The Elven Queen

CHAPTER 5

ITOTIA’S POV

I hate this, travelling by sea, all the rocking makes me uneasy, the sail to Durhgan takes at least half a day, longer on calm waters and Shya wasn’t helping ease my tension at all, Peace keeper or not that woman was far too chipper,

“The docks are in view, the ship’s Captain says we dock in 30 minutes” one of the soldiers reported to which I gave a curt nod

“You should really ease up a little” there she goes again, Miss Rainbows and Sunshine

“I’m sorry I can’t afford to do that, I'm not sure whether you're aware of not but treaty or no treaty this is still enemy territory, we don’t know what those Ogres have in store for us”

“There it is again, if all of us keep being so suspicious of each other we’ll never achieve true peace and understanding”

“Pretty words, still doesn’t change the fact that elves are disappearing in Durhgan AGAIN!!!, those bastards” I couldn’t hide the venom on my tongue

“We don’t know whether or not Durhgan is to blame for this, it could just be….”

“What?!!! Just be what?!!” at this point I was fuming, how can she trust those monsters after everything they’ve done? After all the lives they’ve ruined? Their actions are unforgivable!!!

When I finally thought she’d shut up “Is this about your parents?” my neck whipped to face her so fast I’m surprised my head didn’t screw right off my shoulders, I can’t believe this bite sized rainbow cloud brought that up, here I was, staring her down and she doesn’t so much as flinch, I’ve got to hand it to her, she’s got guts but common decency escapes cause she didn't stop there, she continued in spite of my obvious irritation “...What happened to your parents was tragic but we have t…..”

“DOOOOOOCKKKK” bellowed the helmsman followed by a strong jolt as the ship came to a screeching halt at the docks of one of Durhgan's trading ports, clear to see that this conversation was over I turned and walked away from her without so much as a backward glance

True to their words there was an envoy from Durhgan consisting of carriages, escorts and a sight for sore eyes

“Greetings and Welcome to Durhgan, I hope you had a pleasant journey”

“Hello Dimitri, seeing you first thing makes this trip a little worthwhile” walking up to me he gave me a kiss on the cheek which is a customary greeting in Durhgan that shows friendship before proceeding to do the same to Shya the other knights with us were too busy unloading to accept his greeting “.....I knew we were expecting a welcome but I clearly didn’t expect to see you Dimitri, the King must be feeling real generous to send his right hand to come greet us”

“What can I say?, these issues have been rampant, the king feels awful so he’d like to resolve them as quickly as possible” So he says but we all know what his king truly is

The ride to the Castle was uneventful, I hate this country, from the land it was built on to the air that filled it yet I can’t help but appreciate Durhgan in all its glory, Durhgan is a country located to the East with deserts stretching in all directions as far as the eye can see, its rustic charm and culture was awe inspiring watching the bustling streets of the Bazaars humming with life, people coming and going big smiles on their faces, the thought that something sinister was happening under all this made me sick to my stomach, the Castle gates flung open and we were greeted with the large view of the familiar red castle, trees bushes and the oh so pompous water fountain made in the likeness of the current Maharaja, a man’s ego can only be so big, I had to rub my temple in hopes of repressing my anger and bubbling disgust, we came to a halt at the entrance

"Shall we” said Dimitri as he offered both his hands out to me and Shya who appreciated his gesture and took it readily, I on the other hand wasn’t nearly as enthusiastic

Walking into the castle, the walls were lined with paintings of past kings, stone, bronze and gold statues here and there, silk draperies and servants bowing their hands as we walked by making our way to the conference hall, as expected, what we weren’t expecting though, was the detour Dimitri took us and now here we are in front of the throne room

“What is the meaning of this, Dimitri?” I asked in a cold tone my hands itching to grab the blade at my side

“You asked for a hearing with the King, since your Queen isn’t with you, this is the most appropriate don’t you think?” his words only further angered me, Shya noticed and put her hand on mine to calm me down, to my annoyance it worked, after my breathing became steady Dimitri swung open the Doors to the throne room, a fine room indeed with silk curtains running from ceiling to floor, cushions on the floor running along the side of the room, a golden chandelier hanging in the center emitting a dim glow, the faint smell of incense burning in the air and at the head, a throne embellished with enough jewels to feed a small country for years and on it, King Douche himself “Presenting 6th of his name, the 50th Maharaja of Durhgan, His Majesty Zasrael Saanvi Daksh” ah yes, the current source of my distaste, as the petite girl to his side was introducing him I wanted nothing more than to throw my knife at him, hitting him right between the eye

