Aphrodite's Acolyte by J.E. Spatafore

Pravas gave Fidel a few pointers on the traditions for meeting Lord Fineal, wished the couple farewell, and departed to the throne room.
    Abby spoke first as Fidel was taking his seat. “That is a cold woman. She makes Balomes look like a friendly father figure.”
    Fidel took note of Abby's reference to the scar-giving dwarf, retaining a serious look on his face. “Yes, something is definitely odd about her,” he said shaking himself as-if shrugging off an arctic wind. They both shared in a connecting smile when Fineal's herald arrived, requesting their presence. They rose and went into the throne room to meet the King of Puldechra.
    As they walked in, Lord Fineal, an elven man sporting brown hair and green eyes, demanded Abby to stay back from the throne, citing the transaction was to take place between Fidel and himself. Abby complied and took a seat immediately to the left of the doorway. Fidel walked the remaining fifty or so feet to the throne, pulling Lord Ias' scroll from his hip sack.
    The Lord eyed the approaching elf. “State your business, Mr. Austempes.” 
    “I come bearing a message from Lord Ias of Harlow's Hovel. I was given specific instruction by Lord Ias to deliver this message directly to you, for your eyes only.”
      Lord Fineal gestured toward the man on his left. “Very well, Mr. Austempes, please give the scroll to my assistant.”
    “Sir, with all due respect, Ias instructed me this was for your hands only. Giving to your assistant would not be your hands. Please permit me to complete my mission successfully.”
    Fineal widened his eyes, and raised one of his eyebrows. His tone turned serious. “You defy my instructions?”
    Fidel responded, “If by defying your instruction means I am to complete my promised mission, then yes I do.”
    The Lord thought about Fidel's persistence. He asked Fidel how he is to know whether the scroll was cursed or had some side effects. Fidel offered to permit any test performed while retaining possession of the scroll in his own hands. Fineal finally conceded the point and permitted Fidel to hand him the scroll. Fineal  requested his advisors to take several steps back, granting him the privacy to read the parchment.
    When Lord Fineal finished reading the scroll, he looked up at Fidel. “You can testify that no other hands have touched this scroll since your departure from Harlow's Hovel?”
    Fidel nodded his head. "I do.”
    The Lord continued his questioning. “How long have you been in town?”
    “Just about an hour now, Lord.“
    Fineal nodded his head, giving a slight smirk. “Mr. Austempes, I thank you for your persistence in ensuring I received the message directly from Lord Ias. I do hope your stay in Puldechra is warm and welcoming. The fact that an elf chose the lord of humans over the lord of his own kind intrigues me.” Lord Fineal leaned forward in his large throne, his hair falling forward over his pointed ears. “I would like to hear your story sometime. You may go.”
    Fidel nodded acceptance at Fineal's request and took his leave, gathering Abby on the way out. The pale woman stared hard at the departing elf and his human companion.
    Abby and Fidel headed out of the palace and gathered their horses. They were both hungry so they rode to one of the taverns to grab a bite to eat. Abby asked Fidel if he knew what was in the message and he just shrugged, stating he was not in the least bit curious about the communications between two kingdoms. He elaborated this was just a favor and was most-likely of little importance.
    Abby gave a slight grin. “You were quite bold in there for something of little importance.”
    “Well, Abby, you'll find I'm quite literal with instructions,” he said in a playful tone.
    They arrived at a tavern known as The White Arrow, a tavern located quite far from the main gate but close to the residential districts of the city. They hitched their horses and went inside to dine for the evening.
    When they entered