The Imperial Spy: Orcish Seduction

Author's note: This story is the second installment in "The Imperial Spy" series. The previous chapter shares the same high-fantasy setting and main character but reading it is not required. Enjoy!

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Eyda tapped twice on the castle's window, the night breeze caressing her cheeks. She waited for a second and tapped for the third time. The window opened slowly and silently, and she snuck inside, leaving the cold behind. The Emperor's quarters no longer shocked her with their size and splendor, but that didn't mean she wasn't awed by it every time she entered. She removed her hood and sighed, breathing in the scent and warmth of the embers still burning at the fireplace. Behind her, Emperor Elyas closed the window and fetched two cups of wine he had left by his bed. The young human stood a few inches shorter than Eyda (without counting her ears), and was similarly lean, though he lacked the acrobatic skills the half-elf boasted. He wore only a long, white regal robe with golden trimmings, and went on to sit by the fire with both drinks in hand. Eyda knew to follow him, and quietly accepted the cup he offered.

"So how may I be of your service tonight, my lord?" she asked, the slight mockery in her tone accompanied with exaggerated courtesy. She knew he wouldn't mind, for despite being the most powerful man in the Empire, he was humble and pragmatic, and knew to never take offense unless he could benefit from it.

"The job I have for you is quite unusual for your trade, Eyda, but vital nonetheless," he explained, serious as ever. Eyda wished he could relax a little. He was a pleasant companion, and she thought they could be friends if he wasn't always so burdened by his responsibilities. Her hopes of banter died down quickly as she gestured for him to explain further.

"Tomorrow a royal delegation from Kazir will be welcomed into the castle," he said, solemnly. "Their Queen will be honoring us with her presence in this diplomatic mission. As you may know, peace with the orcs came at a high price for my father, and our commerce in their region still leaves much to be desired."

Eyda nodded disinterestedly. She had little to say about politics and war. "So how can I help you with that? You know I'm not exactly an assassin" she commented, measuring her words carefully. Did Elyas expect her to kill a foreign dignitary? The thought unsettled her deeply, but she made an effort to remain calm. He had never asked of her something she wouldn't do. She hoped he would keep it that way.

"No need for blood, Eyda. I need something subtler than murder" the Emperor answered as relief flooded into the half-elf's face. "Rumour has it that Queen Hazmin intends to offer me her daughter's hand in marriage at the end of their visit. A political bond to fortify the alliance between our states."

"And what's the problem with that? You said you needed more trade, so that should help, right?" Eyda wasn't sure how any of this would require her assistance. She was neither a negotiator nor a diplomat and certainly very far from a politician. How could a thief help settle such a matter?

"I'm afraid it's not that simple. The orcs are powerful, and it's certainly unwise to underestimate them, but I'm confident they can be bought by other means. My marriage is too valuable a bargaining chip to be squandered. But I'm afraid that they will be putting me in a harsh position with their offer. If I refuse, our amicable relationship could quickly degrade into aggression, and their hostilities would feel justified because of my rejection."

"So... what? You need to make them not want the marriage to go through?" she offered, unsure. Eyda didn't know much about the orcs, for their kingdom lied in the desert across the ocean. They were said to be wealthy and boisterous, but the few expatriates the half-elf had seen were nothing but rugged warriors for hire.

"Precisely," he said, eagerness now noticeable in his tone. He left his empty cup on the table beside the fire and looked directly at the half-elf. "This is where you come in, Eyda. I need you to convince Princess Zhara to call off the wedding from her end. That way I give them no reason to retaliate and gain the opportunity to renegotiate our dealings in their lands." There was a second of silence as Elyas tried to discern his agent's expression. He had never given her a job quite like this one. "It's critical that you leave no trace of my intentions in your actions."

"How am I supposed to accomplish all of this? Do I threaten the Princess?" she asked, stumped. Eyda was a woman who lived by her stealth and her sleight of hand. Dissuading an orc princess from an arranged marriage to an emperor felt beyond the scope of her abilities.

"Your means are your own, my faithful servant. Do as you see fit, as long as you get it done. But remember: there can be no violence and no evidence of my inclinations, for we don't want to start a war. Understood?"

