“Yes, o-of course. I will see to it we start bringing everything out now.”
“Thank you,” Taegan replied coolly, waving his hand in dismissal. The servant hurried back to the door he came from, pointedly keeping his gaze away from Zorvut. Taegan could feel a faint sense of discomfort radiating from the back of his head. “It will be a learning curve for many elves, I’m sure,” he sighed, looking the orc in the face. In the morning light, his eyes were a striking golden shade. “But I promise you, theywilltreat you with the respect due to your station.”
“I don’t care about that,” Zorvut said, his bluntness causing Taegan to blink in surprise—an emotion he had felt irritatingly often this morning, he thought as he glanced away from the orc’s unwavering gaze. “Orcs only give respect that is earned. I have always been smaller than the others. But I have always earned respect in the end.”
“A noble quality in itself, I suppose,” Taegan replied, glancing back up at him. This time, it was Zorvut who looked away. Taegan could not quite place the emotion it elicited from him—but he had the distinct sensation that Zorvut felt he had been misunderstood. Before he could ask, however, the dining hall doors swung open and King Ruven strode inside, followed by a handful of visiting elven nobles as well as his usual attendants and advisors. Some had been mid-conversation, but as they stepped in, they fell silent, seeing Taegan and Zorvut already seated at the head table.
“Good morning,” Ruven said primly as he sat down to the left of Taegan, nodding briefly first at Zorvut, then at Taegan. “My son. You’re early.”
“A bit, yes,” Taegan agreed. Zorvut only nodded silently.
“Or perhaps breakfast is late,” the king remarked, gesturing at the empty place settings before them. “I suppose that after yesterday’s feast, the kitchen may be struggling to catch up.”
As if on cue, the servant Taegan had spoken to earlier came hurrying out from the kitchen with a tray of rolls and pastries, followed by a few others each carrying their own trays of food, some with carafes of tea, coffee, and a variety of juices.
“You have coffee,” Zorvut remarked in surprise as one servant began to prepare Taegan’s usual drink, coffee lightly sweetened with honey and a small amount of cream stirred in. “I had not realized elves commonly drank it.”
“Of course,” Taegan replied, lifting the warm mug to his lips. “We trade with nations all over the world. Coffee is an expensive import, but quite popular.”
“Coffee for you as well, sir?” the servant asked, though his eyes seemed to dart everywhere except Zorvut’s face.
“Please,” he agreed. “Nothing added.” The servant quickly presented the mug to him, and the rest of breakfast was laid out. When three or four more servants had gone by without being able to even look at Zorvut directly, though, Taegan’s patience had grown thin. He started to open his mouth to speak as a tray of meats and sausages was unceremoniously placed in front of them without a word, but Zorvut placed a hand over his, stopping him.
“No need,” he said quietly, reaching out with his other hand to take the platter, serving himself. “Like you said, they will learn.”
It did little to quell his frustration, but Taegan acquiesced, and held his tongue. The rest of breakfast went by at an excruciatingly slow pace, palpable discomfort still radiating between their guests. But King Ruven was as poised and calm as ever, chatting with Taegan and the other nobles as effortlessly as if there were absolutely nothing remarkable about having an orc with him at the head table.
Eventually, Taegan finished his meal, and noticed Zorvut sitting silently with no food left on his plate, either. He leaned closer to the orc.
“We can go,” he murmured. “No need to wait for the others.” Zorvut simply nodded, but seemed to be waiting to follow Taegan’s lead. He stood, bowing his head toward his father, and Zorvut followed suit. Several of the nobles sitting across from them bowed their heads as well.
“Thank you again for your presence during this historic occasion,” Taegan said to them. “My husband and I take our leave.” Again, none of the elves seemed able to look directly at Zorvut as they bid their farewells. It irritated him, but seemed to elicit no response from Zorvut as they left the dining hall.
“Do you have any plans for the day before the evening celebration?” Taegan asked when they were alone in the walkway. He sensed amusement from Zorvut behind him and glanced back to see him with a faint smirk—perhaps the first time he had seen the orc smile.
“You are more spirited than I would have expected,” he said, as if he had not heard Taegan’s question. “More... fiery.” Taegan raised an eyebrow.
“You expected an emotionless husk?” he asked as he folded his arms across his chest—despite himself, the amusement stemming from Zorvut made him fight back a smile as well.
“That is the stereotype of elves,” Zorvut said. “Though I am finding it is more of a front than I would have thought.”
“Well, it is the ideal we should aspire to,” he replied. “But I am the prince, and if I am a little less austere than someone may like, well, they can complain to my father.”
Zorvut chuckled, shaking his head. “I have much to learn about the elves.”
For all his bravado, Taegan felt suddenly hesitant, almost shy. “I will teach you, of course,” he said before he could overthink the offer. “Now that all the fighting and negotiations are over, I will have more free time. Anything you want to know, I’m sure we could find in the library.”
“I don’t read elvish,” Zorvut said bluntly.
“I’ll read to you,” Taegan countered. Zorvut did not reply to that, but Taegan could feel something like chagrin in the back of his head. “Now, my original question was if you had any plans for the day?”
“No,” Zorvut answered. “I might go to the camp early, to see my family.”
“Shall I join you?” Taegan asked, and Zorvut grimaced.
“Perhaps not until the celebration starts,” he said, then added, “The new couple being paraded around together is a big deal.”
“I will suggest this, then,” Taegan said. “You can go to the encampment now, but I’ll meet you at the castle gate at sunset, and then we can go together.”
