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LS contest - Partners in Crime

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Ever since her Matron-mother had heard of this city, Gor-gornoth, Xull'rae had been sent there immediately. Luckily she had an hour to relay the news to her Vhaeraunian companions. The journey had been long and uneventful and when her companion and she arrived they agreed to separate before entering. Xull'rae prayed for his safety daily. She had been here now for three months with no word from him.

The fruits of her labor were coming into bloom today. All the manipulating, gathering information, and diplomacy gave her plenty of details to make a report for both churches. She could leave now, but Lord-king Meldor Istora Idrill, the High Warlord and Patriarch of the city, had sent her a formal request to appear in front of him today. She would not deny him. She could, but she wouldn't. It wasn't worth the trouble, it was rude, and she was curious to see what her reputation had built up to that the ruler of the city would take notice in such a short time. An opportunity arose. This could be to her benefit or damnation but she would only know if she went.

Xull’rae dressed quickly and allowed the entourage of eight guards to escort her to his palace. It took a good while to get there but she didn't mind. It allowed her to view her surroundings. The palace of the High Warlord was located in the most lavish part of the cavern where the nobility dwelt. This part, as in most Drow cities, was known as ‘the Mushroom Groves’. In this small part the top eight noble families had their fortresses and that of House Idrill loomed over the others against the back walls on its own plateau. Xull’rae appreciated his wealth and power but truly was not impressed by its style or look for the top plateau on which the Warlord’s fortress was located was covered in gardens that seemed a perverse parody on the lavish gardens the surface elves were known for. Mushrooms of all sizes loomed around the pebble-path that snaked trough the gardens towards the main gate. There were several small lakes, a fountain, and even stone hewn benches at attractive spots in the gardens.

Her group was admitted entrance and after some dialog was exchanged, Xull’rae was led into the fortress and to a large antechamber. She took a seat and studied the room with passive amber eyes, but restrained her curiosity from actually searching the place thoroughly. She didn't know how much time passed before she was formally announced but she swept into the room with courtly grace after pushing back her hood and opening her piwafwi to show her nightscale armor underneath. The gate guards that had accompanied her, left to return to their post by the gate when they entered. The eight guards comprising her escort broke free from her and went to their appointed posts spread across the throne room. One of them, apparently their leader, took up his position on the right side of the throne.

Xull’rae carried weapons of course but she gave them to a servant before she knelt at the dais with her head bowed. The white streak fell forward while her long thick red braid stayed partially in the cloak. She was of royal blood but showing respect and even subservience might serve her better than her normal arrogance and confidence. She did not speak; she waited for him to acknowledge her.

It never came.

Xull’rae never took The Warlord’s bait. She stayed on the floor, bent and eyes to the ground. Still nothing.  She remained focused on the floor thinking and repeating to herself silently be a servant, be a servant, be a... Something moved out of the corner of her eye but she did not move except to blink. Her small lithe form kept relaxed despite her building tension. A voice came from behind her. A melodic male voice with a slight edge of sarcasm in it suddenly broke the heavy silence in the room, "I wasn't aware Sshamath bred nobles to be so downcast. Are the servants like rothe?"

Xull'rae didn't answer. It was a rhetorical question. The Warlord didn't directly address her. He was assessing and testing her.

The Drow spoke again, this time there was a hint of suspicion in his voice. "A favored noble in your own House, though it wasn't mentioned you had red hair." He touched her head, and felt her hair.

Xull'rae took in a slow deep breath. It was better then tensing or breaking her position and expression. She wouldn't give him the pleasure of that.

He touched her white streak, "how....interesting..." Long fingers brushed down her cheek then cupped her chin. "Let's see what kind of face goes with this ensemble, shall we?" He brought her chin up; the grip was gentle but strong. She let him without a fight.

Xull’rae kept her eyes down for a few more seconds, until she was sure he had looked at her first. She then slowly looked up. Meldor’s face was refined with a slender nose and thin eyebrows that ended in a sharp curve. His lips were rather thin but gracefully curved and a slight tone darker than his deep gray skin. Though there were small lines visible near the corner of his mouth, it gave his smile a cruel edge.   He wore a crown on his head.  The crown of Gor-gornoth, she had heard, had been forged out of the remains of the late Queen's diadem.  It was a marvelous piece of craftsmanship.  The hair underneath was snow-white, kept clean, and pulled partially into a small but tight ponytail. The remainder of his hair curled lavishly around his shoulders.  His red eyes bestowed their penetrating gaze on Xull’rae for a long moment as he studied her in turn.

