The Dance

Drozakrahth

I listened to her words as she spoke them confidently and clearly, but it was a good thing they could not smell fear. She was nervous, but encouraging herself while she spoke, so as not to have the time to think of her feelings.

That was something no one could really teach. She Did have natural talent.

“She’s doing well.” Said Nox, disguised as a normal High Elf. He always showed the pattern of stars upon his black skin, as his skin really was a piece of the sky placed on flesh… I don’t rightly know what I was made of… I never asked. To be fair, even now knowing his and not mine, I still don’t.

“Yes…. Yes she is…” I sighed.

“I can’t tell what that curse is either. I could undo it, being the better caster, but if I do, I could damage her… It’s woven into her being, like a thick film of tar over her soul, soaked in through years of clinging to her.” He said taking a sup of elvish wine. Their wine didn’t taste strong, but it would knock a mortal on their ass after a cup.

“So…. You can’t either.” I mumbled.

“Not unless you’re both willing to risk her life.” Said Nox taking another sip. This was his third glass, the slush.

“Ardenyull, the headmaster of the University… my son… told me mating might shake it off her.” I said getting topped off. This was only my second…. Nox currently held his fourth.

“He’s wrong.” Said Nox. “If The Realm King nor the Cosmic Elf cannot lift it, it wasn’t meant to be lifted… my guess, Humblon wishes to Really Truly Test you…”

“Oh Gods Damnit….” I said looking at her laugh with them. They were having a good time now that they were drunk, sharing stories.

But now I was worried… the Lord Of Unity Was Not To Be Trifled With. He does NOT like me….

“…. I Really hope his has NOTHING to do with this.” I hissed between my teeth.

“Think about it… a curse that Can be lifted if you’re cruel enough to do it… she’s mortal, so you will have to use restraint in everything you do… on top of that you have to protect her at all times while ruling an unkept kingdom.” Said Nox.

Thinking of this gave me a sadness I could not shake… a sorrow that could not be sated with anything less than to not think of it…. I could not see her hurt for my selfishness…

“…. True…” I mumbled. “How fairs your husband?” I asked.

“I quite literally just picked someone. He is pleasant, polite, and soft spoken. I wished you’d attend the wedding.” Nox grumbled.

“I got the invitation… but isn’t it over?” I asked. Mail from his kingdom lags a bit… he would have been Faster to just use light magic, but he was so old fashioned at times.

“No. It’s a few months from now, when the Fifth Moon flowers bloom.

“Then we will attend… and tell him he has my favor. My is my wedding gift. If he asks anything of me, I will provide if it is within my power.” I said truthfully. “Even if he grows weary of You.” We both got a small laugh.

“You? Give Favor? Now I Know you’ve changed.” He laughed. “I came just to check on you Drozo, your wife has my favor as well.”

He left to mingle in the crowd, but they gave him cold shoulders since they didn’t know him. They also didn’t really see us speak, because I know Nox. He likely had some kind of spell to muffle the attention shown his way.

I stood alone a moment to let that sink in… if this curse was some kind of divine test… what should I do to prove her freedom…...? She was free from being a slave, but not her body… She was Mortal… it isn’t fair that whatever she truly was, was taken from her.

“Your highness do you desire…. company?” Asked an elf, wearing a bright pink ribbon around her neck like a collar… she was from the entertainment district, the West. “forgive me for asking, I was told to by my handler to entertain you…. However you saw fit.” She said smelling of fear.

“No, but tell me, are you West District?”

“Yes my lord.” She said looking at my boots.

“Tell me of the underground.” I asked, taking a sip of wine. Mortals really were small… this one was just as little as my mate to be an elf. Maybe she was a hybrid?

“The slave pens still hold debtors… a more legal way of slavery… If you cannot pay your debt, a person or their children may be taken to the to stand naked before greedy men…” She said looking at I assumed was her handler, a gold drake. I’d seen him before when I flew over the city.

“That’s well within that law. The debtor’s debt is paid, but in return he must work off his debt to the new lord.” I said looking down on her… “What is Lord Quatron hiding?”

“Below the slave pits… is the fighting ring… Those unsold, too weak, or too old are killed in the most brutal ways, and their meat sold at the very venue they die at… There’s also the drug dealer cartel… after the rebellion two or so decades ago, what the rebels got killed for, there are humans making….” She whispered.

“Are they making beetle dust or crystal magma… or mermaid?” I asked.

