Ralph and the Pixie

Clenching her hands at her sides in an attempt to conceal how much they trembled, once she gained the podium, the young Elf handed her a small, leather-bound signature tied with red ribbon. She untied the ribbon, opened the signature, laid it flat on the podium, and-

The hooded, robed man, who had accompanied her, pointed to a line at the bottom of the second page, handing her a quill. Something of the Man’s movements caused Doc’s belly to tighten, apprehensively.

‘Sign there. An ‘X’ will do, a symbol shaped like this-’ he demonstrated, with a movement of his hand.

She stared, in incomprehension.

‘Come, come, it is a simple matter,’ the man said. ‘Here,’ he tried taking the quill from her, ‘I will sign it, if you like-’

‘What sort of document is this? What does this mean, that I hereby cede all lands- Here! Let me read that!’

The man had snatched the document from her, chagrined.

‘Bring that document to me! Now!’ The Thane was on his feet, his thundering voice sending his aides scrambling into action.

Without thinking, reacting instinctively, Doc surged to his feet. ‘Look out! He’s armed!’

For a frozen moment the Man stared at Doc, from the depths of his robes, in disbelief. Snatching a long knife from his raiment, he turned towards Malina- only to find his way barred by armed guards. Before anyone could react, he turned and fled, disappearing through a curtain into an anteroom at the rear of the Hall, pursued by several soldiers.