Despite their insistence that they were fine, Ghruz was rushed to the queen’s chambers, a palace in its own right. Ordered to lay down on Titania’s own bed, they complied reluctantly and with confusion.

“Titania,” Ghruz started, “I don’t think I’ve been poisoned. The meal was good, and I feel fine.”

Silviana stood in the corner, shaking but silent. The physician held a glowing palm over the orc’s stomach, hovering it for a moment before turning to the queen.

“My lady, there is setacin poison in her, but—” The physician started, but Titania cut her off, shooting a glare at Silviana. She stopped over to the shaking woman, towering above her.

“DID SHE ATTACK YOU, SILVIANA?” She roared. Ghruz flinched, in fear for the attendant. A wrath only known to the gods.

“N-no my lady but—” She stammered out before Titania cut her off.

“DID SHE PROVOKE YOU IN ANY WAY?” Her fury unabated. Tears began falling down Silviana’s cheeks.

“No my lady, but she’s a—” she started, before a loud crack echoed throughout the chamber. Silviana held a hand up to her now red cheek, falling backwards on her rear.

“THEN WHY DID YOU SEE FIT TO MURDER MY GUEST? WITH AN INCURABLE POISON NO LESS!” She held her hand readied to slap once more before the physician called out.

“M-my lady, your guest will be fine.” The healer spoke shakily. Ghruz was beginning to think this was a side of the queen no one saw often. Titania lowered her hand, and turned around, her eyes as dark and deep as the void.

“What?” She hissed.

“I-it seems that to orcs, it’s not a poison, but more of a spice. No more than some odd heat to their palette.”

Titania’s rage abated, and her eyes gained colour again, her glowing silver irises back to normal.

“I-I see. I apologize Ghruz, I do not like anyone to see me like that.” She glared over her shoulder at Silviana, the elf cowering in the corner. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. “Ghruz, since she tried to kill you, you can decide her fate.”

Ghruz sat there stunned, they couldn’t believe someone could be capable of such rage, only to calm down so quickly. A pensive look cast upon their face, and they grinned.

“A duel.”

The queen cracked a wicked grin.

“Yes, yes, that seems fitting. Come everyone, summon the palace workers to the throne room.”

Everyone made their way through the palace passages to the main hall. The queen sat on her throne, legs crossed regally. Silviana and Ghruz stood at the bottom of the steps, black streaks down Silvianas cheeks. One server brought forward a case to the pair, and opened it to reveal a pair of glimmering rapiers: a perfect pair, completely identical to one another.

Ghruz and Silviana took one of the rapiers in hand and walked away from each other, turning to face each other after a few steps. The orc frowned in contemplation, weighing the weapon in their hand, before tossing it aside. The crowd gasped.

“I don’t need this. Orcs don’t use weapons in duels,” Ghruz stated as if it was obvious. Titania smiled and nodded slowly.

“Of course. Silviana, drop your weapon too. Can’t have an unfair fight, now can we?”

Silviana looked up at the queen, and reluctantly dropped her blade. The orc nodded in approval and rolled their shoulders, their arms rippling with muscles. Ghruz kicked their heels off, kicking them to the side. They took a deep breath, bracing their body. A loud crack echoed out as the dress’s sides split from the force.

“Good, now I can breath. Come, elf. Let us settle this.” The attendant nodded before the two rushed at each other. Ghurz launched a powerful strike at the elf, but Silviana ducked underneath with cool efficiency - and launched a counter into Ghruz’s side, a loud crack ringing out through the throne room. The orc staggered back in confusion, with a newly-broken rib.

“You’re all so thin, but you are stronger than you look,” Ghruz observed.

Silviana retorted only with a devilish grin, launching her leg at the orc’s side. Ghruz grabbed the leg, grinning gleefully, the elf’s eyes going wide. The orc pushed forward, the elf landing on her back, the marble floor cracking under them. Before she could recover, the orc jumped on her, straddling her waist, and launched a strike into her face. Blood rolling down the side of her face, Silviana punched Ghruz in their wounded side, sending the hunter on their back, howling in pain.

Silviana used the opening to quickly get on her feet and straddle Ghruz in turn, punching them in the head, over, and over. Ghruz felt a crack in their nose, their head spun and their vision was going dark.

“Die, you worthless pig! The floor doesn’t deserve your blood.” Silviana wound her arm up and launched one more strike at the orc’s head. Suddenly, the orc grabbed her fist, and threw her aside.

“I told you, I would part your head from your shoulders if you called me that again.” Ghruz stood up with a grunt, grabbed her neck with a vice-like grip, and slammed the elf down on the pearly floor, another crack in the marble. Silviana grabbed onto the hand with both of hers, trying to pry it away, but to no avail.

She began clawing away at Ghruz’s hand with her talon-like nails in a panic.

“No - please don’t, please don’t kill me; I’m sorry, I'm so sorry!” She cried, tears flowing from her eyes.

Suddenly, Ghruz smiled warmly at her, and let go of her neck. They stood up with another grunt and held their hand out to the terrified elf.

“Good fight. I forgive you.” They said warmly. Silviana was frozen in shock, staring blankly at the hand she was being offered.

“B-but I wronged you, why didn’t you kill me?” she quivered.

“When two orcs have a problem, we fight it out ‘til we feel better. Everyone goes home happy. I feel happier now.”

Silviana paused for a moment, before taking Ghruz’s hand, and got pulled up. Both of them were a bloody mess, but Ghruz was just smiling through it all.

There was a clap echoing throughout the chamber, the pair looked to the throne to see the queen, grinning as she looked down at them.

“Very good, very good indeed. That was most entertaining. Are you sure you don’t want her dead, my esteemed guest?”

Ghurz shook their head.

“Nah. I’m good. As you said, elves take a while to learn. I think she’s learned.”

Silviana sighed, and her shoulders relaxed.

“Thank you,” she whispered, loud enough for only the orc to hear.