Saviour of Neither

13 - Meeting

We head home that day tired, full, and happy, with our money pouches rather lighter than when we'd left our quarters.

"The leisure is over now." Oscar tells me before we part for the night. "Tomorrow we begin the ambassadorial meeting, where various issues amongst the races are raised. These will become rather tense, so brace yourself."

That night, I lie in bed and allow my mind to wander to her for the first time in weeks.

***

The storm is here today. I can hear it rumbling slowly and surely towards us during breakfast; the western edge of the sky is blotched with a dark inky blue, crackling with lightning.

"The meeting is due to start in an hour." Nora says as another rumble of thunder echoes through the dining hall. "You -" she begins to address me in particular - "need to make yourself presentable on the international stage."

I would say I'm being fairly formal, with a stiff-collared shirt and straight-cut slacks, but apparently this isn't good enough for politics.

"You need ironed-out clothes." Louise insists after breakfast. "If you're going to attend then you can't be wearing anything as scruffy as that."

Scruffy? In Hilsbury this attire would pass for a lesser guest at a wedding.

"Not to mention a blazer, and a tie - why did his Highness even approve of your accompaniment?" Oscar begins fretting, pacing back and forth, looking as if he wanted to tear his hair out.

"I could just not attend."

All three of them turn to stare at me as if I'd just gained a slug for a head.

"You're meant to be an ambassador!" Oscar snaps angrily. "All the other delegates have seen you and assume you to be a member of us. Refusing to attend will make us appear uncaring of our own fellow races, and disgrace onto us for bringing a guest acting with such disdain!"

A retort that I would most likely never visit Klochstein again forms on my tongue, except I am sensible enough this time not to utter it.

I try a different approach instead. "I understand this is important for image, but I know little about political proceedings."

"We can explain that to you when necessary, then." Nora says in her smooth, polished accent. "There are many intricacies of politics that are too numerous to explain at once - learning them takes months, if not years, of practice. But first, a suitable outfit."

Twenty minutes later, I walk out of their quarters in a crisp-white buttoned-up shirt, formal black trousers, and a blazer they tell me is dark green. I sincerely hope this is the last time I have to wear a tie - it rubs against my neck too much.

"There." Louise says happily. "That's you sorted. Now, just to find-"

"CHESTER! YOU'RE MEANT TO BE SETTING THE EXAMPLE!" Oscar yells as the Chief's son finally stumbles upstairs from breakfast.

After all of us are dressed appropriately, we are led to a massive conference room. The first noticeable part is the table, large and circular, with at least twenty seats stationed around it. The dwarf elders that had greeted us upon our arrival sit at the head of the table in two stately, oak-carved chairs.  The room is brightly lit by glow-lamps, also helped by the glass roof above, which casts a sparkling array of colours onto the table. I look up to see an intricate design of vines, flowers and birds arranged from tinted glass pieces.

I am seated next to the Menial party - of only three people, I note, instead of the typical five. The one to my left is female, around five-and-a-half feet tall with dark brown hair and a pale complexion. Her face is littered with burn marks, and I realise immediately which part of Garadh she is from.