First an Interlude

Tanelia had led the petite Elven boy far back in the palace, all the way to where they had hidden away the Orcish delegation, making sure he had arrived safely before returning to the Queen's offices. Tanelia had often worried about her Queen having a slight malicious streak to her, it didn't appear often but whenever it did it was a cause for great concern. There was no way that Lady Isylnor would sacrifice one of their own people to such a barbaric race though, right? Tanelia couldn't help but question this the entire walk back to the Queen's office, giving a customary bow as she entered before going and standing next to the queen.

"Will he be okay, my lady?" Tanelia said, several minutes later, having finally worked up the courage to ask the question.

"Our new ambassador to the Orcish people?" Isylnor asked, not looking up from the various papers on her desk.

"Yes, my lady."

"I'm sure he'll be fine, the Orcs wouldn't dare lay a hand on one of our people." Though Isylnor's words were reassuring, Tanelia couldn't help but still feel apprehensive about where they had sent the boy. "If what we've heard from our scouts is correct, they don't seem to care much about politics, preferring their heathen rituals, not to mention all of the orgies we've heard about. They'll probably forget about him once they get back to that backwater they call a city, he'll serve several years whiling away the days and he'll come back home no worse for wear."

"Then why send anyone?" Tanelia couldn't help but ask, she knew that it wasn't her place to question her Queen but her curiosity overtook her.

"The Orcs requested an ambassador personally, it's frankly insulting that those barbarians think they're worthy of an ambassador from our people." Isylnor responded, her level of disdain clearly apparent in her voice. "I wouldn't dare turn down their request though, they have grown so quickly and I would so hate to anger our neighbors, though they really are pitiful compared to a kingdom as great and ancient as ours."

"Surely there was someone more appropriate than th-" Tanelia started.

"It really is improper for the Queen's hand to question her motives, Tanelia." Tanelia turned her face down in shame at the rebuke. "Though obviously anyone we sent to those savages would be wasted there, the poor boy just so happened to draw the short straw this time, it helps that his idiot of a father could use a reduction in station, I've never met a man more full of himself nor a man quite so incredibly boring."

"I'm sorry my lady..." Tanelia's face was still averted, refusing to meet the queen's eyes. "I did not mean to question your judgment."

"It's fine Tanelia, I value your input on things like this." Isylnor reassured her, honeyed words helping to soothe the shame she was feeling. "Do not worry though, the boy will be fine! The only real danger the boy faces is going native! Could you imagine? An Elf and an Orc?"

Isylnor let out a cruel chuckle at her own joke, clearly showing her disgust at what she thought of the lesser races. Despite Isylnor's reassuring words, Tanelia couldn't help but worry about the poor boy they had thrown so unprepared into the viper's pit, he had seemed so sheltered and innocent, was he really going to be okay with a race of such barbaric people?