As the couple slowly made their way to the throne room, they passed many people going about their business, that stopped in their tracks to bow and salute them. Phoenix had gotten used to this, and politely nodded and smiled in response.
But Astaroth wasn't sure how to react to all this attention. He didn't know if he should salute them back, or just nod, like Phoenix, so he ended up looking at everyone weirdly instead.
"Just nod and smile, you big dummy," Phoenix whispered to him.
"I don't know what I'm doing!" he replied in a hushed tone.
*Pfft!*
Phoenix stifled a peal of laughter, if only barely, and whispered back to Astaroth, "I noticed. Just do like me."
He nodded his head while grumbling at her. Something about her making fun of him.
But she ignored his old man grumbling as they kept making their way to the throne room. As they reached it, someone had already reinstalled the table in its usual place, allowing for the meeting to be held normally.
Phoenix walked over to the first seat on the left, leaving the head of the table to Astaroth, and sat down. Seeing she wanted him to take the head seat, Astaroth did not complain and sat there.
Not everyone had made it yet, and they waited on the others, Astaroth making idle chatter with the few officers already here. He didn't talk much with the council members, since he barely knew them.
They also didn't seem to want to chat with him much, as they kept silent. All but one, at least.
A Half-Orc man, sitting to the right of Leon, who was directly to Astaroth's right, looked at Astaroth patiently, like waiting his turn. When Astaroth noticed, he interrupted his idle chat with Silent, who was standing close behind Leon, and turned his head to the man.
"You seem to have something you wish to say… Mr. Grit Herman, right?"
The Half-Orc beamed a smile, happy to see Astaroth had remembered his name. The smile revealed his tusks completely, which would have been menacing had he not looked genuinely excited.
"I do, your majesty, and I am glad you remembered my name. I would like to ask how it feels, to be fighting unrelentingly for so long like you have. Would you like to indulge me in some of your tales?"
Astaroth rose a brow at the question. He didn't know much about the councilman, other than he was in charge of their economy.
But by his race alone, he thought the man would have a few tales of combat himself. But his question seemed to say otherwise.
"I could, Mr. Herman. But I doubt my tales would entertain someone of the Orc descent. Your people are well known for their combativeness, after all."
The councilman shook his head slightly.
"As a Half-Orc, I was not allowed the same liberty of fighting as the others in my tribe. They considered me weaker than them, and that is the reason I took up merchanting. I could only hear of these fights from a second-hand perspective. But I do enjoy a good combat tale."
Astaroth looked surprised to hear there was segregation in a race like the Orcs. But he shouldn't assume anything about segregation anywhere.
After all, the Elves had enslaved the Ash Elves in the past. Even if they were a sub-race of them, it was a stupid thing to do, in his opinion.
"Well, in that case, Mr. Herman, I would gladly do so. But how about in a more private setting, so we don't bore our other friends around the table, with tales of combat they might not enjoy as much?"
The Half-Orc looked around the table, before clearing his throat and composing himself.
"Of course, your majesty. I will arrange a time when we are both available, then."
Astaroth smiled at him, and he could already see the light sighs of relief from some of the more disinterested members. The players present couldn't care less about his fights, as they had their own fair share of combat.
As for the other council members, Leon couldn't give a rat's ass about how Astaroth fought since he had done the same for a decade now. The adventurers' guild's representative looked entirely disinterested in tales of combat, and the mages' guild's representative looked at them like they were barbaric, albeit half-hiding.
By this, Astaroth could tell the mage was more of a desk wizard than a combat one, like Aberon. And just as he thought of the old man, he walked into the throne room, sporting his usual discontent scowl.
He walked right up to Astaroth, ignoring the stupefied look of Argos, and started complaining.
"What is it with you and meetings? Can't an old man get a single day to settle into his new place before the royal prick-in-charge constantly disturbs him?"
Leon choked on his saliva, as he tried to contain his laughter, and the councilmen around the table all showed shocked expressions.
"Good morning to you too, Aberon. I wanted to only talk to the officers of my guild, but Phoenix thought it better to include the council. And since you are staying here, I appointed you as an honorary member, if only in a consultant function."
Aberon's scowl deepened.
"And who gave you the right to order me around? I don't remember pledging anything to you, young man."
Astaroth chuckled, already expecting this reaction from Aberon.
"You are free to not attend, Aberon. But this concerns Prince Nalafein, as well as the kingdom of Ash Elves, and I thought you would be interested to know my next step."
Aberon calmed down slightly when hearing about the subject. But he kept an unhappy frown.
"Next time, tell the messenger to state the business first. I almost drowned the poor sod for disturbing my sleep."
After finishing his spiel of complaints, he stood behind Astaroth, a bit in retreat to the right, and glared at Leon, who was still containing his laughter. Leon only replied with a large toothy grin, which would have terrified most people.
But Aberon was unimpressed.
But a booming voice suddenly interrupted the idle chatter.
"How dare you show your face in front of a member of the mages' guild, and not show proper deference, Omni-mage!"
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