>>5323618As you draw out the letter, you hear one of the morons behind you pull the trigger on his weapon. You don't even fully turn around, glancing over your right shoulder and smashing the metal-tipped wooden bolt to splinters with your tail. The guards all gasp in surprise, having clearly not expected your tail.
“What the hell?”
“He's a demon!”
“CALM DOWN! Both of you!” the older soldier before you declares, your wife not even turning around to face them, but keeping her eyes on the one before you. No doubt realizing that he's the most dangerous of the three up here. “I will NOT have my soldiers attacking a foreign diplomat, is that understood?”
But he doesn't get an immediate response, so asks again. Louder, and more forcefully.
“IS! THAT! UNDERSTOOD?!”
“Y-YES SIR!” they both reply in a panic, you seeing the hint of a smirk on your wife's face as they face the wrath of their superior. But as they hurry back, you hear several heavy, clanking footsteps on the stairs.
“Here they come.” you <span class="mu-i">think</span> to your wife, who's hearing isn't quite as acute as your own to let her know what's about to happen.
“Good.” is all she replies, and a few moments later the older guard hears them clanking up the stairs towards you all. He turns, and seeing the fully armed and armored knights gestures to the two to attention behind you. You hear them moving but focus on the stairs as the dozen or so metal-armored warriors ascend to the top of the wall. You recognize the one who's the commander immediately, their armor far more ornamental than the others'. As the warrior turns, your first impression is not a warrior, but you see a man with many heavy lines on his face, crushed by the weight of the responsibility he's forced to shoulder. You can almost smell his despair, and new worry upon seeing you despite doing his best to put on a brave face for his friends and allies. A look you recognize well.
“So, you are the outworlder I've heard rumors of.” he says by way of greeting, as you reach into your robe and drawing out the letter you'd been given. As you do, the knights all draw their swords, but you're unconcerned with them and offer the wax-sealed letter to the man. “What is this?”
“A letter from your Princess Iris.” you say, holding it out to him and his entire shocked entourage. “We spoke yesterday, and she asked that we come here and help out with your evil god problem.”
The soldiers all shout in surprise, many expressing clear doubt as to what you said. But the commander takes a step forward and takes the sealed envelope from you. He draws a knife, cutting it open without damaging the official seal. He unfolds the letter contained within and reads it silently for several moments.
