“I know you say that, but I still can’t help but find it to be a bit… Well… Exaggerated.” Aila shrugged her shoulders at the comment. Shafir didn’t know what made her believe with blind confidence that they were even close enough to have more than a few sentences that weren’t violent or full of malice. Let alone them being intimately aware of each other’s bodies. Shafir would never look at Eliqinor in that way. “I mean, after all, when my mother was trying to move you, a certain captain- well, it doesn’t matter if you aren’t willing to try. A shame really.” 

That piqued Shafir’s interest, but he didn’t pry. If the Empress did not want to elaborate, he wouldn’t press the issue. That and the late empress probably had her reasons for appointing Shafir to be Eliqinor’s vice-captain. He didn’t want to know the secrets behind it because it wasn’t his job to know. Besides, he did as he was told and followed the orders. As far as he was concerned, any job as a knight was better than no job. 

“You can keep being dissatisfied though because I never plan on having a friendly relationship with Eliqinor.” His hands gripped his pants, and he made sure he drove his point home by adding as much malice as he would when he spoke Eliqinor’s name. It was easier this way. If he wasn't attached, then no one could get hurt because of him. It was the reason he kept everyone at arm’s length. "Besides, this isn’t why you called me, right? You aren’t one to send a fake mission with the intent of idle chatter and gossip.” 

“Yes, I guess we should get back to the topic at hand. About the mission, there seems to be a lot of orc activity in the area lately.” Aila looked down at the cup in front of her. It wasn’t often that she seemed confused. No matter what question or issue was thrown at her, she was always steadfast and never showed her weakness. Even when he was working for her as a newly appointed knight, she always seemed so sure of anything and everything she did. “It’s just abnormal of them.” 

“It’s not uncommon for the more nomadic tribes of orcs to be migrating. Have you not sent scouts to investigate?” Shafir wasn’t usually one to be sent to deal with orc travel matters, but there had been a few times when he ran into an orc or two. They weren’t hard to deal with but they enjoyed fighting over talking and not all of them could speak elvish, so it often made negotiating harder.

“I sent two to talk with the local nomadic tribes. Sadly, the chieftains said there had been no movement with their caravan yet.” She tipped her head back and drank the tea in one smooth motion. Shafir didn’t want to know why that unsettled her so much. Orcs were family-oriented, so for solo orcs to be roaming around in areas they weren’t supposed to be was worrisome. Perhaps that was what had her concerned. A solo orc was harder to figure out than an orc who had a tribe with him. What was his end game?

“What did the two find?” Shafir wracked his brain for all the reasons there might be nomadic orcs without a tribe traveling around. He couldn’t think of anything other than making their tribe or being some kind of spy, but he was sure the orcs and Slentis Empire had agreed. If they were moving, it would be only for relocating to food and shelter. That was if it was within the boundaries of the Slentis Empire since the two races didn’t always have a good relationship until the former empress.

“They found remains of animals everywhere. They weren’t eaten, just left to rot. That’s not like the orcs. They may enjoy fighting but they don’t waste.” Shafir nodded and stood up. He needed to figure out how to approach this and walked away. “Shafir.” 

“Yes, your highness?” 

“Take Eliqinor with you if you decide to go after the orc. I understand you like working solo, but it isn’t safe to go as you are.” Shafir snorted and crossed his arms. What did she know? He was fine. Shafir was always safe when he went out on a mission… But this was his Empress. He couldn’t just ignore her orders. 

“Fine, I’ll take the golden boy. You just sit tight and we’ll have this figured out in no time, your highness.” Shafir bowed to Aila, and she waved her hand to release him from his duty to stay with her. As he walked away, he thought about all the things he would have to set up. It might take him some time to even find a trail of the orc. He would need to approach the scouts that Aila had sent out before he and Eliqinor set out on the mission.