Eyda nodded, downed her wine, and stood up. She had her task laid out, she just needed to figure out how exactly to get it done. The Emperor observed her as she bowed respectfully, wished him a good night, and climbed out the window just like she always did. It took him a matter of seconds to notice that her empty cup was nowhere to be found. He smiled to himself, amused by her insistence to innocently steal from him every time they met.

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Queen Hazmin paced impatiently on the deck of her ship, accompanied by her guards and advisors, who observed in respectful silence. The sun was just poking over the horizon in the frigid autumn dawn as the royal orc ship settled into the Empire's capital. The magnificent vessel contrasted greatly with the simpler, rougher ships around it, and its opulent design drew the eyes of the tired halfling sailors who had the misfortune of being up so early.

Inside the ship, in the comfort of her cabin, Princess Zhara snored loudly. Her long, black hair sprawled all over the silky bed sheets, and her body was tightly clutching her pillows. She was roused when a servant opened her curtains, the loud light making it impossible for her to continue sleeping. The handmaid explained that they had already docked on the Imperial city and told the Princess that her mother was waiting for her. Zhara groaned out a word of agreement and dismissed the servant.

The Princess untangled herself from her bedsheets, stood up, and sighed loudly. She had been greatly looking forward to this trip for months, eager to meet the rulers of the Empire and excited to admire their city. However, her excitement was soured when the Queen announced her intentions to have her married to the Emperor. She tried to convince herself to be happy about it but to no avail. All of Zhara's siblings had been married off to political leaders to reinforce the kingdom's influence, and she knew that being the youngest, she had no other option than to accept that fate.

Despite the great honor it would be to become the Emperor's bride and the dutiful service she would be doing her own people by forming this union, a selfish voice inside her head couldn't help but complain about it. She hadn't even met him yet. What if she didn't enjoy his company? If he wasn't to her liking? Zhara had lived the sheltered life of a Princess, and despite some stolen kisses from noble adolescents in the palace and the occasional yet futile courtship of older men, she was inexperienced in love. The men she had encountered had never instilled on her any passion or interest in romance, and she was doubtful that this would change once she met Elyas.

Zhara brushed her hair as she weighed the burdens of her position and the uncertainties of what laid ahead. She had changed from her sleeping clothing into a dress that had been prepared for her, a long-sleeved garment with a skirt that stopped right by her ankles. The elegant piece of desert fashion covered most of her light green skin and had a matching veil to cover her black hair, which she managed to put on only after the unruly curls had been subdued into obedience.

When she was ready, she looked at her reflection in the mirror and flashed herself a toothy yet unconvinced grin, which gave a hint of her prominent canines. She left the cabin with a bittersweet mixture of anxiety and excitement slowly eating away at her thoughts.

Moments later, Queen and Princess descended into the dock, where they were received cheerfully by their ambassador in this land, who guided them towards a set of luxurious carriages. Zhara had her nose pressed against the glass window for the whole journey to the castle, her eyes wide open as she observed the hustle and bustle of the city. She was fascinated by everything she saw, especially by the quick flashes of mundanity and the brief glimpses into the lives of its citizens. She observed people of all races, some which she had never even seen before, shops offering goods unfamiliar to her, and street vendors preparing dishes she was unaware were edible.

After an hour-long ride across the metropolis, the delegation passed by the castle's exterior gate and drew to a halt in front of the main garden, which remained verdant despite the time of the year, in no small part due to magical assistance. After the orc ambassador announced her presence, Queen Hazmin left the carriage and was welcomed by a cheering crowd.

The entire court had been gathered to receive the orcs, decorations had been set in place to impress them and a respectable collection of bards and minstrels had been instructed to play the Empire's most exquisite tunes to celebrate their presence. The full force of the castle guard had been deployed around the garden, both to display the Emperor's military might and to ensure the ceremony went without danger to their guests. Eyda was among them, keeping up appearances as a regular guard while in her mind she went over her real responsibilities as Elyas's personal spy. She watched as her ruler shook hands politely with the orcish one, and turned her gaze towards the other carriages as curiosity drowned her thoughts.

