A Queen's Questions
JP with Lorem, Jaxx, Redsword, Lasersexpanther, and Cindy
Lorem, at only the tender age of 19, straightened her posture ever so slightly as Queen Maud addressed her, her small hands clasping delicately in her lap. Despite her nerves fluttering like tiny clockwork gears turning too fast, she felt a spark of encouragement as her eyes briefly caught Master Sung’s. His warm, steady smile was like a well-oiled cog in her confidence, grounding her. Taking a soft breath, she turned her gaze back to the Queen, her blue eyes wide with polite attentiveness.
The gnome girl dipped her head gracefully, her long curls cascading over her shoulders like golden rivulets. "Your Majesty," she began in her shy but lovely voice, her German accent delicate yet distinct, “yes, I am German.” Her fingers fidgeted lightly with the edge of the chair’s armrest under the table as she continued. "My family is from Barmen, in Bergisches Land. I was fortunate... to have opportunities in engineering there." She paused, cheeks blooming faintly with pink as her voice softened further.
Despite her discomfort with being the center of attention, a faint, shy smile graced her lips as she added, "It is an honor to be here. I... I am glad my work has brought me to this exceptional team, and to this beautiful place." She quickly glanced down before returning her gaze respectfully to the Queen, hoping her sincerity showed more than her nerves. (edited)
"I have had the chance to travel to your homeland. Germany is quite beautiful." Maud paused. "Well, your work must be exceptional. I am glad you are enjoying your stay in my country."
Elizabeth, sensing Lorem's nerves, chimed in. "Oh, yes Miss Ipsum was hand picked by my father and her work has been exceptional."
Maud smiled and nodded to Elizabeth to move on to the next team member. "Next, may I introduce Miss Lavigne. She is the team's Social Liaison."
Maud raised a brow, and spoke to Elizabeth. "Social Liason? I am certain the Baron was just thrilled over that title." It was clear the Queen was acquainted with the Baron, as a slight sarcasm crept in her voice. "So, in-training?"
Elizabeth responded with a smile, "Yes, your Highness."
Maud turned her attention back to Lily. "Miss Lavigne, how are you adapting to life in the Order?"
Lily gave a proper response and smiled gently as she replied, "I have been most fortunate and blessed to be recruited by Lady Elizabeth. I just hope I can live up to her expectations." Lily gave a second proper response to the Queen as a sign of respect.
The Queen nodded, and gave Lady Elizabeth the signal to move on to the next person.
"Sitting next to Miss Lavigne, your Highness, may I introduce Miss Lagrave. Miss Lagrave is a renowned monster hunter."
"Also, hand picked by your father?" Maud asked Elizabeth.
"Yes, your Highness." Elizabeth responded.
"Miss Lagrave," The Queen addressed Sasha directly. "Monster hunting is certainly a nobel and interesting profession. How long have you done that kind of work?" Giving the mask over Sasha's face, Maud couldn't tell the woman's age.
"Thank you, your Highness." Sasha said at the compliment. "Officially since my eighteenth birthday, so nearly a decade, give or take." she said, musing for a moment. "But I began my training when I was about fifteen. Though that never involved combat with monsters, simply learning and training with experts." she explained, pausing a moment to decide how to word the next part, "and to help desensitize myself to the harrowing nature of the job. I'd be more than willing to share stories, but I do not believe them proper conversation over tea."
Maud nodded with interest. "I see so you are rather skilled, I take it. I would enjoy hearing your stories but, I agree, that it should wait for a more appropriate time." The Queen them focused back on Elizabeth, as a cue to move on to the next person.
Elizabeth gestured to Mr. Sung. "Your Highness, you have met Mr. Sung before. He is my second in command."
"Of course, " Maud began. "It is good to see you again, Mr. Sung, and to get a chance to actually speak with you. So, second in command. I am not surprised. I do not think the Duke would allow that honor to anyone else." Maud smiled at Sung. "Mr. Sung I do know you have been with the Ellington's for many years now. But I know little about you. What country to you hail from, originally?"
"I was raised in Korea, then moved to Japan, Your Majesty," replied Sung. He was not sure how much information he should share. He had a few secrets, and the Queen could find out about his past. He was ashamed of how he left Korea, regardless of his success.
Maud nodded, "Well, you have taught Lady Elizabeth well from what I understand." She seemed like she wanted to ask more but back off on the questioning and moved on to the next person.
"Your majesty, may I present, Captain Maseo. He is the Captain of the Horaizonkoru, the airship which brought us here, and a valued member of the team." Elizabeth thought it best to leave out Maseo's other skills.
"Yes, the airship, a rather impressive one at that. Welcome, Captain Maseo. How long have you had The Horaizonkoru?"
Before speaking Masao gave Lady Elizabeth a look of thanks for not saying his last name in the introductions. "It's a pleasure, your Highness." Masao said, "In its current form about five years." He said, "Though, my crew and I have made many improvements. Some aesthetic, but most to improve its longevity." he smiled a little. "I love my ship and don't plan to replace her anytime soon. Of course that is likely the modus operandi of most Captains." he said with a casual shrug.
