“Thank you, your Majesty,” I replied with relief as his humor was revealed. It would have been inauspicious indeed for our initial political foray to end on such an unpleasant note and would not have boded well for my ultimate goals, to say the least.
“Your neck is already graced by some very fine jewelry,” the King commented. “The gift I have given you is yours of course, but perhaps, at least for tonight, you may wish for your companion to wear it.”
At his prompting, I opened the box and found a diamond encrusted bracelet nestled in the plush fabric that lined its interior. It appeared to be absolutely amazing, but I didn’t examine it too closely, so as not to seem crass. Instead, I simply wrapped the diamond band around Tási’s wrist, and closed the clasp for her.
“It is most beautiful, your Majesty,” I said as I turned back to face the King. “Considering how wonderful it looks on Tási, I consider it a gift for both of us, so you need not be too harsh on your Ambassador.”
The King smiled at my words and offered me a slight nod, acknowledging my play on his earlier jest. As he did, I motioned for Ella to bring forth the gift we had arranged to offer him in return.
Our own lidded box was made of wood and had been crafted by Dellon in the dwarven style. Thick carvings adorned its surface, and dwarven runes that proclaimed his title were engraved on the top. When Ella presented it to him, I offered my thoughts on the gift he was about to receive as the King opened the lid.
“I’m so happy we decided on this particular gift for you, your Majesty,” I told him as he opened the box. “A person of your character should be well-protected from harm.”
My timing was perfect, and just as I finished speaking, the King pried open the lid and saw what we had offered him; a pair of armored bracers crafted from the pure Khelduin that our mines continued to produce in previously unheard-of quantities.
He pulled one of them out and simply stared at the finely crafted piece of armor. Using the Forge Hammers, Georl had done the bulk of the work, while Hilgreth had finished the item in the dwarven style, adding the engraving that closely matched the work Dellon had put into the outside of the container we had presented the bracers in.
“Technically, your Majesty,” I teased him delicately, “I think that may count as two gifts for one person.”
“It might as well,” he replied in awe. “The metal alone would have been more than I ever anticipated, but the craftsmanship of these is beyond anything I expected. How is it that you have such fine smiths in your new… land?”
“One of them I stole from you, your Majesty,” I smiled as I gestured towards the table where my three smiths sat drinking together. “Hilgreth did a fine job finishing the bracers, but Georl did most of the forging. We’ve found that such collaborations yield the best products, so it’s become our habit to have people work together on the most important projects.”
“The half-orc made these?” The King replied in amazement.
“Yes, he did,” I replied as my grin widened.
“I had no idea that his people were capable of such work,” he responded.
“Not many do,” I answered him. “Usually because they refuse to give them the chance to demonstrate their capabilities. I’m trying to change that. My Realm is founded on the promise of equality for all. That openness is what has lent us the strength to come this far in such a short time.”
“Forgive me, Dreya Sintári,” Broda jumped in. “I fear that we are straying into topics that are better left for our discussions tomorrow.”
I bristled a little at her reminder, but held my tongue as I remembered the conditions that had been agreed to; no serious matters were to be discussed at the reception. Anything of substance was to be left until the meeting we had scheduled for the next day. So, I nodded my understanding back to her, and let the matter go.
We talked for a while about small things before it was time for the food to be served, and as we were led away to our seats, I could hear the King whisper a few quick words to Tási.
“It looks lovely on you,” the King offered his compliment as we were escorted to our places.
“Thank you, your Majesty,” Tási was able to reply before our paths drew us apart.
Because of the informal nature of the relationship between our two nations, we were seated somewhat far apart, and instructed to limit our interaction for the rest of the evening. I only agreed to that particular stipulation when Broda assured me that there would be ample time to speak with her uncle the next day.
Almost as soon as we sat down, the food began to be served. The feast began with lighter courses that suited the palates of our elvish citizens well, and then moved on to the richer foods that the King and the dwarves enjoyed so much more. I smiled when I saw the King compliment the orcish boar that I had made sure was included in the menu that night, and my grin grew even wider when he called for a second round of the heady brew that was served alongside it. I was more than just curious to see what his reaction would be the next day when I informed him of the origins of those two particular items.
Eventually the night grew late, and it came time for us to depart. Despite the fact that the reception continued to go on, decorum once again dictated my actions. So, in deference to the customs of the land in such matters, I cut my evening short and headed upstairs for the night. It bothered me somewhat to do things I didn’t really want to do just for the sake of appeasing some ancient tradition, but I intended to bring great change to this land, and that job would only be more difficult if I chose to rock the boat at every opportunity.
“Ugh,” Tási huffed as she plopped down on our bed. “That might have been more fun if we were actually allowed to talk to anyone.”
“I completely agree,” I replied as I sat down beside her so that she could help me undo the buttons on the back of my dress.
“I don’t intend to follow those stuffy protocols forever,” I told her as we switched places. “Only for as long enough as I really have to.”
