A Drow Assistant came to the throne room, she would do that ever so often. The two would spend the time discussing magic or some ongoing research project. But this time she was here to give the Spider King her advice.

“To help those in need is a noble thing indeed. But be firm and wary. A good heart is too often abused.”

Of all of the people, he didn't expect her to say this line. After all, before the Drow were what they are now, they too were refugees in a sense.

“I know that. I have no plans to let them freeload here. They are now my vassals.”

“So you’re planning to put them to work?”

“I do.” He said with conviction.

“And what that lot can do? They are warriors through and through. Do you even need more warriors and guards?”

This Drow was very bold to question him, The King, like that. But he needed people like her, someone who dared to question the policy he was making, but in a genuine way that is.

“Correct, I have all the warriors I need, spiders and Lamia alike. The farms are managed by spiders. The mining by Kobolds, and magic by you ever loyal Drow.”

“And that is why I’m here. I just fail to see how these Centauri can be integrated here. You know, just yesterday they challenged Lamia to a fight. And lost… So really of what use are they to you?”

“Now, now. They needed help, and help we can. It has been decided and so they will remain here. And for what can they do… they can do plenty. We will find things for them.”

“My King, please name just a single thing.”

“Easy, I’ll have them to transport goods to and from the Human Kingdom.”

“Ha! To use them like beasts of burden. Good one!” She giggled maliciously.

“Please don’t phrase it like that. But yes, they're fast and strong, they can pull more than a spider can carry.”

“Ah, so is that why the Kobolds were making those bricks? We assumed a castle but it is a road yes?”

“Yes. In the jungle and in the forest the spiders remain faster but then we have smooth surfaces that’s where centaurs will shine. You will see.” The road construction was already more than halfway done.

“King, I believe you. Yes, this makes sense.”

“So did I put your worries at ease? You won’t protest Centauri here?”

“If they’re here to pull wagons and carry goods. I will not, I think that’s fitting.” She smiled pleased and then added. “Have you told them already?” She grinned again.

“No, not yet. Why?”

“I guarantee they will not like it.”

“Hmm.” Maybe the Drow assistant had a point. “You’re right, being as proud as they are, they won’t see it as an honourable and important job. All I have to do is to make it sound important.”

“I can’t wait to see their faces.” She made a nasty grin.

Huh, aren’t these Drow growing to be a bit too malicious… Especially, this assistant.

“If you seek to undermine them. I will not allow that.” He warned but in a very casual tone. “Since you can’t wait, go and fetch me their Champion.”

“Me?” She sounded surprised.

“Yes. Send her a message that I requested her presence. And don’t embarrass me, do it properly, and in a courteous way. After all, you will be representing me and my voice.” This was his attempt to humble the drow.

“I…” Her eyes darted for a moment. “It would be my honour, King.” She bowed and excused herself.

He turned to a shadowy corner. “And you, go spy on her.”

The head emerged from the shadow, “Understood,” it chirped and disappeared again.

“I’m glad I’ve Imbued them with magic. They make the best spies.”

…

Drow Assistant walked in a hurried fashion towards the Centauri Camp; her steps were quick and determined. She kept referring to her notebook, well to be more precise, to the rough map she had the spiders to draw for her. The MegaFarm was big, way too big, and it was easy to get lost here.

She reached the tents and stopped for a moment. “It should be somewhere here.” She had the Champions tent marked on the map, it was quite accurate. But finding it was more difficult than one might imagine. The tents were pretty much identical and scattered in random patterns. “I’m lost.” She said with fright. “I can’t fail something simple like this…” She just couldn’t, the High Chief would never forgive her.

“Hey, you!” She shouted at the random centaur. “Where is your Champion’s tent?”

The centaur snorted and just ignored her by walking away.

“Savages!” She too wanted to snort. A different approach then. She walked to another centaur, the woman was busy repairing her lance. “I’m the King’s messenger and I have orders to relay. Lead me to your Champion, now!” She flexed the authority she was given.

It came out commanding, but apparently, this was what was missing. “At once.” The centaur saluted by slamming her right to her chest and clicking her hooves. “Follow, me.”

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She was escorted to yet another blue tent, no different than the others. “Hmm…” She hummed thoughtfully. “I was expecting something… something more befitting the station of a Centauri Champion.” Like a bigger tent, or some flags indicating a commander here. If the tent had no identifying markers how was she supposed to find it!? “Savages…” She whispered.

The centaur didn’t reply to her complaints and instead shouted out, “Champion! The King has sent a messenger!”

The sound of rustling and clanging came out of the tent but soon the flap parted and a fully armoured centaur woman emerged.

“Messenger.” Even in the heavy armour, she managed to give a curt and elegant bow.

Drow replied in kind. “Champion, the Spider King requires your presence.”

“Now?” The voice was tinged with panic.

Of course now you savage… “Yes, the matter is of high importance.” She curtly bowed again.

“But… But I can’t go like this.” She rushed back into her tent. “His preferences…”

She wanted to shout at the centaur, she had a task here! “I can’t make the King wait. Hurry!”

“Just a moment.” This time there were even more rustling and clanging. “My hair… My hair isn’t even brushed.” More noise came out. “No! I forgot a bath!” She neighed.

“You can’t take a bath!” The Drow Assistant shouted losing her cool. “Now, is now!”

The flap parted again revealing an entirely different image of the Champion. The heavy armour was gone, she now wore a blue dress; It clung tightly to her muscular body emphasising her feminine proportions.

The Drow Assistant eyed the centaur. “Tch!” She clicked her tongue. She knew what the Champion was doing here… that vixen! “Let's go. The King is waiting.”

“Of course. At once.” The Champion began to gallop at a brisk pace and even then managed to appear noble and elegant.