Finally he spoke again, "I’ve heard you have certain skills. I know why you were sent here. I want you to apprehend someone for me. If you succeed you may leave my city to make your report and get your companion back alive." The Warlord snapped his fingers and a man came forward from behind the dais, dragging the battered body of her companion with whom she had arrived in the city with. The Torture Master had a malicious grin on his blood smeared face as he stood over the broken body of the vhaeraunite. He was proud of his work.

Xull’rae rose slowly and looked absolutely unruffled except her eyes glinted like hard chips of amber, first at the scarred Torture Master, than to her host. Her pupils had a red tint, giving the appearance of living fires within. She bowed flawlessly and said in a clear voice, "it shall be done."

"This is Zammzt Sinssoroth, my Torture Master," Meldor explained, indicating the man holding her companion. "He will keep your man company until you return," he gave her a cold smirk and dismissed her then. "Escort the Lady Xull’rae out."

Immediately the eight guards came into motion again and returned to positions around Xull’rae. The audience had ended. The guard that appeared to be the leader of the others nodded at Xull’rae as if to motion her out. When she did not react immediately he gave her a frown, though did not touch her to force his intentions.

Xull’rae glanced at the Warlord once more before she turned around and left. She knew the meeting was done and left in the same manner in which she had entered. She looked calm, she even moved well, and looked the perfect picture of relaxed self control. Inside she was ready to start a massacre. She was led outside in all due haste.

Once outside of the gates and back into the gardens Xull’rae sat down on a bench near one of the small lakes to reflect. She was alone in this; she wasn’t even given a name. Apparently the Warlord wanted her to use her "skills" to find out and get the person without any details. She already had ideas where to start and her mind was rolling out plans and scenarios on how to go about her new task when a slight noise caught her attention. She looked around carefully and spotted a shadowy figure nearby. Making sure no one else was around she signed a hello and received a response to follow.  She did so silently and at a distance, pulling up her hood.

After a short walk they stopped in a more isolated area near the back of the Mushroom Groves, no longer on the private plateau with House Idrill’s gardens. The shadowy figure signaled her to come closer after which she let her hood down. Out of the shadows appeared the face of a beautiful female Drow, though her skin tone was oddly lighter gray than Xull’rae’s own. Mixed blood, Xull’rae wondered for a moment. The woman had a delicate face, almost like one of their Surface dwelling kin.  She had a small nose and full lips that were curved into an almost genuine smile at the moment.  Thin eyebrows and long white lashes accentuated her outlandish vivid blue eyes. But her skin and eye color weren't her only oddities, her hair too had a strange color. Her curling hair appeared to be a mix between gold and white, with strands of each falling down side by side.

"I will help you if you help me," the stranger said. Xull'rae didn't answer immediately; instead she searched the area to make sure they were alone.

"Don't worry, my husband won't know. He cannot keep complete watch on me, he'd wish, but he can on you."

Xull’rae looked askance at the woman. "Your husband? You mean the Warlord, Meldor?" The woman nodded gravely but before Xull’rae could say or ask anything further, she said, "My name is Linnerial Morrigana. I’ll get the name and location of the person you need to find to be able to leave if you will help me getting back a... family heirloom my husband keeps from me."

Xull’rae regarded her and weighed her options. It could be another trap to keep her here, but then again this woman seemed to dislike or even hate her husband. She had nothing to lose really. She accepted the deal. "I agree."

Xull’rae slit her palm and let blood drip on the ground. Linnerial did the same and they shook, sealed by blood to be partners in this crime.
For contest, Partners in Crime. I did not win!

My Partner made the pic and colored it. The ORIGINAL can be found in Black and White and in COLOR which you see displayed as my story illustration. PLEASE FULL VIEW! her picture! But do give my girl lovin' too! She derserves it! :clap:

Critique discouraged because this was a collab and edited twice by us both and this my first ever contest. ^^;

My partner provided descriptions for the geography and her characters Meldor and Linn.

This was not easy for me as I had to write for Linn's characters with just a description and a little piece of personality. It's hard when you just hear about a character but never seen them in action and then write about them, but my partner said I did a good job. As long as she's pleased, I have no worries.

You'll have to read to understand the pic. I'm giving no hints this time! :giggle: Enjoy!

I don't think this needs a mature content warning, but if readers think so let me know!

Partners and
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SzordrinHarzar's avatar
Very interesting and nice, strong ending. I really like it. :)