It started with a sly comment, “Are you sure you are human, my Lady?”

It was like someone silenced the entire feast. My friends attempted to dissuade him from answering my next question with gestures but the fool was too stupid to notice.

“My good sir, Duke Varrell was it? Whatever do you mean?” I replied with a soft smile. Varrell pulled off his white gloves and chuckled.

“I mean, dear Wilhelmina, between your crass way of speaking, your atrocious table manners and your height. If I were a betting man, I would mistake you for some sort of oversized monkey. Or a rather tall dwarf.”

Despite my calm appearance, I was seething. I smiled wide before turning to his majesty. “My lord, as I am a guest in your halls and this is my first time at your feast, I am curious on protocol for duels.”

The king smirked, “A duel? We have had a duel at one of this things in decades. But since you are a guest I will allow it.”

“My liege, we shouldn’t even be entertaining this barbarian and her slaves.”

“Slaves!” Both of my friends spoke in unison but I motioned for them to hold. I stood up and walked over to Duke Varrell. The wide smile still plastered on my face.

As I made my way over to him, I removed my black gloves. Servants scattered out of my way and the Duke stood up. His hand on his hilt of his sword.

I rounded the table past some of my kinsmen, they merely smirked. I was cursed to be smaller than most humans. Five feet. No amount of spells or potions could fix what the gods have decreed.

I stood in front of the Duke and tossed the glove straight up into the air. When he looked up, I slammed my fist into his stomach. He bent forward; bring his face into easy strike distance. I punched him in side of the head. I was aiming for his eye but he dodged.

I pulled a bone dagger from it’s sheath. I put it to his throat. “As a southern barbarian, I have no issue with killing you. Next time you insult my height. My friends. Or say anything I practically don’t like during my time here I will kill you and add your skull to my collection.”

“That is enough, Lady Wilhelmina. I am sure your point has been made,” the kind said motioning for more food.

“As I am a guest, I will abide your wishes,” I said before standing up and kicking him in the stomach one last time. My kinsmen tried to contain their laughter. As I walked back to my seat.

“Varrell, take your seat,” the king demanded. Varrell, with the assistance of his servants, stood up, “My lord, I demand you have this animal and her wretched ilk arrested immediately.” Varrell said angrily.

“Varrell. If this alliance is to succeed we must not be at each other’s throats. If you hadn’t insulted her, your pride would not be in the same state as your body. Now shut up and return to your seat.”

“I will not seat with her. Or recognize her as an ally,” he spat. The king shot him a withering glance. I could see why he allowed things be like this. Even I felt strangely cowed by it.