“I was banished. What part of I will be executed, if I step a foot in the Rirorni Empire do you not understand?” My-re asked rhetorically shaking her head in frustration as she stared at five others sitting at a large, round ancient looking table at the Academy of the Eye, better known to Lord Protectors as the Stronghold Academy. The stuffy meeting room was small with a stone floor covered by a simple decorative rug. The wooden chairs were uncomfortable and creaked under her weight. There were stacks of books scattered along a bookshelf off to the side with a fine layer of dust. The room had a musty smell of old parchment. Dark paintings hung on the walls. However, whether that was the intention of the artist or the oil in the paint was just getting old was up for debate.
The captain of the Unsinkable III, Vomarian Fae, said, “I understand your concern-“
Interrupting, My-re said, “Concern. Concern?”
“Of course you’d be in disguise.”
“What? A scarf around my face or a fancy hat?”
“You’ll be on a flying ship, so technically you won’t be stepping a foot in the Rirorni Empire.”
“A compelling argument I can have with the noose around my neck,” My-re snapped back.
Vomarian opened his mouth then closed it at her hard stare.
“Why can’t he go?” My-re asked, pointing to General Pol of the Skull Squadron stable. “He’s a Rirorni and won’t need a disguise. Besides, he speaks Rathiri just as well as I do.”
“Impossible. I have the Broken Sword tavern to run,” Pol replied.
“How about him,” My-re pointed to Rao, another Rirorni from the Skull Squadron stable.
“And be considered a traitor by my own people? No thank you. I know the Rirorni war has been over for a number of years, but there is still resentment. No Rirorni would talk to me standing next to an Alastarian,” Rao said.
“What about her?” My-re asked pointing to a third Rirorni, Anusha of the Skull Squadron stable. “She doesn’t care what anyone thinks.”
“While that is true, I have more enemies in the Rirorni Empire than in Alastari. While the Rirorni would execute you if caught, my enemies would find out I was back in the Empire. There would be multiple assassin squads sent to liquidate the entire group. It would endanger the mission,” Anusha said.
My-re sat back hard against her chair, which creaked in protest. “So that leaves me and only me that can speak Rathiri on the Isle of the Eye?”
“We need an interpreter as the Rirorni consider all other languages, especially the Alastarian dialects, as beneath them,” Vomarian Fae said.
“What about the Grey wand?” My-re questioned pointing with her chin to Shelia Greywand sitting across from her. “Didn’t you say it would be going with the group? Can it be used to translate the language?”
Around the table, the Rirorni’s eyes lit up with what My-re perceived as opportunistic greed. This did not escape Shelia.
“While I did mention that, it was more of a blessing than actually physically accompanying the group,” Shelia said touching the wand at her belt. “The Grey wand will be staying on the Isle of the Eye and not going into the heart of the Rirorni Empire to begin the search for Araminth.”
“The blessing of an item from the Chaos realm?” My-re said questioning that benefit. She then began tapping her nails on both hands hard on the wooden table.
“My-re, while you are a Lady Protector, no one is forcing you to go,” Shelia Greywand said with the tone of guilt a mother would place on a child.
“Oh, I’m not going,” My-re snapped.
There was silence for several heartbeats.
Vomarian Fae said, “I’ve been practicing the Rirorni Language. If I study up a bit, I might be able to get by. I’ve noticed the Rirorni use several words for the same thing. Like horses, grass, manure, war, weapons, tactics, excreta, so in reality I would only need to know one of them. It should be easy.”
“Really? Say something,” My-re queried.
The captain of the Unsinkable III muttered a phrase in Rathiri, the Rirorni native language that roughly translated to, “My quill pen is red.”
“Oh, my gods,” My-re said rolling her eyes.
“Like I said if I train up a bit-“ Vomarian began before a loud knock on the chamber door drew everyone’s attention.
A moment later, Captain Daren and Shelia Greywand’s military attaché entered wearing well-oiled leather armor. His golden-brown arms and legs boasted perfectly carved muscles. His round helm covered his entire head, including a nose guard with thick rivets around the opening, so only his scowling mouth was visible. His helm hid his eyes in shadow. He said, “Pardon the intrusion Lady Greywand. A gladiator has answered the call. He indicated he speaks the Rirorni’s language.”
“Show them in,” Shelia said adjusting her eloquent gown and sat slightly straighter in her chair.
To My-re’s surprise Gromp, a Shewish Giant and frequent customer from the Broken Sword tavern, emerged and ducked through the doorway. He wore leather armor and appeared ready for combat.
“You know the Rirorni language?” Vomarian Fae asked the giant and pulled a small pouch that jingled with a playful sound of coins as it was placed on the table.
“Yes, Gromp knows what the Rirorni understands,” Gromp said and then pulled his sword from its sheath and lashed out with his longsword in a murderous thrust striking air!
They all stared at the Shew as a pleased grin spread across the giant’s face.
“My apologies Lady Greywand,” Darien said and then turned to Gromp. “Get out!”
As the Shew left, in the distance they heard him ask, “Gromp, still get gold?”
My-re shook her head and muttered, “This is just getting better by the moment.”