Chapter 2:
The After Effects
At dawn, in a small assembly room awaited the tall Veartis who was elegant in a black wool suit of a long coat and with tall boots. He was a long black haired Vampire, the Darkcon ambassador to the Utopian Kingdom. The door opened and Duke Frenzen walked in with the princess.
Frenzen was an older deeply tanned Elf with short graying brown hair and deep brown eyes and a goatee. He wore a long coated suit of dark blue wool with a gold sash showing his rank of Prime Minister. He waited while Asora sat and arranged her long white skirts. He took another plush red high backed chair and motions for the Vampire to sit around the small table set up with coffee.
The Duke began immediately. “Ambassador Veartis, please explain why your queen has taken Carlon and what you have done with the inhabitants.”
The Vampire took a breath and raised his chin arrogantly. “We have taken nothing. Carlon is ours by right. As to the people, they are now part of the Darkcon Empire. I would not worry about them.”
“We do worry about our people. Carlon is yours only by force and what made you believe we would give it up?” Frenzen motioned for a footman to pour a cup of coffee.
“Do you have blood? I came early, as you requested and did not have my breakfast.” The ambassador looked unblinkingly with red eyes at Frenzen. The Elfish Prime Minister gave Veartis an odd look by cocking one eyebrow. He then snapped his fingers as an order for the servants to retrieve what the ambassador ordered.
The servant went to the door to meet another servant to get the tray that was brought in, and offered to Veartis who smiled graciously while picking up the goblet.
“You always remember. It is very kind of you. How do your keep it warm?” Veartis asked coolly.
Frenzen kept the revulsion to himself, as did his Princess he was proud to see. “We have people volunteer in the kitchens. You have not told us about what you intend to do nor why, Ambassador.”
Veartis smacked his lips, smiling, “I have told you. We obtained it through diplomacy with your last monarch. The same as Ceti-Delphi, Duke Jeia’s home world. Pity that. His father should not have fought back or he and the rest of his family would be here today.”
The duke immediately saw Asora tense up but said nothing, having agreed that Frenzen should conduct the meeting. He knew that Veartis wanted to take control of the meeting and this was his way.
“You speak of diplomacy of Ceti-Delphi and Carlon. What do you mean?” The Elf needed to hear the words that would condemn Asora’s predecessor.
“That is right.” He smiled wolfishly, “You were not at court when the treaty was signed. You were at home. Well, it was the same. The Darkcons kept the skies clear of raiders and pirates on the rim. In order to do it we have taken the planet from our enemies and will keep it from ever being used as a base of operations again. Funny how they were both Human worlds.”