As soon as we were done, I slipped out of my gown and draped it carefully over the back of one of the chairs. Once Tási did the same with hers, we both tucked ourselves under the covers and snuggled together beneath the warm blankets.
“You’ve got a big meeting tomorrow,” Tási commented. “Do you want me to massage your back and put you to sleep tonight?”
“If I remember correctly, my love,” I replied as I slid my hand into the thick curls of her hair. “We’re both attending that meeting.”
“So, I think,” I whispered to her softly as I gently pulled her face closer to mine until our noses brushed together. “I’d rather we do something that’s a little more mutually beneficial.”
The next morning, I woke before Tási and simply stared at the amazing woman that lay sleeping across from me. After the rather enthusiastic night we’d had, the covers lay in a jumble, and little hints of her body were tantalizingly exposed between the folds of our blankets. But as my eyes wandered over her, my thoughts were not of an amorous nature. Rather, I was simply enthralled by her beauty and felt truly grateful that I had such an incredible woman by my side.
As I gazed at her, I recalled the passion we shared the previous night. When we first began our relationship, Tási had been an intense lover and she still had those same tendencies. But ever since I stirred the water spirit inside her and she finally gained access to the powers that came with it, the focus of her ardor had changed.
Before I woke the spirit inside her, she had been limited to conveying her desires with only the physical means that were at her disposal. But with the emergence of her elemental powers, Tási had gained access to the same sort of pure emotional abilities that I had. Over time, she had grown in both her confidence and control over those powers and had learned how to use them to convey her passions in a much more potent and direct way. While we still enjoyed the touch and feel of each other’s bodies, and the physical side of our lovemaking was still very pleasing, the majority of our focus had sh
ifted to intertwining the threads and tendrils of desire that we were able to combine together.
Even while we kissed, and our hands wandered over each other, the most intense heat of our desires came from the powerful emotions we were able to send into each other. The direct influence that the flows of energy were able to convey, and the sheer intensity of them, was far more seductive than any mere physical contact could even approach. The bond that I shared with the truly incredible woman who slept soundly in the bed beside me was something more than I had ever hoped for, and as I stared at her, I was overwhelmed with a sense of both my love and gratitude for her.
My trance was interrupted by a knock on the door, and I reluctantly draped the covers over Tási before throwing on a robe and opening up the door to find out what needed my attention.
“Sorry, Dreya Sintári,” Aiva said when I responded to her knocking. “But you told us to wake you in time to get ready for your meeting.”
“Is it that late already?”
“Yes, it is,” she smiled back at me. “I would have delayed almost anything else to let you two have the rest of the morning together, but it is a meeting with a King that you have scheduled, so…”
“Thank you Aiva,” I grinned back at her. “I do remember that. We’ll be out in a few moments; can you have someone get us some breakfast?”
“Already on the way,” Aiva replied.
I nodded my appreciation to her as I closed the door and returned to the bed to gently shake Tási awake.
“What?” She grumbled as I roused her from her sleep.
“Sorry, my love,” I whispered. “But it’s time to get ready for our meeting.”
“Is it that late already?” She whined, echoing my own words exactly.
“Yes, it is,” I almost couldn’t help laughing as I repeated the conversation that I just had with Aiva.
She complained the whole time as we got ready, but before long we were dressed in our God-forged gear and left the comfortable confines of our bedroom for the more formal setting of my offices. Aiva was true to her word, and breakfast and a pot of tea were waiting for us when we entered the room. The steaming platters and bowls of cheese and fresh fruit were far more than we could eat, so I offered the rest to my guards once Tási and I had made our plates.
“If any of you are hungry, feel free to dig in,” I said to them as we sat down to enjoy our meal. Nomi moved towards the food but stepped back in place when Aiva glared at her.
“Are you trying to countermand my directive, Lieutenant?” I said as I arched my brow at her. “You should ask Rhia how that sort of thing worked out for her.”
“No… um,” Aiva stumbled. “It’s just that it’s not proper for us to eat while we’re on duty.”
“So, you think I’m too dense to know your protocols?”
“No!” Aiva objected. “I just thought… You’ve got me, don’t you?”
“I do,” I grinned back at her mischievously. “Now, will you let them do as I say, or do I have to make this unpleasant for you?”
When she yielded, all four of the sergeants dug into the platters and sat down around the room to enjoy a quick meal with us. Aiva alone stood apart, and I stared at her intently until she got the message and made herself a plate as well.
“There are times when protocol can be bent, Aiva,” I whispered to her so that her subordinates could not hear. “It can be difficult to know when those times are, but when I say the rules must give way, I can assure you that it is one of those occasions.”
“I will remember that, Dreya Sintári,” she whispered back to me.
We ate quickly, as it was getting close to the time for our meeting, and then left to head downstairs. The room we had chosen was on the same level as the guest quarters we had provided for the King and his entourage, a choice that had been made to ensure that the stonemasons would have enough time to finish everything that the King came across during his stay in the Palace.