Despite her best efforts, Eyda had managed to find only vague rumors about the Princess since she had been given her mission. She quickly learned that the less pragmatic people of the court held little respect towards the orcs, believing them to be either gluttonous rabble-rousers or mindless camel-riders. Eyda, being a streetwise woman, knew to ignore the baseless opinions of the biased nobles, and found herself knowing only that the Princess was a year her junior and apparently a hard match to make, as a handful of the less scrupulous (and less powerful) dukes and barons had fruitlessly attempted to woo her on their trips to Kazir.

Her thoughts were cut short when the carriage door opened and the woman herself emerged graciously, stepping into the courtyard with a polite smile and a reverence. Zhara approached the Emperor as she had been taught to do, and offered a hand. Knowing what was expected of him, Elyas took the hand and bowed down to lie a chaste kiss on it. As he let go and straightened himself, Eyda finally appreciated the true size of the orcs. Age had taken a toll on the Queen's height, and she stood slightly hunched forward. But the Princess, in her youthful splendor, towered more than a head and half above the Emperor. Granted, he wasn't the tallest human around, but the Princess's height was still remarkable.

The rest of the dignitaries quickly followed and Eyda's gaze stalked Zhara closely, even as the crowd of advisors and guards that had just joined her threatened to push her out of the half-elf's sight. She couldn't make out a lot about her appearance from afar, but she took note of her wide shoulders and large hands. Despite showing the delicate femininity of pampered royalty, her orcish blood gave the Princess a body that would take a human or elf years of training to achieve. The combination of a powerful yet elegant build caught Eyda's attention, and her thoughts lingered on the foreign royal even after she had left the garden.

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Eyda looked at her reflection in the mirror and couldn't help but smile. A dash of light yet expensive makeup, a simple beautification spell to curl up her short red hair, a borrowed floral perfume and a brand new suit would ensure she blended in perfectly at the ball that evening without betraying her own personal style. This mission was growing on her if she had to be honest. At first it felt dauntingly beyond her comfort zone, but the opportunities it had given her were too good to pass up. In all her days as a thief, Eyda had never had the excuse or the resources to dress up like this. She had partied before, to spend her spoils and celebrate her victories, but never with such class and finery.

The half-elf put on a pair of tasteful black shoes that matched the tone of her attire. The suit had been a rush job, but the right amount of coin had gotten Eyda what she needed: a dark and form-fitting coat with shimmering silver buttons and exquisite embroidery, the thin white shirt that was quite visible underneath it and a pair of tight black trousers. A green velvet bowtie finished the outfit. It had been far from cheap, but while on the job all her expenses were covered by the Emperor, and she wasn't about to squander the opportunity.

Despite the mission's difficulty, the half-elf's plan was simple: she would infiltrate the party, eavesdrop on the orc dignitaries and, once she had gathered enough information, approach the Princess and push the right buttons to dissuade her from going ahead with the wedding. It was a matter of tactful persuasion, which meant that Eyda left her room without her dagger, wearing only her clothes and her confidence.

The spy took a long route around the castle corridors, careful to avoid any guards that could recognize her and hiding in the shadows whenever she risked being spotted. The moon was high in the sky by the time she reached the ornate window that opened just above the back gardens. She perched herself on windowsill stealthily, and like a feline leaped into a nearby tree branch, from which she climbed down with expertise. Once on the ground, she re-adjusted her curls, flattened her coat and opened the door that linked the backyard with the ballroom. To any of the partygoers it would seem like she had simply returned after heading outside for some fresh air.

Eyda was assaulted by fierce light and warmth that contrasted violently with the freezing torch-lit halls she had been sneaking through. The vast ballroom was showered in yellowish light from at least a dozen chandleries that spanned the whole length of the arched ceiling and the voices and instruments of the imperial bards filled out the place with slow melodies. The smell of roasted meat and freshly baked bread accompanied by the clinking of wine cups drew the half-elf's senses towards the exuberant tables laid out across the side of the room, where the guests and hosts enjoyed the Empire's best dishes while they chatted. The center of the ballroom had been cleared out but it seemed to Eyda that the dancing part of the night had yet to begin. This suited her agenda just right, and with her pointy ears perked up the spy walked towards the nearest table and begun her work.

