I don't do this often, but I'm going to be taking the relevent part of the vote right away.
[X] Officer Harding told us to talk to her if we ever got an audience with the king. We go to her and listen to everything she tells us.
[X] Wear your best uniform, you work for him so acknowledge that. Clean up your boots and get new ones if they are especially scruffy.
[X] Invite Joyce to come with you. She contributed, so give her due credit.
----
"Stand up straight!" Officer Harding's voice is demanding. "Your uniform is a disgrace, your boots are atrotious, and your bearing is appaling. If you are going to meet the King, you will look and act appropriately."
You grunt just a bit as you try to straighten even more. "Yes Ma'am."
Officer Harding circles around you and pulls and tugs at various points on your uniform. "Go wipe down you boots again, and you will at least be less of embarassment. Remember, keep straight, and answer the questions truthfully but succinctly. You will refer to him as Your Magesty. Bow when you are in front of him, and bow when you leave. You are taking the acolyte with you?"
"Yes Ma'am." You answer again and as finish wiping down your boots yet again.
"She knows the proper protocol, and has met the man before. Acolytes of the church are brought before him once they have been annointed." Officer Harding scowls at you. "Technically this is an honor for you. I hope you enjoy it."
Considering what you've just went through putting together your uniform, you almost wish it hadn't happened. But you are determined to do this, so out you go. You've been in Stormwind for two months now. It's a big place that you barely know a quarter of. That said, you do know how to get to the central keep.
You take the big paths over. Avoid the horses, and hope to the light you don't mess up your shoes. Acolyte Joyce is waiting in front of the main path. She honestly looks radiant. She's done up her hair, and worn a set of robes that almost shine. She smiles just a bit as you approach.
"Thank you for inviting me." She nods at you.
"Ya helped do this. Tis fair to let you come along." You shrug.
With that, both of you walk up the path to the central keep. Are waved in by the royal guard, and are in front of the King all too soon.
"Your Magesty." Joyce bows, and you hurredly copy her.
The man looks old. His body is still strong, and his eyes clear, but some sort of stress has obviously aged him before his time. Dark circles are under his eyes, and you can't help but see only a man with an impossible burden.
You see several people around him that you don't know. You are about to dismiss them when you spot someone green. Female, and wider than you are used to. Heavily muscled too, and what look to be tusks. An Orc then? You try not to stare, though you don't quite succeed until the King speaks again.
"Specialist Wayland." The King intones. "We have personally read your reports, and your work with the light. We have called you here to speak with you and make a request."
"Sure," You are elbowed by Joyce. "I mean, of course Your Magesty."
King Llane continues as if he hadn't noticed the interaction. "Several of this kingdom's knights and their horses are returning from the field. They were sorely pressed, but victorious. You will take their armor, and do your best to armor them."
You refrain from whistling. "How many?"
"Twenty of our finest knights. Plus Sir Anduin Lothar." King Llane pauses here and listens to an adviser. "We realize that remaking their entire gear will be time consuming, so if you would prioritise Lothar's armor, he may return to leading our forces. The other knights deserve a rest, so will return at the end of the next month."
You nod. "All..."
Joyce overrides you and bows. "It would be an honor your magesty."
"We are thankful for your consideration." The King leans back. "We hope your abilities will prove a boon to our people."
You bow, and then speak again. "Thank your magesty."
Both of you head out, and Joyce sighs as you leave. "I believe I should be placing you in etiquite classes."
You make a noise of disagreement. "I got little enough time as is."
"Maybe if you didn't pratically live in the forge." She sticks out her tounge and you laugh.
That done, you head back to your room and turn in with a large yawn.
You expect to wake up at morning's light. Instead you wake up in the middle of the night with a knife at your throat, and looking into a pair of glowing eyes. You try to swallow a scream.
"Blacksmithhh." It's the orc that was in the audience hall. "I have need of your services."
You try not to swallow, concious of the blade at your throat. "Umm, what?"
"This array that gathers light for your forge. You are going to burn it onto my skin with this truesilver." The request is insane.
Your mouth opens up to say that. The heat alone from the metal will fry her body. Much less the insanity of putting an array on a living being.
The orc laughs low and insane. She holds up a glass full of something red. "Heat resistance. I could walk through fire with this. Besides, if I die, it would only be good for you." She leers, and you are conscious of the knife again.
[]
My better half - Achieved
