by Quinn Loftis
~
“I need an audience with you,” Trik bowed low before his King.
Lorsan lounged in his personal suite. He knew that something must be seriously wrong as Trik had sought him out in his private quarters. Lorsan motioned for Trik to sit, and since it was the King doing the motioning, Trik obeyed.
“Tell me,” Lorsan said without preamble.
Trik let out a slow breath before he met the eyes of his King.
“I’ve met my Chosen.” The words were an ominous declaration in the silence of the room.
Trik waited as he watched Lorsan process the information.
“Triktapic I swear, if this is your way of telling me you are resigning…” Lorsan growled.
“She is human,” Trik interrupted the beginning of what he knew was sure to be a grand tirade.
Lorsan snapped his mouth shut as his eyes narrowed. He stared at his assassin intently before he spoke again.
“You are sure?” He asked.
“She saw through my glamour. She saw my true form.” Trik went on to explain all that he had told Myrin and watched as Lorsan’s eyes widened in surprise and concern.
“She sounds so young.”
Trik nodded. “Yes, but it’s so hard to tell with humans. As Tony has said, some that are under the human adult age look to be in their twenties, and others that are older look like teens.”
Lorsan seemed to ponder Trik’s words. After several minutes of silence, he finally spoke again.
“Not that I don’t find it very significant that you have found your Chosen, but I still need to know what Tamsin and his elves are up to.”
Trik visibly relaxed at being asked a question he felt confident in answering, as it related to a topic with which he was comfortable. “You aren’t going to like what I have to say.”
Lorsan snorted. “Since when do I ever like what you have to say, and since when do you worry about what I like?”
“Good point,” Trik agreed. “Tamsin knows of your new venture.”
Lorsan’s eyebrows rose and his lips tightened into a thin straight line. “How is it that he came by this knowledge?”
“If you are asking if we have a mole or a traitor, then my answer at this time is, I have no clue.” Trik held up a hand to hold Lorsan off as he continued. “However, based on what Tamsin said, I would guess that he has made some sort of deal with one of ours.”
“Just tell me exactly what was said in this little meeting.”
“He said that he wanted his people to look into buying the land that you have had your eye on. He mentioned that he would simply use the excuse of looking for oil in that land if human investors began to ask questions.”
“So you believe he knows of Rapture?” Lorsan asked referring to the drink that he had developed.
Trik nodded. “I can think of no other reason that he would have to buy the land where you are planning on putting the store houses.”
Lorsan stood and began to pace. “We need to move things forward. If Tamsin is dealing with your human,”
“—Chosen,” Trik growled. “My Chosen.”
Lorsan waved him off. “Yes, yes, your Chosen, then. If he is dealing with that little issue, then he won’t have had to time to move forward with the land purchase, which means that we should have time to contact Leon and tell him to get it done.”
Leon was the human realtor that the dark elves had hired to help them find the land. Trik didn’t care for the sleazy little man, but it wasn’t up to him who Lorsan employed.
“I’ll go see him.” Trik stood to go.
“What are you going to do about your Chosen?” Lorsan asked.
“You aren’t going to tell me what to do?” Trik raised his eyebrows at his King.
“Would you obey me?”
Trik’s face spread into a callous smile. “Not when it comes to her.”
Lorsan rolled his eyes. “Not when it comes to anything is what you really mean. Do what you must, but at some point you will have to tell her who and what you are. Will she be able to handle it, I wonder?”
Trik shook his head with a low chuckle, “I’m the assassin and spy for the Dark Elf King. I kill without remorse. I live for myself and my own pleasure. I come from a dark people with dark hearts. What do you think?”