The Drow Assistant was left speechless, the Champion was just jogging, but she would have never thought that such a sight was possible. Any normal man would find himself swayed; the Champion radiated eroticism with that obscene body of hers. To walk in an erotic fashion – that’s an idea she’d never thought of before. It was worth an entry in her Notebook of Knowledge.

*Scribble *Scribble – she made a hurried note.

…

The Champion galloped gallantly into the throne room, The Drow assistant right in tow. The latter panted and was sweaty, she clearly had struggled to keep pace. The Champion stopped a few paces away from the throne and bowed slightly a bit too low.

Dangerous! Maybe it was a mistake to give a dress like that to her…

“King, I’m at your command.” The centaur announced.

The Drow Assistant caught up, and also bowed a bit too low imitating the Champion.

“Assistant.” He looked at her. “You did well, but next time maybe allow my guest to bathe? It wasn't that urgent.”

“I apologise for my failure.” She bowed even lower.

The Champion sniffed at herself and developed a slight blush.

“No need. I just wanted to humble you a bit. You were looking down on Centauri needlessly. You see there are things individuals are good at and there are things individuals are bad at. But also, no one is born knowing. The Centauri here might not know a lot of things, but I’m sure they're capable of learning and adjusting. Isn’t that right Champion?”

“If this is because I Challenged the King that day,” she bowed again vigorously, ”I apologise!“

Dangerous! “Please stop bowing.” This was too distracting. “Yeah, there are rules. And I guess the Drow…” He looked at his Assistant. “Took offence of you breaking them.”

The centaur gave a knowing look. “You assault the King and you assault his people; in this case Drow, Lamia and what was it Kobolds? I understand why Drow might take offence at our brazen actions. And I’m aware of our position here. We are nothing but beggars. Yet to prove our worth.” She bowed again and even lower.

“Please stop bowing. I just want you to stop duelling and fighting with my people.”

The Champion blinked confused. “But Might is Right. How else can we prove our worth to you?”

“This is not Demon Realm, this is the Spider Kingdom. You prove your worth here differently.”

The Champion looked at him intently and the Drow Assistant gave an approving look.

“I have an important task for you. Something crucial and something only you centaurs can do.”

The Champion was listening with sparkling eyes.

“I need you to transfer and protect the goods of Spider Kingdom. The continuous flow of trade is paramount for this Kingdom to prosper. So you will be tasked with the executive position in logistics and transport. A difficult task indeed. The journey is long and the trek is dangerous. Bandits and monsters might challenge you at every turn. But I know that you are strong, I witnessed that strength myself! I trust you to protect my cargo with your lives. So the question is: are you brave enough to challenge the dangers and take this burden?”

The Champion slammed her chest. “Of course we are! We won’t fail. Not again.”

“Good, that’s all I wanted to hear. The Trusty Advisor will tell you the minute details, please listen to him. He’s my right hand, so consider him your superior.”

“Understood!” She saluted again.

“Well, then that’s it. You are dismissed.”

The Champion bent her knees ever so slightly, but before she could finish, “Please, don’t bow. You are excused from bowing. I prefer those salutes you’re making.”

The crisis was averted. The Champion straightened her knees, saluted and then galloped gallantly away.

The Drow Assistant looked at that swaying horse's rear and then back at her King. “Should I begin saluting and walking like that too?”

“Please don’t. That would be silly. So how was that expression on the Champion's face you so wished to see?”

She sighed. “Somehow, I feel defeated.”

“Not humbled?”

“King, I think I should stick to magical research. No offence but I’m a poor messenger.”

“I agree. But please continue voicing your thoughts to me, even if they are… Even if it’s something I wouldn’t like hearing.”

She smiled. ”I will. But don’t expect to pour my heart open to you. You might find it a bit too dark and nasty.”

“That’s very self-aware… Please be kind to others. No, that might be against your nature. Please try to be kind despite your nature.” He knew that he was asking a lot.

She bowed for some reason. “I’ll do my best.” She smiled and then looked at the shadowy corner knowingly.

“Don’t ask me not to spy on my people.” He smiled. “I’m not a paragon of virtue either. I’ll allow small evils as long as we all can get along.”

“I wasn’t implying anything.” Her voice was flustered.

“I know you spy on me. For your uncle, the High Chief.”

The pale Drow skin turned even paler.

“Ha-ha.” He laughed. “Relax, that is alright. We spy on each other because we are curious friends. Always interested in what the other is doing. Romantic, no?”

She had a complicated expression on her face. “By the way your spider merchants, had brought something very interesting and asked us to investigate.” She changed the topic abruptly.

That’s something he didn’t manage to spy out yet. “I assume the investigation is over?”

“Correct. We found a way to incubate and potentially hatch the Desert Wyrm Egg.”

That’s a saucy piece of information. “I understand it came from The Scorpion Desert. But then it hatches can we tame something like that?”

“We’ve been researching that too. Through spiders, we made contact with the Fennec traders. They say it’s possible but the method is questionable. The hatchling will imprint on the first thing it sees, but then it grows in power… we were told that the tamer usually ends up as its lunch.”

“Hmm sounds like a dangerous monster. Might it be because it becomes stronger than the tamer and just rebels?” He postulated.

“We think so too.” She looked at him expectantly. “But if it’s the King of Spiders, no, a Monster King…”

Yes, he was that. “I might stand a chance of taming it properly. It’s worth a try, and even if it becomes feral we can just harvest it for materials.”

“Precisely.” She wrote something in that notebook of hers.

“Then it’s decided, just call me when it’s ready.”

She nodded but gave yet another gaze at the shadowy corner. “That might be redundant.” She whispered mostly to herself.