“Mērē dōsatāṁ dā su'āgata hai..." Welcome my friends "....please come in” beckoned the King, as much as I hated him his thick Durhgan accent could melt anybody, making our way towards him Shya was the first to curtsy, bowing her head as a sign of respect in spite of my reluctance and personal vendetta I was here for duty, keeping that in mind I bowed as well, I’m sure that bastard was enjoying seeing how he kept us bowing a little longer than necessary

“Get up please, please, have a seat, I’m sure you must be tired, sit, sit” he gestured to the cushions on the ground then clapped his hands, servants brought them closer to us and placed them facing the king as if saying he wanted to look down on us more than he already was, Shya and I sat while the knights chose to stand, shortly after, another girl brought us drinks, I stared at the deep purple colored liquid in my hand and swirled it around the cup, they must be insane if they think I’m going to drink something that looks this suspicious, only an i***t would so readily…….

My thoughts were cut off when I looked to my side and saw Shya downing the entire cup, By the Black deeps!!! WHAT IS SHE DOING?!! Doesn’t she have a sense of danger at all?!! soon all eyes fell on me with my drink still in hand, I let out a sigh and chugged it all in one go, it was sweet and had a spicy kick when it hit the back of your throat, it was delicious, and it wasn’t cursed or poisoned so that’s good, not that poison had any effect on me, all shadows undergo rigorous training to build our immunity against any and all poisons but it’s still best not to take any chances

“It’s good eh? It’s a special drink made from a blend of fruits and spices grown in my own personal garden” His Majesty looked mighty proud while he boasted

“Very good” happily chirped little Miss Sunshine

“Tasty, now Your Majesty could we get down to business?”

“Of course” He replied while sitting up in his throne

“Your Grace it has come to our attention that Elves are disappearing in your country at an alarming rate again so I hope you haven’t forgotten your treaty with the Elven powers”

“Forget? Forget?” he said while giving me a dry laughter as all the humor bled out his face "...How could I forget the day armies from all three elven nations came barreling at our boarders, troops stretching from the red line to the harbor flying their nations flag demanding the head of the king, MY father, one of the largest battalions the world has ever seen, all of it………… being lead……… by a 15 year old, something truly terrifying, that Queen of yours”

As he regaled the story of that day with heavy eyes, I couldn’t help the pride that welled inside me at the lengths Eztli took for us, for our people, I’m sure all the soldiers with me even Shya felt the same way as we all fought back the looks of pride threatening to break out on our faces

“Tragic very tragic, but the worst was avoided and the treaty was made and peace reigned but now Elves are disappearing again so we can’t help but feel a little concerned Your Majesty”

“You think we’re kidnapping elves?”

“I never said those exact words, I’m just here to confirm your promise to the treaty”

“Of course I am, that treaty means more to Durhgan than you could possibly image..."

“I’m sure you believe that but………”

“My father gave his life for this treaty”

“As the King it was his duty to shoulder the consequences of the crimes committed…..”

“He loved this country, he loved his people that is why he gave his life to protect the people you came to slaughter, he prevented the blood you came to spill He Loved this great Nation...”

“What about Elven blood? What about the Elven blood that was spilled in this Great Nation?!, every nook and cranny of this country is smeared with the blood of the innocent what about their blood....?!”

TING!!!!!!

“Ohkay I believe you’ve both said quite enough” instantly both me and the king were silenced by a single chime we both looked to my right to see Shya holding her cup from before and a metal spoon, now I know where that chime came from, but that wasn’t what silenced me, it was the stern look in her eye, the cold tone in her voice as if shooting daggers of ice into my very soul, she really isn’t a councilman for nothing “Your Majesty, Your Father was a great King and a good man, he knew what was happening was wrong, and you’re right, his actions stopped Durhgan from turning into a Grave yard for both elves and ogres, he ordered the capture and personally executed all involved in the Elven sacrifice and to appease the Warlords at his doorstep he gave in his life while pleading to spare yours, he died an honorable man so I’m sure he would be less than proud of your actions today, please, my partner and I had a long and exhausting journey, forgive her she speaks from fatigue, please have mercy, let us end this council here and pick up tomorrow after we’ve cooled our heads” at the end of her speech she gave a curt bow from the side of her eye she shot me a warning look as if telling me to behave myself, to which I bowed my head as well

“Forgiveness Your Majesty, I spoke out of turn”

“That’s fine, I also forgot myself for a moment, please raise your heads, I’ve had my servants prepare your rooms you may retire for the night” he said dismissively, on the walk to our rooms no words were spoken, Shya didn’t even so much as glance at me, I messed up, our rooms were next to each other, the servant gave a final bow before walking away

