The sun had barely peeked over the horizon when Ruianne greeted High Mountain in her room. The previous night had been a tumultuous one, leaving Ruianne's nerves on edge.
"Delia'ilu Ruianne," High Mountain saluted her. "How did it go?"
"We have a plan," replied the female elf.
"A good one?" He had to be sure.
Ruianne sighed. "Yes."
She went on to describe the plan she had devised with X.
"It's the best shot we have,” High Mountain couldn't contain his elation. “We can do this!"
“We’ll plan the rest of the details carefully, and yes, the slaves...”
“Finally.”
Years after having fallen into human hands, this city’s slaves would be freed. A rush of fresh energy coursed through their bodies, their spirits lifted after such a splendid realization.
Head Slave-Butler Gnome brought up the topic of the male elf’s involvement. "What about Ekk's?" he asked, concerned about the unstable individual.
After careful consideration, Ruianne put it into words. “I’ve thought about it, and I don’t see a way he survives. He can’t even cast magic. Or you think he will?”
“Survive the duel? Zero chance. But then, why? Do you think he’s hiding something else?”
“He truly believes he can escape and if nothing changes this perception, no, I don’t think he will endanger our plan.” Ruianne hadn’t slept the whole night trying to figure out why X told her a plan where his chance of survival neared zero. “Or maybe he does and we’re missing something.”
“That’s up to him, we have our own to worry about.” High Mountain’s mind focused on the slaves. "It is a good plan. Have you thought about the signal?"
"He told me to wait for an... unexpected event during the duel. And that would be our cue to create a signal. Something unusual, maybe..." Uncertainty crept into her voice. "But I don't know if he can deliver."
“The signal being during the duel is the best course of action. I hate to admit it, but it’s good. Too damn good.”
“And if he doesn’t deliver us a chance, then we will time it with...”
“His death,” said High Mountain without batting an eye.
“I know it’s the best timing but...”
“It cannot be at any other time. We need everyone to be focused... lost in their spectacle.”
“Then let it be so. His dea-defeat will do. I’ll cast the signal then.”
“Good.”
"It's getting late. We'll have to leave the details for later. And High Mountain, not a word of this to anybody."
"My mouth is shut.”
"Oh, and take these portents to him.” Ruianne handed him two magic rocks. “He wanted those in exchange for the plan."
“Really?”
"Who knows why?" Ruianne shrugged. "He can't use magic."
After giving both glowing stones to High Mountain, each one carried on with their planned activities. Head Slave-Butler Gnome arrived at the elf's cell.
“Hey, get ready to do your duties,” spoke the gnome.
“And here I was having a pleasant dream.” X yawned as he got up from his cell’s cold floor.
“By the way, here are the two portents you wanted.” High Mountain handed him both magic rocks.
“You beasts do keep your word.”
“If we are beasts, what does that make you?”
“Smarter than you sorry lot.”
“You know... it doesn’t matter. What do you want those portends for anyway?”
“To see if you beasts keep your word.”
Trying to engage and keep a conversation going with the elf exhausted him. Head Slave-Butler Gnome unlocked his cell’s door. “I’m upstairs, don’t be late.”
However, X never showed. High Mountain searched his cell, but he was nowhere to be found. The gnome initially believed X had returned to rest and came down to his dungeon cell. Nothing. Desperation set in. Head Slave-Butler Gnome searched everywhere without telling anyone, not to raise suspicion. He found no trace of the elf, his mind hurt while his hands jittered. He ran late on his own duties.
“Frieldra’s hammer be damned! Where’s the elf?!”
It wasn’t only his duty, nor the whole plan hanging by a thread, it was his own skin on the line. After being promoted to Head Slave-Butler, one of his new responsibilities consisted in overseeing all the slaves. One slave missing meant his head treaded the dangerous territory of being separated from his body. He needed to find the elf by any means before the first shift. Around midday, when he had decided to raise the alarm, he found X covered in green and blue paint.
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"You! I almost raised the alarm— Holy Gods, what happened to you?" exclaimed High Mountain.
“I was cleaning the Lords’ bathroom when the Lady’s makeup splashed all over the place. Being the dutiful elf I am, I tried to clean it... Took the whole morning.”
“What— Why?” The gnome furrowed his brows. “You know it’s my job! Never mind. Go wash yourself and I’ll finish cleaning it. And don’t go missing again!”
X washed himself clean on the servants' bathroom and proceeded with his semblance of work.
At dusk, Lord Derreick arrived to the redheaded elf’s cell, seeking assurance that the slave-elf would attend the duel. The Lord found him exhausted but managed to exchange several words with him. Afterwards, Lord Derreick exited the mansion, striding into empty alleyways. By nightfall, the mansion quieted down. Time kept slipping away, and only two nights remained before X’s highly anticipated duel. His plate was full, his hands tied, and he had no room for mistakes. It was all or nothing, it had always been.