“Mostly goat’s grass…. And elephant trunk.” She said sheepishly. So getting high or horny… that really wasn’t too bad to be fair.

“…. Hmm… And what roll does Dossi play in all this?” I asked.

“My lord! Are you enjoying the party?” Said Lord Unos.

When I turned around the female was gone, as was the handler… I hate wind magic.

“Fine until you came along.” I grumbled.

“Is something wrong sire?” asked Unos.

“Don’t play dumb. You know I was questioning the hybrid elf.” I said with crossed arms.

“My lord… the city makes money… the people are happy… and none who live within city walls suffer like they did at the castle…. We could not stop the Seven…” Said Unos, clearly hiding something.

“Then I’ll drop it.” I lied. I doubted he could tell, but I knew by the time I found this place, it might be cleared…. I will have to wait until I take my mate home. I would not risk her injury, death, or taken hostage while I was out.

Plus to be fair, it sounded like normal riff raff. Shaking down the underworld too much would put my mate in danger… I’ll go down there and check. At worst, I’ll have a rat’s nest to clean out, at best, I just need to adjust the debtor laws.

“My lord, that’s probably best.” Said Unos. “They have a monopoly over the most common drugs, but they also make medicine down there too.” He said hailing for a plate that had small meats and cheeses. I took the tray… the only thing these small portions did was make me hungry.

“Unos I think you misunderstand me.” I said looking him in the eyes. I was a full head and shoulders taller than every one here. “I Don’t Care about what anyone does so long as it’s within the parameters of the law, and the mortals don’t suffer Too much.” I said pairing a bit of cured meat with the wine… it was excellent. “I also don’t want to be the seat of the drug problem. I Know Hellion has had issues with mermaid a while… I’ve heard rumors that it’s on the rise again.”

“Of course sire.” He bowed.

“You know, as things were during my first reign. No one should have to endure fates such as those because they’re poor.” I said firmly. “I’m not here to change anything other than that. In this world, they are unable to compete. Your people are only safe because of Nox. Nothing more.”

“Then know your work is already done. We elves detest… such filth as the old times… and smells… and unwashed masses. All people, citizen or surf, has rights to the common bathhouse, enough to eat, and enough pay to at Least have somewhere off the streets. I know you’ve not seen many homeless sire. Nothing is staged, especially since you came one day here by surprise.” Said Unos.

“True. To be fair I didn’t even Want to have a castle… I was going to buy a farm and live like a mortal, pretend I was human… just to see how it is.” I said looking over at Azula again. Her eyes nearly glowed even in the daylight…

“Your highness allow us to handle the city… though… with your stature I doubt you’d fool anyone.” He said as a joke. He did admittedly get a chuckle out of me.

“Ah, I don’t doubt that. I can’t make myself any smaller either. Even in my smallest flight form, I’m still bigger than my father.” I said relenting to my selfish desires….

“Look, his highness comes to collect you.” Giggled the one with red hair, the Southern District Lord’s wife. I cared not to know her name.

She got up and came to me, stopping short of touching me. I pressed her close to my chest… and I smelled her hair. She smelled of the flower oils that I bought… the perfume made from it made her smell of sunflowers…

“Good afternoon my lord.” She said silently.

My heart stopped for a breath… I patted her hair….

“My little wife, have this dance with me.” I bowed. “You’re supposed to curtsy my dear.” I whispered, and she did. She’d forgotten that part, mostly because this was in the moment.

… The music was changed to a waltz, and I glided across the garden. She followed, looking out of place at first, but her steps became confident.

“How is this?” I asked. I tried to make sure I stepped slow enough for her. She was not formally trained in elf customs. I was due to my upbringing this time…

“Wonderful husband.” She smiled.

“Are you ready to leave a bit early?” I asked.

“As fun as this was, I do miss the castle.” She said resting her head on my chest while we danced. I was surprised that I could do anything other than be drunk… I did have a taste too much.

The bells of the Church rang 4 times.

It was Sixteenth hour, about an hour from sundown…. Clocks were introduced by my mother and grandmother. They thought it a good idea, and I was inclined to agree. The churches kept the time, and we thought it best not to advance them any more than simply knowing hours so workers didn’t have designated shifts, not work sun up to down... The church even found a way to keep hours with sand, and once the sand ran out, the bells would be rang one to twelve times. It was then that the priest would yell the said hour, be it a full or half.