Vinil walked purposefully along the dingy corridors of the castle. He scowled to himself, as he always did, that there wasn’t a little more light. One flaming torch every fifty metres or so hardly counted as adequate illumination in this day and age. Especially when you factored in the seemingly endless supernatural abilities of his Mistress. He paused for a second, checking to see that Harbo was still with him. He was. Happily trundling along a few steps behind. Vinil knew that he had to stop and wait for his partner to catch up every now and then. He had grown used to the incessant curiosity of his intellectually void little imp of a colleague over the years. What was he doing now? Examining the brickwork? Vinil hadn’t got time for this. He had to get to Liandra and break the news.
‘Harbo, come here,’ he ordered.
‘Buh?’ said Harbo absently.
‘Come here. We have important business to attend to.’
‘Oh, OK,’ said Harbo in his long, slow tones. ‘I was just looking at the wall.’
‘Yes, I am aware of that. However, you may examine it to your heart’s content tonight. For now, we must move on.’
‘Alright,’ droned Harbo, trotting up to his superior just as he turned and continued marching. Harbo thought Vinil looked very impressive with his determined strutting, and decided to try and copy him. He hung back two steps from his friend and imitated every movement. He swung his arms crazily as he walked, just like Vinil. He thrust his legs out as far in front of him as they would go, just like Vinil. He waggled his pointy ears in time with their steps, just like Vinil. Any prying observers would have thought they were some kind of minimalist army squadron on parade.
Vinil arrived at a large, ornate mahogany door. He checked that Harbo was still with him, then grabbed the gold door knocker and gave three knocks. The door opened of its own accord, and he entered smartly, followed equally smartly by his trusty companion.
Liandra looked up with curiosity from her throne as they entered. She wondered why they were walking in that manner. Perhaps Vinil had finally instilled some discipline into Harbo. The two of them marched smartly up to her and stopped simultaneously. Harbo then peeled off to his left and walked round Vinil to stand next to him, mimicking his posture exactly. Liandra found it hard to tell them apart.
‘What news, Vinil?’ she asked.
‘Unexpected news, Majesty. The Red Margoth lies crushed and defeated.’
‘I see. So our guests are powerful. Perhaps this will turn out to be an interesting day.’ She stood gracefully and floated down the steps, ensuring her beautiful long cloak fluttered behind her in a powerfully dramatic and rousing fashion. Vinil watched as she made her way over to a small black and gold box resting on the dining table. During his entire career, Vinil had only seen Liandra give one dinner party at that table. She had invited several of the more powerful men on the island over for a meal and a chat and some fine wine. Never again were they seen. A business dinner she’d called it, and the guests had certainly had ‘the business’ done to them.
‘I have a little something for our visitors,’ chimed Liandra as she opened the box. ‘See that they get it.’ Vinil strolled over and held his hand out. Liandra pressed something into it, looked him in the eye and smiled. ‘Otherwise you’ll be coming over for dinner tonight. Understand?’
Vinil bowed ever so slightly. ‘Majesty,’ he confirmed.
‘Excellent.’ She turned to Harbo, who was still standing exactly where he had been when he first came in. ‘And you, well done. You’re learning some etiquette at last. Keep it up.’