[Two nights until redemption.]
“You too? I’ve had enough for today.”
[Hope dies last.]
“You fu—” He desisted from uttering such a coarse word, he could do better. “You know that if I go, you go too, don’t you?”
From the dense darkness, a feminine voice cut through. "This is really how you speak to yourself." The young Lady emerged.
"What can I say, I have my charms."
She smiled. "Did you think about me, about the other day?"
"I don't want to get your hopes up, but no. There's this more pressing matter right now."
“Your impending death is close, so... within grasp.”
The elf stared at the young woman before him.
She really enjoys the drivel coming out of her mouth.
"It's not bad, considering it's not the first time I've been at death's door," said X.
"Oh, experienced, are we?"
"In more ways than you can imagine."
The young Lady loved talking to this one. This elf stood out from what she usually indulged in. A shame he had to go, she lamented.
“Talk is easy,” she flirted back.
X studied her self-indulgent behavior and saw in her twisted eyes an opportunity. An idea formed in the elf’s mind, a way to kill two birds with one stone. If the worst came to pass, at least he’d be entertained in his last moments.
“Anyway, how old are you?” asked the elf.
"Eighteen, my birthday’s next month. I'll be nineteen."
"Is that so?"
“The perfect marriage age... People are always sure to remind me.”
“Perfect indeed. I’m going to present you with the best gift someone can give a... well-cemented girl like you.”
"I'm all ears." She let out a giggle of anticipation.
“Not tonight, tomorrow night. The last night of this elf. All night long, until there’s nothing but sweat-warped bodies. You’d be the last meal of your one-night death row slave. How does that sound?”
If her face used to lean into the disturbed side of things, it now became downright insane.
“Mhmm!” Her mind raced with possibilities. “Not bad,” she bid farewell with a motioned kiss. “Not bad at all.” Then disappeared upstairs. Urgent matters.
“Rest at last!” exclaimed the redheaded elf.
Visions of blood, conquest, and women filled his dreams.
His last full day as a slave, culminating the following morning in either his death or freedom, began like any other. High Mountain came for him. Their duties waited for them. X grabbed some cleaning supplies from the storeroom and instead of carrying out his tasks, he headed straight for Leandro's room.
A knock on the young Lord’s room caused the desired response. "Head Slave-Butler Gnome? Come in."
After what happened the day before yesterday, Leandro didn’t expect to see the elf anymore. “Oh.” The boy found himself in an awkward situation. His emotions swayed between shame and anger.
“Young Lord Leandro!” X shouted right off the bat with the friendliest tone he could muster. “What are we waiting for?” he proceeded, the teen’s puzzled face staring right back at him.
"You want out?" asked the elf, searching Leandro's face for any sign of an answer. "Do you really want out?!" The excited, commanding tone of the elf moved Leandro’s emotions, something stirred inside. Yesterday was old news. “Grab your relic and show it to me, show it to yourself!” X didn’t relent. “That day I didn’t doubt your courage nor your determination. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I was only looking after myself. But you are a true Lord, you didn’t say anything to your father. Do you want to know the secret I found?” The elf’s excitement increased. “You’re not going to believe this! A way out! You’ll love it, come, bring your relic. We’re going out!”
Leandro's emotions swelled, unable to resist X's infectious energy. "We're going now?"
“Only to test it, the real deal comes in the morning of my duel. I’ve found a way!”
“How? Where?” Dreams could no longer stay simple fantasies, excitement and nervousness surging through the boy.
"I've seen it, I... I escaped the mansion today. You won’t believe all the trouble I went through!”
"What?!"
"It's not far. Let's go!" X raised his voice, infusing it with renewed energy.
“Damn! I’ll get my relic!” replied the young Lord.
X’s excitement overwhelmed Leandro, and the teen swam along with his flow. Without hesitation, Leandro unlocked his treasure box with a noisy click.
“Aaargh!” A sudden sharp pain drilled into the elf’s stomach, making him fall down. The young Lord rushed to X’s side, his face filled with concern.
"Is everything alright!? Hey! Ekk’s!" exclaimed Leandro.
The redheaded elf tried to speak, but his words were broken by sharp pain. "Call... for... Head... Butler... Argh! Aah!"
Leaving the elf crawling in agony, Leandro left his chambers to call for Head Slave-Butler Gnome. High Mountain arrived moments later and found the young Lord waiting by the door, X writhing in pain on the floor.
"Young Lord... w-what happened?" asked the gnome.
Leandro explained the elf's sudden collapse and the sharp pain in his stomach. High Mountain excused himself and the elf from the teen’s chamber, taking X downstairs to his cell.
Once alone with the elf, High Mountain questioned, "Are you alright?"
"This body sucks! I'll be fine..." replied X.
"You better be!" High Mountain’s teeth grated against each other. "Everything depends on you!"