Svokol.
He seemed even less impressed with me now than he had then. Also, he looked different, his dark skin held an almost metallic sheen, and he had tall ears that he hadn’t had before. Odd.
“Izzy! What are you doing? You’re late!” came an all too familiar voice.
I turned to see Rook hurrying over to me.
Fuck me.
Everyone I hated was here.
My first day was off to agreatstart.
AMARHUK (ROOK)
“Fuck me,”Izzy mumbled with a roll of her eyes.
Given how Princess Saldrea had reacted to seeing her and Izzy’s own reaction, I had a feeling the two of them had met, and it hadn’t gone well.
Koarthandris, Saldrea’s dragon guard took a step toward Izzy. “I’ll take care of her,” he growled. Saldrea stopped him with a hand on his massive chest.
Take care of her?What had Izzy done?
Fuck.
I glanced at Svokol, my master.
It was clear from his glower that he didn’t like this extended interruption, but there was no way in hell he’d speak out against Saldrea. Dwarves had a place of privilege in society. Their kind had once been elves, before voluntarily leaving the surface to dwell amidst stone and metal in deep caves thousands of years ago. But surface elves still outranked them and Saldrea was the second most powerful elf in the land and no one wanted to risk her wrath.
“No… I’ll take care of this,” Saldrea said with a vicious grin.
Fucking hell.
I didn’t want to step in, but if I didn’t, I feared for what would happen to Izzy.
“Perhaps that could wait till after class, El Tyrianel Saldrea?” I suggested with a forced smile, trying to placate the princess.
She glared at me, a look that promised pain.
“She’s an exile, she doesn’t know our ways!” I tried again. But I was stepping aside even as I did, hoping I hadn’t gotten in too deep.
“Stop trying to help,” Izzy hissed at me. “You’re making me sound like an idiot.”
“Youarean idiot,” Saldrea said as if it were obvious. Then she sighed. “But… I can be lenient,” Saldrea said as she sauntered over.
I’d never once heard of her being lenient.
“I’ll give this ignorant abominationonechance to earn my forgiveness…ifshe licks my boot and apologizes.”
I looked at Izzy. She might not know it but that was probably the best offer she was going to get. Warring emotions played over her features: pride, fear, incredulity, then finally resignation.
“Fine! Whatever. Let’s just get this over with,” Izzy said with a sigh.
Thank The Sacred Fire!
Saldrea made her way over to us, then with elven enhanced speed and strength, she slapped Izzy so hard, Izzy collapsed to the ground.
Izzy grunted in pain, mouth bleeding.
