A deal with the devil's advocate

The village chief had explained everything, with stumbling words.

The explanation had Avery announcing that the human council and the royal family would be enlightened of the drug and its effect on warriors and mages alike.

Afterwards he hadn't even given the chief a chance to argue as walked out, quards directly following along.

"Please...we have nothing else."

Sighing, Aethelstan followed along, ready to argue for the lives of the villagers.

"You can't do that.''

He had only said it as soon as the door closed behind him, his expression still blank.

''I can do whatever the hell I want and shockingly enough I don't need your permission."

"They are just trying to survive, it's already difficult enough.

Do you have to make it even worse?"

"Wait let me think-''''thoughtfully he wondered, before he gleefully revealed. "-yes, yes I do.''

"They found something to help them get rid of their problems, what right do you have to take that away?"

"A lot, besides it's supposedly illegal to make children work. As righteous as you are, shouldn't you be the one that drools all over the rules."

''I don't condone it!"

"Then why protect them?"

"Losing children is...a fate worse than dying.

Why would you actively make insignificant people's lives difficult.''

"Because I can!"

'They already have next to nothing.''

''Why would I care...why do you?

Aren't they the reason the boy's in a magical induced dream? They should be glad I'll let them live, whatever happens they will be far better of then now.''

"You know they won't.''

''Or they won't, who cares."

"They received permission, explained everything and only when it was successful did they receive the food, medications and money. They even only asked for things that helped their survival."

Still, he waited for the answer, both stood tall throughout the debate yet now Avery moved and sat down with a serious expression on his face as his next words flew through the room.

''Before we even leave this vallenge, the higher ups will know.

I don't think I will change my decision."

"How heartless."

"Well there really is nothing in it for me. So why would I do something that doesn't give me anything interesting."

"So what..you will keep it quiet if there's something in it for you?"

Smirking, Avery clearly displayed his interest at the question, silently urging the elf to go on.

He felt like a king in the palace as finally he would have something intriguing.

"You kept turning towards me. In the coach.''

Impassively Aethelstan stared at the other, a quirked eyebrow, urging him on.

"Go on, my patience is very limited."

"I noticed." Changing his words by the flicker of anger that appeared in Avery's eyes. ''Fine, how about I do everything you say, if and only if you leave the villagers alone and not mutter a word to anyone about the drugs."

"Are you worth it? My silence?"

''That's for you to decide, isn't it.''

''Heh.''

Face landing on his fist, Avery glanced over him arrogantly. Not saying anything as tension rose in the elf, he was enjoying this. The elf had been strung up in the carriage yet here he was standing, waiting without a single choice in the matter.

For a single rundown village, that wasn't even worth a single glance the elf dangled his worth over Avery's head.

How far could he push him, a noble elf while weakness hung above his head.

"Well, have you thought it over?"

"I don't think you are in a position to make demands, elf

There was a flicker! A flicker of frustration as the elf moved his gaze elsewhere.

"In fact, I don't think you are in any position that would make sense for someone begging for help.

Shouldn't someone like that be at least on their knees?"

"What are you implying?!''

Pushing boundaries he replied. "Merely implying~"

It was amusing the way the elf sighed as he kept getting pushed further and further back, it was almost sad when he reached a decision.

If it wasn't for the very fact that his knees hit the floor, not even a wince left his mouth as the sound echoed through the room.

''I did as you said, now give me your answer....please."

Aethelstan caught himself just in time, the slip of the tongue could have proven dangerous. Considering the lack of patience the other had and who knew what more.

"I distinctly recall saying at least."

"I'm waiting."

Grimacing,the seconds counted up before he lowered, hands joining his knees on the ground.

It wasn't enough, the lack of anything confirming that.

The distance was short yet as he crawled his impassive face cracked.

How could this not be humiliating?

The thought swirled around in Avery's head, as the elf moved closer and closer. Hands dirtied by the dirty floor, long blue hair grazing the floor over and over again.

It wasn't the first time someone was on their knees before him but he had never felt so powerful.

The way the elf had his head bowed, hovering over the ground...it left him feeling...was it amusing?

"Have you made a decision?"

The only hint Avery had listened,was the growing flicker in his eyes.

It had been boring from the moment he had travelled towards the vampire kingdom, he never would have assumed such an interesting variable would come into play.

His master would often leave him some leeway but when it came to fun things he was never really allowed.

If they were going to ask, he already had an excuse available.

There is no way the elf wouldn't give him information if he just dangled all of this over his head.

He would never deny him, he couldn't if he didn't want the information or just plain existence of the drug to spread. It would make all this for naught.

This scene...what a pretty sight.

Not minding letting the elf wait, he wondered what kind of emotions the elf could be capable of. Beside the flickers of frustration, he had only witnessed impassiveness.

What kind of faces could he be capable of?

It left him smiling , eyes piercing the bowing male's body.

A half hour had passed by the time the elf rolled his shoulders in discomfort, looking up he questioned.

"How long are you going to do this?"

"Impatient?

Do you have somewhere to be?"

"...No."

"Then what's the hurry?"

Another half hour passed before Avery agreed to keep silent.

"So do everything I say and I won't say a word. However if you don't then the world will know."

"I won't go back on things I said."

"Indeed you aren't, instead you would get on your knees for a few measly lives."

"Five hundred...five hundred lives."

''It doesn't matter, even if it were a thousand.

However it was fun, seeing you kneel."

"Those lives...though insignificant..are worth more then yours will ever be.''

''Whatever you say.'' Getting up from his throne-like chair, he crouched back down in front of the still bowing elf.

A piece of hair slowly filtered through his hands, playing with it he muttered.

''It's all dirty, you're all dirty. How unbecoming of someone with your status.

You should behave yourself like the noble elf you are.

Get up, go wash yourself.

In an hour, we will take a look at this production site."

Aethelstan got up, snorting as he walked out . Not bothering to say anything else as the door once more clicked behind him and with that a sigh ,that he didn't know he was holding, left him.

"Thank you.....and I'm sorry."

Fragile, the village chief was fragile. It was the first thing he had noticed when he had left the carriage yet when his eyes contained only sadness and quilt, he looked even more vulnerable.

"It's all my fault...if I had done a better job.....this wouldn't have happened , you shouldn't have sacrificed your dignity."

''I did it of my own accord.

In the future you should do a better job, get working on the safety of the children and the betterment of the security around the drug.

I don't know if he will continue his promise of silence so in the meantime prepare.

Make sure no one finds out the method of making the drug.

Especially not him.

''With our resources..this will be difficult.''

''Better find a way to accomplish it, this sacrifice as you said it would then, truly mean nothing.

Just like those meaningless words you speak. Meet us in an hour outside."

With a heavy atmosphere brimming in the air, Aethelstan left.