“Get some sleep, don’t stay up too late” was all Shya said to me before disappearing into her room, I really messed up

Later that night, I couldn’t sleep, being a shadow I’ve been trained to go weeks without sleep but still, maybe being in enemy territories made me more anxious than I thought, I kept tossing and turning uncomfortably on a bed so soft it felt like lying on a cloud, the whole room felt so suffocating that’s why I’m out here, in the hallway at the dead of night staring at the sky through a bay window at the edge of the corridor

Things really have changed in comparison to how it used to be, I want to believe in peace but I can’t afford to be so idealistic I could never forget what they did, Like Sylphorren, Durhgan was one of many Ogre Nations, Durhgan being the central power amassing by leaps and bounds in weapons craft, magic and alchemy, it’s not anymore though, So how did they do it then?

Elven Sacrifice, it was an unholy ritual where elves were stabbed with enchanted blades on 5 vital points in their bodies then crucified while they were still alive, they'd bleed them out through those stab wound while chanting, the blood gotten from this ritual turns to pure magical energy, they keep the Elves alive till they eventually die of blood loss, back then when Elves disappeared it was treated as kidnapping or acts of terrorism until one day two Elves were sent to deeply infiltrate Durhgan because the Queen, Eztli’s mother didn’t trust them, those two were the best Shadows Sylphorren had ever seen, the co-captains of the shadows, my parents.

They never made it back, what did make it back was a vision crystal that had a recording of the high priest and King in person of Zasrael’s father watching while rows of elves hammered onto stakes were being bled out, one of them being my father, my mother barely made it back alive to Sylphorren to deliver the crystal but she had never been the same since then, her eyes were sunken her hair had lots its sheen, she skin was pale and her mind broke more and more with the passing day, she kept getting worse till one day, she woke up and didn’t even recognize her own daughter, she wouldn’t eat, she wouldn’t drink she just faded till she was gone, before that the Queen had noticed my mother’s state of mind and had already taken me in, she died alone, I could never forgive that, them

All the elven Nations did nothing at that time in fear of what Durhgan would do in retaliation, they all cowered away, pulled all elves in Durhgan back home and cut ties with the Nation thinking that would stop them but no, they started kidnapping elves from their countries, it was madness, it continued this way, until Eztli put her foot, she was magnificent

“Can’t sleep?” I was pulled out from my memories by a husky voice “...mind a little company”

“Of course not, you are always a sight for sore eyes Dimitri” he mumbled a thank you then sat next to me as we both gazed out into the black sky, from the stars that lit the dark abyss to the endless sea of red sand rolling and crashing into each other in light of the starry sky looking like specks of gold

“I’m sorry about your parents...." here we go again “....the king didn’t know, he meant no disrespect, he didn’t know about your parents, about the sacrifices at that time, all of it, he feels weak and blames himself for not seeing it sooner, for not stopping it, believe me please, He is terribly sorry”

“If he’s so sorry why are you the one apologizing?”

“Because his ego wouldn’t allow it but he honestly is a good man”

“And you’re sure you aren’t being biased here?”

To this he gave a light chuckle “Yes, many years ago a young prince might’ve stumbled across a slave caravan in a foreign country when he followed his father to a diplomacy meeting and decided to take a chance on a young sickly slave boy who looked like he would collapse at any minute, he took him in fed him, clothed him, gave him a home, a life, a purpose ” as he spoke I could see the sparkle In his eyes, he put the view behind him to shame “....He saved my life” at the end of his sentence he was fully beaming his face lit up at the very memory, the awe he has for his King and savoir is something I understand very well

Looking closely at Dimitri anyone can see he’s not from around here, his skin in contrast to the tanned reddish skin of the people of Durhgan had a little more of a brownish tone to it and I know no two Ogre’s had the same horns but his had a different contour to them entirely in contrast to the Native Durhganii citizens, I don’t know where the misconception that Ogres were hideous beasts came from, in reality as much as I hated to admit it they were gorgeous creatures, horns and all

“So please give him a chance” Dimitri pleaded giving me such a solemn expression I felt guilty, I remember giving Eztli a speech about being rational and not being emotionally driven, I am such a hypocrite

“Alright, I’ll be on my best behavior from now on, I look forward to working with you and your King”

“Thank you” he spoke in a low whisper with a look of triumph as he took both my hands and placed a wisp of a kiss on my finger tips

Wow

“You should really get some sleep, you have a busy day tomorrow”

“I’d like to stay here for a little while longer”

“Care for some company?”

“I’d like that”