Steel Wolf

Presents

In their chambers, Tanaya was airing her lungs at full volume. Her voice carried into the hallway outside, the guards to either side of the door exchanging looks. One of the guards, a battlemage, waved his hand to activate a Spell of Silence. The tirade couldn't be heard more than a few feet from the door.

"Great Deity in Samarji's Hell!" Tanaya screamed, kicking a brass rubbish can the length of the room. "That slag-damn toad-licking rock-sucking sand eater! No slag-damn concern for anyone except himself! Every ounce of energy I had went into not ripping his slag-damn head off and taking a healthy shit down his slag-damn neck!" She glared at Serenna, voice now guttural, eyebrows thickening ever-so-slightly, threatening to shift. "By Helm and Sword, Majesty, you'd better not let that filthy worm wander around by himself. There are wolves and orcs in this city. And a fucking dragon. Big teeth. Sharp claws. Savage and fast, too. All of them."

Serenna blinked. Tanaya must be absolutely furious to address her by her station, not as her wife.

"Calm down, Love," said Serenna, surrounded by ladies in waiting to help her dress for the grand meeting. She knew she was in absolutely no danger from her wife, the beautiful queen consort was merely venting her frustrations. "Yes, I too find it most reprehensible that he throws away human life so casually. But, he brings us a way of dealing with the black dragon. We just need to be careful while he's here."

"If you could have heard him on the way into town..." Tanaya intoned, clearing her throat. "Benton told me he had to stop Shalindra from knifing the guy in the back. Did you know that some of the 'gifts' he's going to present you are live human slaves? They're being readied now."

Serenna regally stood in her purple robes, her ladies in waiting making last-minute adjustments, fussing over her hair and makeup. She turned slowly to face her wife.

"Tanaya," she said, addressing the large woman, "look me in the eye and pay close attention to my next few words."

Tanaya stood a few feet away, searching Serenna's dark brown eyes, nose twitching.

"While they are in this city, they will not be molested in any way, fashion, or form. Am I making myself perfectly clear?"

"Aye, Majesty," she replied through gritted teeth. "I'll have the Regular Military post sentries around their caravan...while they're in the city..."

-o0o-

The courtier stepped into the throne room and stood to attention. Royal Guard warriors stood at intervals around the room, their armor polished to a mirror sheen; a few had gotten no sleep as they had worked on theirs through the night.

"Your Majesty, now comes the Ultra-Chief of the Crazy Scar tribe, Caral Crazy Scar to present yourself with gifts from his land. He is accompanied by his under-chiefs, representing the eight clans under his rule. They also bear gifts as a gesture of friendship for Her Majesty. It is my honor to present Ultra-Chief Caral Crazy Scar and entourage," announced the courtier.

He turned smartly to one side, stepping out of the way.

Two burly Apocalypsers, wearing shiny leather chestpieces over tan-colored cotton clothing, preceded Caral as they entered. The ultra-chief was dressed in a tan robe embroidered with scenes of past battles. On his head was a fine black top hat, eight tan tassels affixed to the crown, one tassel for each clan in his tribe. Behind him were two columns of well-muscled humans manacled together; men, women, and children, some appearing no more than six years of age. Four humans on either side, dressed similar to the ultra-chief and carrying long metal poles, walked beside the slaves into the throne room.