"Mmm. I suppose my usual response of threatening to cut out their tongues should they say so a second time wouldn't be very useful for you." There are no good, satisfying ripostes for such callous bigotry for elves, not if they mean to sit at the table and fight for their own slices of policy and power.

It is a bullshit situation, all told.

"But I can at least teach you more than enough fancy steps in the dancing. I know all the court dances- they especially do not know what to do if you attempt to lead." A beat. "So I'll be teaching you how to lead."