>>5459242“Do you really want the advice of someone less than half your age?” you ask Jazkarmel, echoing her earlier ribbing.
She laughs again, but there isn’t much humour in it. She’s genuinely unsure how to proceed—unsure enough to accept advice from a near-juvenile. You suppose your accelerated growth in stature as a result of the Novice’s amulet and the Dark Gods’ favour has gone a long way towards making you seem more ‘properly adult’ in her eyes. A member of the Master Race is typically physically mature (if not necessarily mentally or sexually) by their twelfth year, so if Jazkarmel is truly immature for her kind… Well, you suppose you MAY well have surpassed her in the year you have known each other!
“My opinion… Is that you should follow your heart.”
You note no small surprise on the elf’s part at your unconventional answer. Still, you do not change course.
“My people… They are shaped by countless millennia of conditioning to be as they are. It is in their nature. Not so for you and your kind, Princess. Love… It is a powerful force. You should not throw it aside easily.”
Jazkarmel looks at you strangely, and chews her lip nervously.
“But my house… Our missions, for BOTH our people… They hinge on this.”
You shrug.
“Maybe, maybe not. I will speak with the Prince of Lahlabar… The Queen as well, if it comes to it. They would be fools to reject my assistance simply because they must find another elf-mage to mate with the new King of Elves.”
Jazkarmel shakes her head.
“I wouldn’t have thought a lizard… A dragon… Would care this much about a little fling between a half-human and a Drow.”
“You are… Not unimportant.” You say, stumbling just short of calling them ‘friends’ out loud. “We live in a dangerous world, and you should take care to cherish the things you have now before they’re gone.”
Jazkarmel nods at your wise words, and smiles more brightly than she ahs since Solinsyr called upon you two to speak with him in his dragonfly-chamber.
“Love might not be in the nature of other lizards, Theral… But it is in yours.”
To your startlement, the Princess takes your hand in hers and impulsively kisses you upon yoru cheek. You flinch and hiss at the unexpected touch… But it doesn’t feel bad.
“Thank you,” she whispers into your ear, and stands to leave.
“Wait, this is YOUR chamber,” you say, still disoriented. “Where are you going?”
The Yvonlace Princess looks at you with a mischievous gleam in her ruby eyes, and simply says: “To see Olu.”
...Ah.
