История Королевы Эльфов / The story of the Elf Queen: Интерлюдия первая.

Interlude One.

Camrad_RIP 14.08.26 в 19:25

* * *

Camrad_RIP 14.08.26 в 19:25

The Underworld. The lands beneath the Royal Forest Palace. The Mansion of the House of Travil.

Camrad_RIP 14.08.26 в 19:27

"No. No. Possible. No. Possible. Yes. Yes. Definitely not."

Camrad_RIP 14.08.26 в 19:28

Having carefully made a final note with her enchanted quill, Zairal handed a scroll containing a rather lengthy list of various items to Luaval, who was sitting across from her at his desk. Luaval, who had already sorted through his own list, handed it back to Zairal, then took the one he'd offered and skimmed it. Or rather, the notes that had appeared on it. Well, everything was almost as he'd expected. He hadn't counted on most of the items Zairal had categorically rejected, adding them solely for bargaining purposes. On the key issues, however, things were far more encouraging. The situation with her list was almost identical, and he didn't doubt for a second that she, too, had added some obviously unacceptable items solely for the sake of being able to discard them.

Camrad_RIP 14.08.26 в 19:34

Luaval chuckled to himself, picked up his pen, and began carefully crossing out some of the lines on his own list. Primarily, those concerning sexual pleasures. More precisely, the right to choose their location, form, and time. It was a shame, to say the least, but he had no one to blame but himself. He'd decided to indulge in some extra levity instead of ensuring the hunt was over. Now he'd be left with a bitter reminder that sexual pleasures should never take precedence over the main goal. But how tempting had been the idea of ​​enjoying her body right there... ah...

Camrad_RIP 14.08.26 в 19:35

Having finished revising the list, crossing out some items and rewriting others with more lenient options, Luaval waited for Zairal to complete the same process with his own, after which they exchanged them again. This was repeated several more times, gradually discarding the chaff, until they finally arrived at a solution acceptable to both.

Camrad_RIP 14.08.26 в 19:36

The gist of it was that Zairal agreed to officially join the House of Travil and become its Supreme Catcher. With the salary, duties, and rights that came with such a high status, albeit with some caveats. Zairal also agreed to bear her two remaining of her five children exclusively with Luaval. In fact, there was no problem with this point at all; he was more than suitable as a father. Much longer was required to negotiate and haggle over the timing and methods of conceiving these children. And there was even more, an order of magnitude more, debate regarding the children themselves.

Camrad_RIP 14.08.26 в 19:37

Zairal's initial proposal—one boy and one girl, the first to be raised by Luaval, the second by herself—was categorically rejected. No, he knew who she would raise, given the chance. And in the end, not in a hundred, but in a thousand years, everything would return to where it began. But it's not a given that the House's rebirth will actually begin next time.

Camrad_RIP 15.08.26 в 09:41

So, even after refusing some concessions from Zairal (including those concerning her rights in bed), Luaval categorically insisted: only joint parenting, regardless of the sex of any future children. Yes, joint parenting. Yes, even daughters, if there were two. And yes, no attempts to influence the sex of future children through alchemy, magic, or divine miracles. So to speak, everything was left to the will of Fate itself.

Camrad_RIP 15.08.26 в 09:42

And of course, Zairal pledged herself, painstakingly sealed on the blood and altar of Damokar, to refrain from harming House Travil or its members, to prevent anyone else from harming House Travil or its members, to protect House Travil and its members, and to promote the revival of House Travil in every possible way. But... BUT! Not at the expense of its other members. None of the classic ones, so beloved by the dark firstborn—he/she is clearly a burden to our House and would clearly, absolutely, be much better off without them, so I'll spare us their presence! If, however, any member of the House, through their own stupidity or having fallen into the clutches of someone else's will, is caught by her as capable of, or intending to cause, any harm to the House through their actions, then she has the right to act independently. But only if, again, there is compelling reason to believe Luaval himself is compromised. What to do and who to turn to in the latter case had to be discussed separately and with particular care.

Camrad_RIP 08.09.26 в 10:15

In fact, the finalization of the mutual oath took most of the time and effort. And only when it was perfected to the letter did Luaval, along with a not exactly pleased, but certainly satisfied, Zairal, head up. I mean, to the surface, to the Royal Palace. To one of the service and work buildings. There, in a room specially designated for such matters, a trio of elderly priests of Damokar from the temple in White Harbor, who were under permanent contract with the Forest, await them.