For about an hour Eyda strolled through the dancehall, a half-full cup of wine in one hand and an inconspicuous look on her face. She stepped from one conversation to the other, careful to remain unnoticed in the background as she eavesdropped on the guests. It wasn't a perfectly smooth ride, as Eyda was recognized a couple of times and had to make up excuses on the go, but she generally managed to avoid serious detection. And it had been worth it.

Eyda had quickly confirmed the rumors about the marriage, overhearing an orc diplomat sharing her plans for the wedding with an elven seer. She had also learned from a comment a handmaid made that the Princess was greatly inexperienced in love, as made evident by her lack of partners throughout her earlier youth. Jokes were traded among locals and foreigners about Zhara being prudish and naive in matters of romance. Eyda also learned that the Princess was a rather solitary person, having few friends and companions and frequently opting for privacy. It was also evident that she paid attention to her shape, for the half-elf observed that the untrained orcs had a noticeable yet less impressive physique.

Eyda's snooping was interrupted when the Princess, the Queen and the Emperor walked into the room. As was customary, they reached the ball last, and with their presence the initial dance was inaugurated. Elyas first took Hazmin, all eyes on the two rulers as they waltzed across the place. As the song changed so did the partners. The half-elf kept her gaze locked on the two, and was amazed to see how skilled Zhara was at dancing. Eyda found it amusing to watch Elyas make an effort to keep up with the Princess's strides and swings. Again, the song shifted, and now more and more people joined the rulers in the dancefloor. The spy snuck in without a partner but benefitting from the crowd's movements to deftly approach her mark.

For the entirety of the opening dance Eyda waltzed near the Princess, picking random partners to avoid raising suspicions but keeping a constant eye on Zhara. As she watched the Princess dance, she realized she was wearing a different dress. Instead of the long and concealing piece she had worn for the welcoming ceremony, she was now clad in a lavish and revealing dress. It was made of pale, pink silk, with a long and flowing skirt, loose and sheer sleeves that showcased her arms and a generous hint of cleavage that drew attention to the Princess's bosom. Zhara's veil was part of the dress and made of the same transparent material as the sleeves, barely concealing her black hair. Eyda also noticed that she had a tight golden necklace and matching hooped earrings.

It wasn't too long until the bards announced there would be a pause before the second leg of the dance, and the music slowed down and lost its intensity as the crowd dispersed, their appetite for food and drink as replenished as the tables that offered them. Eyda knew this was her opportunity. She dashed to the nearest table, grabbed two cups of the finest wine available, and quickly walked towards Zhara. The spy stopped right in front of the Princess and bowed in reverence, careful not to spill the drinks, and offered a cup to the orc, who had just left the dancefloor for the tables. The dispersion triggered by the food was universal, and thus when Eyda intercepted Zhara with her offer the two were quickly left alone as the nobles and diplomats that had flocked around her headed towards their meal. The Princess thanked the half-elf with a smile and took a conservative sip of her cup.

"I believe we haven't been acquainted yet," the orc blurted out after a couple of seconds, suddenly remembering her etiquette. "I am Princess Zhara, youngest daughter of Queen Hazmin of the Kazir," she explained, unnecessarily yet politely.

Eyda nodded and smiled with a mixture of confidence and curiosity. "I am well aware, my Lady. It is an honor to meet you," she said, making sure to keep eye contact with her despite the considerable height difference. "I am Diana, leader of the capital's jeweler's guild," she lied with ease. Eyda had used this fake persona in the past, and though she wasn't a swindler by profession she could handle herself in a hustle.

For a few minutes Eyda pressed on with small talk, asking about the Princess's journey, the orc homeland, and how her palace compared to the castle. Zhara seemed to quickly grow interested in the conversation and was excited to share her thoughts on what she had seen on her trip through the capital. The spy was careful to give little information about herself and to answer each question with a question, getting the Princess to ramble on. However, their conversation was interrupted by a deep voice announcing someone's presence behind them. The two young women turned around to see a male dwarf approaching them. He wore a flamboyant suit, had his tawny hair slicked back, and a well-groomed mustache. With a winning smile he bowed deeply in front of the queen and waited for a few seconds until the Princess figured out what she was supposed to do and offered her hand for a kiss.