My entire Cabinet was already present when we arrived, as I’d hoped. I had a surprise in mind for the King, a final display to impress him and sway him to our cause. My plan required that all of us be there before the King entered the room, and I was relieved to see that everyone had made it there in time. While we waited, we all took our seats and most of our talk revolved around our conjecture over the King’s reaction to what we had planned, with Broda being slightly nervous about the role she had played in setting up our little surprise for him. Finally, Aiva opened the door for the King when he arrived, and we all stood to greet him as he walked into the room. The King wore full combat gear, the customary attire for his people during most formal occasions and he looked quite impressive as he strode into the room in his ornate ceremonial armor and carrying his favorite weapon, a heavy double-bladed axe.
“Good morning,” he greeted us informally. “I see that you’re all ready to discuss…”
The King’s words ceased as he saw the array of God-forged gear we all wore. I had forbidden anyone from wearing their Artifacts during his visit, so this was the first time the King, or any of his people had seen it. His mouth fell open as he took in the fact that each of us bore items of such incredible quality, and he seemed particularly moved when he saw Broda wearing her Dark Heart armor.
“Where? How?” The King finally uttered.
“The entire Pantheon has offered their support to Dreya Sintári’s efforts, and they have backed their words by gifting her with the God-forged Artifacts you see now in front of you, uncle,” Broda explained to him. “In turn, the Sintári has chosen to honor us by bestowing some of those gifts upon us, her loyal companions.”
“What is this goal you seek that has moved the Gods to so richly bless you?”
“My purpose is to unite all of Arrika under my banner,” I replied to the King. “To end the petty wars and bring peace to all of its Realms. Once I have done that, I will march into the Dark Lands, and end the scourge of evil that has plagued the land for so long. Only then can we truly devote ourselves to my ultimate goal; justice for all and freedom from the tyranny of violence and abuse that has run rampant for too long.”
The King seemed stunned by my stark words. Each step I had outlined, from uniting the Realms to conquering the Dark Lands and finally pursuing a level of justice that was simply incomprehensible under the current circumstances, were momentous in their own right. The pursuit of all three must have seemed like pure madness to him. For a moment, he just stood there, frozen in place by the combination of the Artifacts that were before him, and the revelation of the words I had spoken.
“You would seek to have me serve under you?” He finally asked.
“Eventually, yes, I will,” I replied honestly.
He seemed to contemplate my answer for only a second before drawing the heavy axe from his belt. His movements were slow and deliberate, so even though the gesture was alarming, I didn’t react at first, but I did notice Tási preparing a spell as she stood silently beside me. Once the King had his weapon clear, he rested the head of his mighty axe on the floor and knelt down in front of me.
“I cannot deny what my eyes have seen here today,” he spoke reverently. “Let me be the first to follow your lead, Dreya Sintári. I pledge my fealty to you and promise to protect you and support your efforts in any way that I can.”
I was shocked by the completely unexpected development. We had only hoped to persuade the King to look upon us favorably with our display, but the effect had been far more dramatic than anything we had anticipated. Despite how taken aback I was, I had enough presence of mind to not leave the King to kneel upon the floor, and I hurried out from behind the table to accept his oath.
“I am honored to have you as the first leader to join my cause,” I said to him as I laid my hand on the haft of his axe.
“My Kingdom is yours, Dreya Sintári,” he replied as he stood up.
“A King may only serve in such a manner under one person,” Broda remarked as the gravity of what had just transpire
d dawned on her.
“Then let me be the first to call you by your new title,” the King smiled at me, “Empress Dreya Sintári.”
Ding!
The alert of a new notification seemed to echo in the silence of the room.
Oh, fuck.
The rest of our meeting passed by in a blur for me as I was preoccupied with the rather dramatic and unanticipated turn of events. The pending notification was also a cause for concern, and it was fortunate that Broda and her counterpart handled most of the discussions.
For his part, the King seemed equally distracted—no doubt he was also dealing with the repercussions of the morning’s events as well, so my own preoccupation did not create any issues. In the end, we resolved to keep our alliance secret for the time being, as an open declaration of his fealty might instigate an attack on us, and even his pledge of support might not have been enough to protect my Realm should there be a concerted assault against me. But the King did pledge to recruit more of his citizens to join us as soon as he returned home, to both increase my population and bolster our defenses.
In addition to that promise, the King also swore to call a conference with his closest neighbors, Queen Líann of Íforn and King Nerec of Lorida, where he hoped we might persuade them to join our cause as well. If we could, it would then be safer for me to openly declare myself to the world, and their support would likely smooth the path for many others to join us as well. A great deal needed to be arranged just to secure such a meeting, and even if we could make it happen, there would still be the matter of persuading the two monarchs to essentially yield their Kingdoms to me, but just the possibility of it filled me with hope.
“Empress,” the King addressed me and pulled me from my thoughts. “I think it best that my Ambassador and I retire to my chambers to discuss the details of our meeting with the other monarchs. You need not be bothered with those issues, I’m sure that you have plenty of your own affairs to attend to.”
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