This story is a bit wordy and fairly long, so if you are looking for immediate gratification, you might want to look elsewhere.
The following story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between these character and events and any real person or events is strictly coincidental . . . and pretty darn impressive seeing as it is a science fiction story. Do not reproduce or copy this story without the consent of the author.
In my magical, mixed-up world, characters don't worry about STDs or unwanted pregnancies except occasionally as a plot device. The author encourages the practice of safe (and hopefully satisfying) sex.
While this is a science-fiction story, it may at different points contain sexual behavior that might fall into other categories. You can rest assured however that there will be NO depictions of Non-Consent, Mind Control, or Incest for any purpose other than as plot devices, and certainly not for sexual arousal. Anything else is fair game.
The following story is based in the same world as "To Protect and Serve." While this series can stand alone, reading the afore mentioned series would be helpful.
Proofread by "Cristalball"
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"You are being asinine," the Shepherd said, irritated beyond reason with his self-righteous nephew. "The Unveiling is moving forward, and the elves cannot afford to hide out any longer. Humans are encroaching further and further into the forests --"
"Do not presume to tell me what is happening in the world," King Tarrin Ralisen replied coolly. "The humans are savages. There are
reasons
why we magical races have distanced ourselves from them."
The Shepherd found himself wishing again that his oldest son and his son's wife had not died all those years ago, leaving this clown, the Shepherd's other son, in charge of the elves. About a year earlier, the Tribunal, an organization of the most powerful representatives of each of the magical races, had announced that the werewolves, vampires, elves, and all other magical races would announce their presence to the human world. The world had become too small, especially now that the Greater Dragons were returning after being "extinct" for thousands upon thousands of years.
Not all of the magical races were happy about the decision, and a group of elves were amongst the most ardent opposition to the plan. The group was relatively small and certainly did not represent the opinions of the majority of elves, but they did consist of a number of very powerful members of the elvish community, including many of the remaining nobility up to and including the king. Many of the elves wanted to disband the monarchy entirely after becoming familiar with modern democracies, but structures like that were slow to change.
"The humans are no better or worse than we are in regards to savagery. They may not have magic as a race, but they can breed and they can think and they develop technologies that we can't. We cannot exist apart from them any longer, and the Elvish Crown cannot exist in a vacuum."
"We have never needed the other races, and we can take care of ourselves. It is you and the Tribunal who fills our peoples' heads with your doomsday talk and nonsense that has brought us to this disastrous decision."
"So will the Elvish Crown directly rebel against the Tribunal?" the Shepherd asked meaningfully.
Instantly, King Tarrin was on guard. The old monarchies still had a great deal of power, but to openly defy the Tribunal was effectively a death sentence. "No, but we have every right to inform our people of the truth."
"If you were really interested in 'informing of the truth,' you'd tell me where my granddaughter is. Whatever lies you have been filling her head with --"
"She is of age and has decided that she wants no contact with you," Tarrin said smugly, glad to have the upper hand.
"For which I have only your word," the Preacher replied. "Strange how that seems unwilling to communicate her wishes to a Tribunal member directly. She is the
true
heir to the throne, after all."
The elvish king stiffened at that jab. The Shepherd had been king once, but had passed the crown to his oldest son when he had accepted the position on the Tribunal, forsaking his own name. Tarrin was still bitter about his brother getting that honor. When the new king and queen had died, Tarrin had been the only one left in the line of succession except for Princess Vanesse, who had been too young to assume the duties of the crown. She had become the new king's ward, and would take the crown when she reached the age of fifty. The Shepherd enjoyed reminding the king that his time on the throne was temporary, even though he would have it for another twenty years.
"And I shall make sure that the crown is in good hands," King Tarrin replied stiffly. "Now if you please, I have appointments with the other Tribunal members." Tarrin stood still. As much as he detested his father, one did not walk out on one of the Tribunal.
"Very well. Good day," the Shepherd said, waving his son off. He had never quite figured out where he had gone wrong with this one, but Tarrin had always been arrogant. Marrying that shrew of a woman certainly had not helped. Tarrin's wife came from one of the most socially and politically conservative families on the entire planet, and she had steadily turned Tarrin even further in that direction.
"Well, that went well," came a voice from behind Shepherd.
The elf smiled slightly. The feeling of power in the room rose tenfold as the Alpha entered the chamber. The Alpha was the most dominant lycanthrope on the planet. He had to be in order to represent all of his kind on the TribunalTribunal, and he would remain there until someone bigger and badder came along to take that spot away. The lycanthropes were a brutal group at times, but at least they were logical.
"Doesn't he have an appointment with you?" the Shepherd asked.
"He can bloody well wait." The Alpha pulled up one of the ridiculously comfortable chairs the Tribunal had around the complex and leaned back. He was a massive individual that looked like the mountain man he had once been, and he was certainly more suited for living in the wild than in the boardroom. "So he's still being a little bitch?"
The Shepherd nodded. "Not how I would have phrased it, but you seem to have gotten the point. Fifteen years . . . I have not even seen my granddaughter in fifteen years. Much of it has been my own schedule, but still . . . time seems to fly for those of us who fail to appreciate it." He looked towards the door that the king had walked through. "Have you any word for me, old friend?"
The Alpha grunted. "Actually, I just might."
The Shepherd's eyes snapped to his colleague and friend. "Don't toy with me, Alpha. Not about this."
"Don't get your panties in a wad," the big man replied calmly. "Have I ever steered you wrong?"
"Such as when --"
"Yeah, except for that. You know, I recall you having a lot of fun, so I don't know why you keep complaining about it."
"Alpha, I have large black spots in my memory about an entire year. I have only your word that I was having fun."
"Yeah yeah. Anyway, I got word from a werebear up in Alaska of something that might be of interest to you."
"Alaska?"
"Yeah. He told me that he'd found a spot up near Fairbanks that reeked of elf magic. He used to attend court when he was dating this spry young thing --"
"Back on topic," the Shepherd growled.