Camrad_RIP 31.08.26 в 13:10

Also present was one of the Forest's masters of magic, specializing in magical oaths, including those sworn in blood. He was also a very skilled legal expert. The latter, however, also applied to the Oathkeeper's priests. All four had worked together for decades, knew each other well, and, importantly, all four were also long-standing and firmly bound by more than one oath, declaring secrecy regarding the contracts they swore to. So, while they were surprised by their dark elf "clients" or the contract of their oath, they showed no sign of it or commented on it.

Camrad_RIP 31.08.26 в 13:12

Thanks to their experience, preparation for the ritual took relatively little time. A review of the text, which required just a couple of minor adjustments to eliminate any possibility of double interpretation. A check of the aspirants themselves to ensure the purity of their intentions and the absence of any traces of another's will. And finally, a short prayer to prepare the altar. When everything was ready, Luaval and Zairal simultaneously stained the altar of Damokar with their blood, placing their left palms upon it and clasping their cut right hands. At that very moment, a painful chill pierced both dark elves, followed by a wave of heat as the bonds of their mutual oaths bound them... not tightly, but very firmly. Breaking such an oath would be quite difficult. Which, in this case, suited both Luaval and Zairal just fine.

Camrad_RIP 16.08.26 в 18:09

Unclasping their healed hands, the dark elves bid a brief but polite farewell to the trio of priests and the light elves, who were already awaiting their next clients. Their services were far from cheap, but Luaval was fully paid by the Forest (after all, working personally for Sivila has enormous advantages). Leaving the Royal Palace's service building with Zairal, they headed back to the Underworld, to their now-shared family mansion. Luaval, leading the way, was in high spirits. There was still another task ahead today, and an exceptionally pleasant one at that. Yes, overall, things had turned out quite well, though not as he'd planned. He might not have managed to secure a huntress concubine, but a capable Supreme Catcher, whose loyalty he could be reasonably confident of even by the standards of his kind, was also an excellent acquisition.

Camrad_RIP 31.08.26 в 13:15

Glancing sideways at Zairal, who was walking to his left and slightly behind him, Luaval noticed a faint, but distinct and satisfied smile on her face. Interesting...

Camrad_RIP 15.08.26 в 09:45

"A smile suits you much better."

Camrad_RIP 15.08.26 в 09:44

Now the Supreme Catcher of the House of Travil instantly assumed a perfectly haughty expression. However, her smile remained intact.

Camrad_RIP 15.08.26 в 09:45

"I have a reason for it. After all, just recently I lost everything I had: servants, property, my place at the top of my House, the House itself. And now I have a House again, and I'm already at its top. True, it's not exactly grand yet, but that's entirely fixable..."

Camrad_RIP 15.08.26 в 09:46

Luaval chuckled and said with a hint of amusement.

Camrad_RIP 15.08.26 в 09:46

"Of course. I can even tell you the first and easiest step."

Camrad_RIP 15.08.26 в 09:48

Zairal narrowed her eyes slightly and smiled even wider, though she still retained her haughty expression.

Camrad_RIP 15.08.26 в 09:49

"I would prefer to wait with conceiving a fourth child until I have fully settled into my new House."

Camrad_RIP 15.08.26 в 09:49

“You have every right,” Luaval shrugged.

Camrad_RIP 15.08.26 в 09:50

They didn't specify a specific timeframe for when Zairal would once again accept the mother lot (and it wouldn't be the first time she fully accepted it). Or rather, the new Supreme Catcher was willing to conceive a fourth child, even in the near future, but with the condition of her original offer: a son for Luaval, a daughter for her. So, he had to sacrifice his right to choose the time, in exchange for...

Camrad_RIP 15.08.26 в 09:52

Entering the silently swinging doors of the mansion, Luaval reacted instantly, shifting to the side while assuming a fighting stance. Zairal also reacted instantly, raising her right hand in front of her and grasping the projectile flying straight at her. It was a small, slightly larger than a quail egg, light, almost weightless, elastic, and very bouncy orange ball, and it even glowed. Clenching it in her fist, the Supreme Catcher cursed softly through clenched teeth, her eyes blazing with anger. Her reply was loud and disgruntled.

