A horn echoed through the valley. The elves rushed to their doorways, the warriors gripping their weapons. Lord Meridin and Lady Sheanni came out of the palace, armed to the teeth and accompanied by soldiers. A herald introduced King Almeir.
The human king dismounted his horse and nodded at them in acknowledgement. Meridin shook the man’s hand, but when Sheanni extended her own, the king raised it to his lips. She snatched it away and glared at him.
“None of that. The greeting you gave my husband would be quite fitting for me also.”
“Your customs are different from mine, my lady,” the king replied, before turning to Lord Meridin. “Where I come from, a man would insist his woman hold her tongue, if she didn’t already know her place.”
“My wife is in her place, Sir, leading and protecting our people by my side. In your language, she is a queen. If you disrespect her, she will make you regret it and I’ll support her whole-heartedly. Now, what are you doing here?”
The king’s face grew red and a vein bulged in the centre of his forehead.
“We have come to form an alliance against the enemy. We know the beasts have been targeting you too. They have all formed alliances with each other: ogres, goblins, trolls. It makes sense that we should do the same.”
Sheanni trembled with rage. “And where were you fifteen years ago, when the Shadowglenn Valley was razed to the ground? When the former lord and lady of the valley were killed and their infant child orphaned. Where was your allegiance then? It only interests you to form one now because your armies are so depleted from your constant war with them.”
Almeir pursed his lips and looked down his nose at her before turning back to Lord Meridin. “And if your lady is right? If our forces are so sparse that we can’t hold our own ground, what then? They would fight their way northwards, through our land, and right to your doorstep. Instead of the odd small group coming here from time to time, they’d be here in their thousands, raiding, pillaging, feasting on your kin!”
Lord Meridin’s face betrayed no feeling. “We will help you fight them south then our part will be over. You will build your walls and reinforcements to keep them there. We must have your word that you will not give them cause to breach those boundaries.”
“You have my word,” Almeir muttered.
“There’s one more condition,” Meridin said. “My wife leads the Elvish army, so you and your generals will need to give her your full cooperation and respect.”
Almeir’s jaw dropped. “A lady on the battlefield? That’s preposterous! Out of the question.”
“Very well. Come along, my dear. We’ll let King Almeir and his people attempt to hold their land unaided.”
“Stop!” the king shouted as they turned hand-in-hand. “Very well, very well. We will work with her.”
“And you will treat her with the utmost respect?”
“Yes, yes, fine.”
x
“I’ll hold you to that,” Sheanni said with a wicked grin. “Now, I think we should begin preparations right away, don’t you?"
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