrusted its long fingers. It was a strange creature to the orc. The eyes, however, pierced.

"What are you doing all the way over there standing by that window?"

The elf creature's words moved quickly in the orc's ears. It knew very little of the common tongue and was unsure if conversation was allowed with the emperor's guest. It grunted.

"Are you here to protect me? Defend the throne room?"

The orc tried not to pay attention to the elf. Its words were too fast and complicated.

D'Vinn fell silent for a beat to scan the stout green creature. It shuffled its feet. It was difficult not to look at the elf thing in its clownish apparel and odd movements.

"Are you keeping secrets over there?" He gave a tinny laugh, amused by his own remark, and sat more upright. "Yes, that's your job! You're the secret keeper." He gave a mirthful grin.

The orc grunted--irritated in repositioning his halberd.

"Well, now that I know your first secret, come here little orc."

The orc startled again and gave a challenging glare.

"Come. Here." There was no mirth in the elf's face this time as one jeweled finger pointed down to the stone floor. The eyes, in their wicked stare, did not faulter. The ornate and practiced hands promised consequences.

The orc sauntered up to the throne as it had been commanded to do so many times before. The dark elf rewarded his obedience by relaxing back into the chair with an appeased look. The orc searched the elf creature's face.

D'Vinn leaned in, the indigo nose very close, "that's two secrets, now."

The orc held fast.

The elf reclined back. "I think you're quite the little maestro of secrets, aren't you?"

The orc responded, "Emperor will be--"

D'Vinn raised palm. "No, it's my turn." The elf stood to tower over the sentry. A faint tinkling of metal quickened the orc's pulse. This elf was wearing ring mail under his robe. A look of glee spread across the deep blue mask of a face. "It's my turn to tell you a secret."

"Elf should--” The orc gargled.

"Elf!?" D'Vinn's voice cut directly into the orc's spine. "I am not an elf."

The orc's mouth smacked dry.

"I am Teir'Dal."

Teir'Dal held no meaning for the orc, though he found himself in a new state of awe over the weird magic in the elf's words.

"But fear not, I seek a treatise."

The orc continued to stew until the miserable anticipation of it all welled in him. "You not be in Crush's chair!" It said in a gruff bark that was sure to be heard by the guard in the hall.

D'Vinn looked a bored cat again as he reclined fully into a slumping posture. "Then use that halberd."

To be continued...

Go to Part 2

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This story is an original work and has not been tailored to any market research.
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