Camrad_RIP 31.08.26 в 13:22

"Uaaaaaaaa!!!"

Camrad_RIP 16.08.26 в 09:57

Siera, who had just greeted Luaval, held a noticeably larger Diarval in her arms. With one hand, the kicking toddler unexpectedly clutched a lock of his mother's hair, while in the other, he clutched a small wooden stick with a rounded cap, waving it furiously. Grimacing in displeasure, Zairal opened her hand, and the glowing ball instantly shot toward Diarval, hovering a moment later precisely above the cap. With a joyful coo, he waved his stick again, and the ball flew off the cap with considerable speed, bounced off the floor, and hurtled toward Luaval. Raising his right hand, Luaval caught it, a couple of palms away from his face, eliciting another disgruntled "Wa ..."

Camrad_RIP 08.09.26 в 12:58

Releasing the ball, he headed toward his wife, who was studiously ignoring the fact that her frustrated son had begun tugging at her hair. However, when Luaval and Zairal approached her, her face immediately twisted in displeasure, and she grumbled.

Camrad_RIP 17.08.26 в 13:03

"Did you really have to give him that damn toy?"

Camrad_RIP 15.08.26 в 10:01

At that moment, Diarval waved his wand again, sending the ball released by Luaval rapidly flying as a glowing point across the entire first floor of the mansion, bouncing off the walls, floor, and ceilings.

Camrad_RIP 17.08.26 в 13:03

"Absolutely," Luaval nodded immediately, his face completely serious. "Because I didn't have one like that as a child, but I really wanted one."

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 13:21

At that moment, Siera and Zairal snorted and rolled their eyes in surprising unison. The latter even shifted her head slightly to avoid a flying ball, prompting another disgruntled coo from Diarval. Luaval, grinning, looked meaningfully at his fellow tribeswomen and said.

Camrad_RIP 08.09.26 в 07:40

"Just don't make those faces. Look me both in the eye and tell me you didn't have a toy like this when you were a kid, one you really wanted, but your elders wouldn't let you have?"

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 13:21

Both dark ones snorted simultaneously again. But a few seconds later, Siera intercepted Diarval, who was still waving his enchanted wand and tugging at his hair, and said.

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 13:22

"Like this? No."

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 13:22

Under Luaval's questioning and suspicious gaze, she explained somewhat reluctantly.

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 13:23

"As a child, I dreamed of a magic wand, the kind used by the most senior and trusted servants to move heavy furniture and other objects. I even managed to steal one. Later, though, I deeply regretted it; my mother gave me a terrible scolding..."

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 13:23

Having lost most of its speed, the ball returned to Diarval, who launched it into flight again. Luaval asked with interest.

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 13:24

"For stealing a valuable amulet?"

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 13:24

"Of course not,” Siera rolled her ruby ​​eyes, “I used it to trip up the eldest of my cousins, causing her to fall down the stairs in a very amusing way, right onto one of the slave servants."

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 13:28

Grimacing, either from the unpleasant memories or from the fact that Diarval continued to pull her hair with his other hand, she reluctantly added.

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 13:29

"But I was still just a girl, and I was caught almost immediately. For that, in fact, my mother gave me a scolding, thoroughly explaining that in such matters, the main thing is not to get caught..."

Camrad_RIP 08.09.26 в 07:41

Not forgetting to watch the enchanted ball bouncing back and forth, Luaval nodded with a wry smile.

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 13:29

"So familiar, it’s not the fault of what you did, but the fact that you got caught..."

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 13:32

"I dreamed of the Living Fetters that the best of Spider's students had," Zairal said, involuntarily grimacing at the memory of the former Matriarch. "They're also very convenient and easy to trip up. And also to catch any onlookers with them..."

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 11:55

Turning to Zairal, Siera cast a keen glance at her and asked in a restrained voice.

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 11:54

"Have you managed to come to an agreement, or will she finally leave our House?"

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 11:14

Her answer was a frankly smug and dark elven arrogant smile from Zairal.

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 11:15

"From this day forward, this is my House too, my dear. And no matter how you grimace, rest assured that as the new Supreme Catcher, I will do everything in my power to make it great again."

Camrad_RIP 25.08.26 в 11:15