Drabble #209: Sword

[redwolf]

For this prompt, we continue with our one-word/phrase drabble roots:

Sword

Tell us all about it. Labyfic-style, of course.

Given our entries from recent months, let's continue with the suggested limit of 500 words. Though remember that shorter pieces are most definitely welcome!

Your entry should take the following format, posted as a comment on this entry:

Word count: # of words
$your_beautiful_drabble

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Comments

Response

[redwolf]

Word count: 500

The rumours of a planned assassination had yet to reveal a timeline or location, but everyone involved in security preferred to disrupt plans well before they got to the stage of needing to scrub the remains of those with poor judgement from the walls of the castle.

Removing a threat was best conducted on neutral ground and a neighbouring kingdom’s gathering met that purpose. Although once in attendance, Sarah had to admit that it was less cloak and dagger than she’d expected, as her role of Goblin Queen was unchanged.

She did get to meet the unfortunate husbands of their alleged plotters and was surprised to find them far less clueless than research had indicated. Their marriages had been political and the men assumed that their wives were ladies that lunch rather than budding murderers. Aside from a blinkered view of their personal lives, they were affable and knowledgeable in their fields of expertise.

As Sarah and Jareth circulated throughout the event, she noted that their suspects kept to themselves. Parting company from their husbands on entry to whisper together while glaring with ill concealed contempt at the Goblin Royals. With most attendees using the gathering to make informal deals, catch up in person with acquaintances or to find a willing bedfellow, the sisters' behaviour was already anomalous.

Once the dancing started, Sarah caught a glimpse of them getting quite animated, but when she took a turn on the floor with each of their husbands, she watched the women’s faces turn interesting shades of red.

Sarah leaned into Jareth’s side as she rejoined him and breathed into his ear. “Are fae prone to coronaries?”

Jareth plucked a pair of glasses from a passing server and handed one to Sarah. “Not typically, but I haven’t seen anyone maintain that colour for so long. The night is young, so if you grace their husbands with another dance, we may find out.”

“They’re plotting to kill us and their husbands, why would they be jealous?”

“They don’t want anyone playing with their toys, especially if they’re filthy goblins?” Jareth shrugged with disinterest.

“Fair enough.” Sarah sipped her drink. She thought that if you were planning something nefarious then it was probably a poor decision to broadcast your emotions so blatantly. “It looks like something has come loose from one of their gowns.”

“Relocating a favoured bauble should redirect their impulses.”

The women had worn garments with floor length skirts supported by voluminous underskirts in a style that favoured petticoat pockets. Sarah wasn’t the only person to spot the wardrobe malfunction, as the other sister grabbed at the offending item, drawing a glittering rope of gemstones from her sister’s clothing. She thrust her fist into the air and started screaming about theft. The apparently light fingered sister joined in with a counterpoint of her innocence.

The pitch of their shrieks barely changed as they each drew weapons and started hacking at each other.

“Would it be rude to grab popcorn and watch the entertainment?”