In a swift movement I clasped my fingers precariously on the blade and wrenched it downwards from my throat and clean away from the woman's previously steadfast grasp. I curled the fingers of my right hand around the hilt and flourished it in the air; it was beautifully balanced and light in my hands. The guard's face transformed into innocent bewilderment, her hand still outstretched.
"Mr. Rose, what is it you require of us?" A booming and immediately discernible voice sounded behind me, and I dared to look over my shoulder. Bitter trepidation washed over me, my metaphorical tail between my trembling legs.
General Wolvenhoek was a daunting woman, meeting my height and shoulder width and far surpassing my muscular mass. The Bane of Fae was her unofficial title, derived from her unmatched victories in Elven duels. But in Senkyo, she was known as a traitor, for she was Elven, but hiding it under illusionist runes I knew well.
"An audience with His Majestic Royalness, the King." I jeered before bowing mockingly before the general. I was masochistic in these ways.
"No." Absolution resounded in her restful tone, yet her mere presence still managed to send tremors down my skeletal structure.
"A pity. Then an audience with you, my lovely queen?" I attempted to meet those vivid green eyes but my will wavered and my anxiety shone through my jesting nature. Her chestnut hair was gathered into a tail high on her head and her face was one of beauty, undoubtedly. Yet it was a stable, secure beauty, commonly associated with handsome men, for the superficial roles for Elven males and females are reversed. Male Elves are physically weaker, shorter, and smaller than females, with prominently "feminine" facial features, thus is why the King of Elves does not look like a king at all...
Unfortunately, for every one female Elf born, four males are born, making females quite rare and increasingly valuable. And, well, the population slowly dwindles over time.
"Well then, Daniel the Fallen, I accept your request." She raised an eyebrow, and I suspected she was not taking me very seriously. "We shall go somewhere in private then, correct?"
"General Wolvenhoek, shall we accompany you and… your visitant?" The guardswoman from before was standing nervously next to her two low-rank soldiers, arms awkwardly slack at her sides, reminding me that I was still gripping the Eshonese royal guards' sword. I drove the blade deep into the ground until it stood on its own, freeing my hand of it.
"That is not necessary. You are excused to continue on your duties." Wolvenhoek offered a curt nod, and the guard cautiously reached forward and pulled the sword abruptly out of the dirt, its once-clean blade dirtied and dulled with grime.
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"Daniel--"
"Dan is fine," I leaned back in the wooden chair, tipping it back on two legs while my crossed feet were propped up on the carved oak desk. The library was entirely empty, courtesy of Wolvenhoek's brash intimidation; the general was currently pacing back and forth, arms crossed on her chest and brow furrowed darkly.
"Dan," She sighed, "I take it you saw the posters."
"Of course I did. I cannot take a single step without feeling the Faerie king's pinprick pupils on my back." I expressed flatly and monochromatically.
"And I take it you have some idea of what is to come between our kings?"
I paused, blood draining from my face. "Is it true?" I muttered in a shaky tone.
"There shall be war, but little else is known. For Senkyo is not privy of what Sperling has in store for their nation." She hissed, and I was unsure of her stance.
"Sneaky, sneaky Sperling," I clicked my tongue in dismay. "But I doubt that Jack of Elves is so ignorant as you all suppose. He acts like an idiotic asshole, but he's quite intelligent, as I learned the difficult way."
"Why yes, you're correct, but since this information was only available as of this morning, he will not find out before the Summit."
"Why?" I blurted as soon as she finished.
"Why what?"
"Why war?!" I seethed.
"Now on that," Wolvenhoek hesitated, "I'm not entirely sure. I do know that a war against Senkyo has been in the mind of the King for ages and that it was bound to come sooner than later.
"Sperling must be a fool to think that he can win against Jack and his army."
"He is not. He has a plan."
"Why don't you tell me about it?"
"I should stop blabbering everything to you..."
"You're forgetting that Sperling owes me a hefty amount," I smirked playfully.
"He does, not I."
"Spill, Wolvenhoek." I rocked further back in the chair as she finally stopped pacing and looked me directly in the eyes.
"Since you have long proven your loyalty and usefulness to Eshon," She spoke slowly but confidently, "and because I have the authority to decide such a thing, I will tell you one thing only. An assassination will lead as a declaration of war."
Silence hung in the air for several painfully drawn out moments as I processed what Wolvenhoek was saying.
"They're going to try to assassinate the King of Elves?! How stupid are they to believe that will actually work?!"
"Sperling is too young, and his advisors bitter and ignorant. But I believe this has a chance."
"Absolutely not." I whined, my frustration bubbling aggressively up to the surface that was my countenance. "You of all people should know that Jack Pyre has not been king for over a century through luck alone."
"I--"
"Even if Sperling's scheme is foolproof and he corners the Elf, he's nearly fucking immortal. It's a lost cause."
"Calm down!" Wolvenhoek hissed. "Neither of us is concerned in this. Let us watch from afar until this ordeal is over, and then we shall deal with war. And at that time, I hope I will not have to kill you, Daniel the Fallen."
I rolled my eyes. "Stop using that dreadful title."
The general smiled at me, and I was taken aback. She definitely knew things about my situation that I did not, and it frightened me.
"I'll drink to that, though." I removed the small metal flask of whiskey from the inside of my coat; a signature of mine. "Just like I'll drink to the Elven King fucking you all up." I said with a straight face as I took a swig, alcohol burning comfortingly down my throat and into my stomach. "Because he'll fuck you up badly, I'm sure."
"Which side are you on, Dan?" I didn't answer, opting to take another sip. I was not quite so sure myself anymore.