Go to Part 1 - 4 minute read
Go to Part 2 - 4 minute read
Go to Part 3 - 3 minute read
*
Prince Keramore Thex sat upon the throne of Neriak as the doors to his great hall swung open. D'Vinn approached in spotless Teir'Dal ring mail.
The prince bristled at the incessant arrogance of his grand assassin. "I am not too quick to assume that one of my top assassins has failed because his armor remains untarnished, but I do not see the head of emperor Crush as I had requested."
D'Vinn bent down to one knee; a pose Keramore knew the assassin only made in pained reluctance. "I saved his life, my liege."
"That was not the order you were given."
D'Vinn kept his eyes on the floor. "In the orc I have found a means. One that our kind will benefit from more greatly." He faced his prince. "If my liege will allow me to explain."
Agitation flared upon the Prince's face. "Quickly."
The assassin's tongue swirled against the dry interior of his mouth. "Orcs have always been a nuisance to ours and the other races. Proven as both uncontrollable and lacking direction. Organized into an army they'd pose a real threat. A possibility that only emperor Crush brings. That is why you tasked me with his death. The elimination of no small threat" He paused.
Keramore remained unmoved in his expression.
"My liege, I could not bring myself to pass up the opportunity that presented itself to me. For that, I ask your pardon."
"It will not be given. Continue. Quicker."
"I discovered Crush and his warriors amid an ambush by Feir'Dal rangers. Peculiar, they were not ordinary soldiers. Outriders, my liege. Crush's centurions gave their lives. That alone would not have saved the orcs' emperor." D'Vinn stared into the eyes of his commander where he found ire as well as the faint glimmer of understanding.
"My prince, I have won for us the accord of the orcs. A force that strikes fear into the hearts of those so strong as the Feir'Dal."
Keramore allowed his anger to cool for a moment, to see D'Vinn's strategy plainly before taking the assassin's head. "Surely, they took you for an elf. You must have had to explain yourself, and jeopardized the hidden location of our city."
"No, my liege, I identified myself as a foreigner to their land. Indeed, they thought me merely an elf. I only told them Nektulos, but they knew nothing of its location or the Tier'Dal. My liege, search my words without trust."
Keramore stood and gazed at his subject. There was no faultering in the assassin. He grimaced. "And you think that acceptable."
D'Vinn turned his eyes back to the floor. "My liege--"
The lord of Neriak waved his hand. "You have not completed your mission, but you will."
The assassin shut his eyes, awaiting the hidden blade that the prince had no doubt signaled for.
"You will return to Crushbone, and there you will continue to build your relationship with the orcs. You will protect their emperor and collect as much information about them and the Feir'Dal as possible."
D'Vinn looked up in astonishment.
"You will watch him, D'Vinn. You will manipulate him and bleed him and steer him as a resource for the Teir'Dal as long as he is useful. The very moment his utility has passed you will complete your mission. And only then, may you return."
The assassin was speechless, insulted, and dreading. The thought of staying in the presence of orcs and their disgusting environment for an unknown amount of time was beyond repugnant.
"That is all. Go now, ambassador. And may Innoruuk grant you victory." The hint of a smirk shown upon Keramore's face. D'Vinn go to his feet, spun and marched towards the door before his tongue got the better of him.
The throne room doors shut with a great clang behind the assassin. Teeth clenched as spittle erupted from inaudible curses. In normal circumstances, such a decree would only mean that D'Vinn should be executed at some unexpected time and location by Tier'Dal scouts, unofficially, in the shadows. Such was the price of insolence, normally. D'Vinn would have gladly died taking down a few of Kermore's finest, and of course, Keramore knew that. The pain of it all was that Keramore and D'Vinn knew that this blow to his ego was somehow worse.
He bowed his head, collected his thoughts, and gripped the hilt of his dagger. He was still a Teir'Dal; still a grand assassin. He could finish the job with Crush sooner rather than later if the smells, taunts, and homesickness became too much. He grinned inwardly as an idea began to form. At least, in the meantime, there would be plenty of wine, the little maestro, and secrets to be learned.
***
That's the finale for the Ambassador from Nektulos, at least for now. I'll have a new short series next weekend set in the same universe. Thank you all for the comments and upvotes, you all really make it worthwhile to post these.