Magic World (working title): Chapter 9 part 10

"Hallo lov'" he said. "I trust you know who I am?"

Bernard looked around. It was a combination meat and sandwich shop. Behind the counter were a man and a woman both wearing long, blood spotted aprons, were watching them, glancing nervously around at each of them, especially the orc. The man, who looked about 50 or so, was holding a rag to his forehead, just above his left eyebrow, which was stained brown, fading to red with blood. He was holding the woman, obviously his wife, with his free arm. She was calm but obviously furious. This explained why no one had called the cops yet.

Bernard didn't hurt people unless they tried to hurt him, so it was galling to him that these people should use force just to make a point, and instill fear.

But he held his tongue, and continued his scan of the room, as if looking for an escape route or threats.

Finally he looked back at the elf. His skin was the dark, dusky grey, with just a  of his kind, not perfectly black as most people seemed to think, just like albinos are not always perfectly white, there's always just that hint of flesh-tone, or pink from the blood underneath. In albinos it made them look a very pale pinky-flesh tone. In dark elves it looked ever so slightly purple.

He started to answer, "You're the D-" but he knew that completing that word would be the wrong thing to do. So instead he started over and said very deliberately, "You're the Dark Elf."

"Ahh," said the Dark Elf. "It's an uncomfortable word isn't it? There are some names people fear to say. Satan," he snorted, "Voldemort," he rolled his eyes, "Deimis & Phobos are names that mean fear. But the name I choose is feared because people don't like how we react when they say it. Even thinking it makes people uncomfortable. It's an insult. Feels like you're saying 'slave,' doesn't it? C'mon. You can say it. Just this once. A freebie."

Bernard knew he wasn't getting out of it. He was going to have to say the name. The truth was though... he was right. The very thought was sending shivers down his spine, but he couldn't show any emotion. Even so, he felt the little muscles around his eye twitch slightly as he said, "Drow." It felt perverse. Like calling an African America the "N-word."

"Ah you pronounce it like 'now' instead of 'grow' eh?"

"I hadn't really ever given it any thought."

The Drow smiled. "Good answer."

**********************************Chapter 9 Part 11