While the introductions were going on the servants had been filling cups with tea and the food was put on the table for everyone to enjoy. Every team member and the Queen each had their own servant to serve them as necessary. It avoided having to reach across the table for anything or interrupting the introductions as both would have been rude.
Queen Maud nodded and indicated to move on to the next person. "Next to the Capitan, your Highness, may I introduce Dr. Jackal, as you can probably guess, is the team's medical doctor and scientific researcher."
"Greetings, Dr. Jackal. Welcome. Where do you hail from?"
Dr. Jackal gave a proper bow and head nod as he said, "It's an honor your Majesty. I was born in America and attended university in England." He didn't want to say too much since his position on the team had a lot of negative issues piled on his achievements.
Maud nodded and indicated it was time to move on. She gave the impression that anyone she wanted to speak more to would likely be done at another time. If the Queen sensed anything questionable from any team member, she did not indicate it but certainly knew how to hide such a thing.
Elizabeth, knowing that Maud was a mind and spirit mage, knew that the woman could detect a lie so she was glad no team member had actually lied. Not volunteering information wasn't exactly a lie and it was best to answer what was asked. As for Elizabeth herself, she hadn't lied, she had never indicated she would be giving just the last names to the team or more information than necessary.
Elizabeth then made her next introduction. "Next, Your highness, may I introduce Mr. Aster. He is the team researcher."
"Welcome to my home, Mr. Aster. I was informed you are a native of this land. So, welcome back. That wasn't a question, she apparently already knew that he was Norwegian. "You must spend a lot of your time reading then, I take it? I hope you have found the library at the palace useful in your endeavors, Mr. Aster."
Vor gave a bow to the Queen. Then he answered, "Thank you your majesty, I have been blessed to visit many libraries in my travels and have enjoyed this library very much. I was fascinated with the old stories, and learned a lot of history of my homeland I was unaware of. To be honest I would have never imagined myself being able to see such amazing literature in my lifetime. My love for learning was the main cause of how I began traveling to expand my horizons. By fate I met with Lady Elizabeth and was recruited as a researcher, so I get to spend a lot of time in libraries."
The Queen once again nodded and it was time to move on to the last team member. "At the end, Your Highness, may I present Mr. Cronk. Though he prefers to be called Cronk with no honoraries like Mr. Cronk is our Head of Security."
Now Maud knew that was just a title given in gesture, as Orcs were not the type to really be in charge of things but their own villages and such. They just were not intelligent enough for such positions. It wasn't even a derogatory idea on her part, it was just known.
"Well, Cronk then it shall be. Cronk, you must be very adept at your job." Maud also knew enough about Orcs, having a few in her employment over the years. She wasn't expecting complete sentences, or for Cronk to use many pronouns - they tended to refer to themselves in the third person and others by nicknames or first names. She was pleasantly surprised that Cronk seemed to be more mannered than some Orcs, not perfect, but it did make one wonder if working with the team had rubbed off on him. "Cronk, I have been informed that you also are Norwegian by birth. What area of Norway are you from?" Maud wanted to have something to ask everyone at the table and really was left with that to ask Cronk. (edited)
Cronk tried to stand up to bow and bumped the table with his waist, causing a few glasses to fall over on the table. Being nervous at this point made him confused as he did a clumsy curtsy instead of a bow and knocked over his chair by accident. He was now feeling worried he might embarrass Lady Elizabeth as he looked at her with concern and scratched his head. Then he felt a bit of courage as he looked at the Queen again as he replied, "Yes Cronk born in small village by Oslo. It maybe 2 hours away and the orcs there are loggers, but Cronk not happy and go to Dublin. Cronk meet friend in Dublin and did work in France till friend died. Cronk not understand many things but Lady Elizabeth and friends help Cronk learn stuff. Cronk also use muscles to help fight bad people for the team."
Elizabeth wanted to close her eyes and shake her head. Instead, she gave Cronk an encouraging smile.
The Queen, to her credit, acted like nothing had just happened. "Well I am glad you have found a place with Lady Elizabeth and your team." She glanced over as the servants cleaned up whatever Cronk had knocked over and one went to pour him more tea. "Cronk, I have a feeling you are not a tea drinker. Would you care for something else? Whiskey, perhaps?"
Cronk perked up at the offer of whiskey and replied, "Cronk like Irish whiskey, but Cronk not picky."
"I believe we can accommodate that." Then she said to Cronk's servant, "Please, get him some of our Irish Whisky - the good stock." Then back to the group. "If anyone else would like a different drink please let your servant know."
The servant was not gone long before returning with a bottle of good Irish whiskey for Cronk.
The tea continued for about two hours with food, drink and talking. Queen Maud taking it all in, occasionally inserting something into the conversation or asking something mundane but it seemed as if the tea was mostly so the Queen could get a feel for the team, and Elizabeth as its leader and maybe the other Eldren in general.
Maud had plans to talk to some of them later, more individually but not at tea, as it was not the time for such things.
Apparently, the team did impress the Queen well enough that before the end of the tea she invited them to stay as long as they would like in the same guest house they were currently in, upon their return back to Oslo.
The tea ended Maud thanked everyone for coming, then excused them, not in a rude way, just that tea was over. The team thanked Maud and then returned to the guest house.