Letters of the Dead [closed]

[Alecto]

We read the letters of the dead like puzzled gods –
gods nevertheless, because we know what happened later.
We know what money wasn’t repaid,
the widows who rushed to remarry.
Poor, unseeing dead,
deceived, fallible, toiling in solemn foolery.
We see the signs made behind their backs,
catch the rustle of ripped-up wills.
They sit there before us, ridiculous
as things perched on buttered bread,
or fling themselves after whisked-away hats.
Their bad taste – Napoleon, steam and electricity,
deadly remedies for curable diseases,
the foolish apocalypse of St. John,
the false paradise on earth of Jean-Jacques . . .
Silently, we observe their pawns on the board
– but shifted three squares on.
Everything they foresaw has happened quite differently,
or a little differently – which is the same thing.
The most fervent stare trustingly into our eyes;
by their reckoning, they’ll see perfection there.

Letters of the Dead
Wistawa Szymborska
Translated by Vuyelwa Carlin.

The Fury had set their departure for Dawn, but was up long before. Just outside the cave mouth she stood as the first rays of daylight slanted, thin and brittle, over the mountain peaks. As expected, she had slept a mere hour or two. Since then she had made small preparations for herself, trusting that Saalyn had taken care of the rest.

Alecto looked much different, this morning. She had traded the gauzy dress and baubles for clothing more appropriate for their purpose and the weather -- kidskin leggings and wool tunic, fur-lined boots and hooded cloak, leather bracers and chest-plate, all some variety of black. With the hood pulled up over her head, her face was cast in shadow, an effect which made her flame-bright irises seem to burn more fiercely. Around her hips was slung a well-tooled leather belt which supported her twin swords in ornate sheathes, on either side. These were visible, despite being no more than two feet in length, but the woman had other blades concealed in her wintery clothing. Hidden with these was the Sluagh’s amulet, which she wore around her neck, the note folded and stowed in her boot. She would not risk the trinket being discovered by some enemy, and felt it was her duty to protect it until she knew something more about its purpose.

Over one shoulder, Alecto carried a light pack, which contained a loaf of bread, some cheese, and a wineskin -- she had never been a picky eater, when on the move. The pack also enclosed a long dagger, which she intended to give to Saalyn if she had no weapons of her own, and a change of clothing, rolled up tightly. She had considered packing several vials of lethal poison, but decided that this would go over poorly if the Queen insisted their bags be searched. She did not want to be taken for an assassin (though she was one) on a diplomatic mission.

Looking up, the Fury perceived her travel companion emerging from the Unseelie Caverns. “Good morning,” she said gently, “Ready for the hike?” Her voice was very nearly cheerful, which signified great excitement, on her part -- most of her emotions were subtle ones, neatly concealed to the untrained observer. Alecto was happy to be taking steps toward an answer, and was further happy to return outdoors in warm clothing. She had obviously recovered from any animosity she held toward the other Sidhe, or perhaps her company would have dampened the dark fae’s mood.

“You look different when you aren’t covered in gore,” she remarked.

OOC: I figure you post the beginning of the journey, I'll conclude it, you start the entrance into the Seelie court, and then Annette jumps in? Please advise.

[Skylla]

Alecto's stomach churned. For a brief second an overwhelming nausea came over her, the urge to vomit strong. However, it quickly subsided.

[Saalyn]

Between the hours of her meeting with the King and the Princess, Alecto, Saalyn had been busy preparing herself for the journey to the Seelie Court. Upon returning to her own quarters, she had instructed her Garlanger servant to dispose of her blood-stained clothing and to gather what she would need for her travels. In the meantime, she took a long soak in a warm bath, relaxing both her body and mind while cleansing her pale flesh of what remained of the nimbus girl that Cel had disposed of, her conscious not bothered by the loss of life in even the most minute of ways.

Saalyn slept for only a short while, but once she awoke, she set to dressing herself accordingly for her winter excursion. Trading her usual business attire for traveling clothes, she now donned a thick pair of dark leather pants under a wool skirt that came down to just above her knees, it’s color a shade somewhere between pink and wine red. Her boots matched her slacks in color, their height concealed underneath the leather trousers. Covering her torso was a high collared, sleeveless top that tied up the front. It was also made of wool, it’s color matching that of her skirt. It might have appeared an odd choice for winter wear, but when once considered the long, leather gloves that the blonde wore to cover the entirety of arms, it didn’t seem quite out of place. These gloves had ties at their ends meeting somewhere under the material of her top to keep them from falling. Lazily draped across Saalyn’s waist was a fat leather belt with a large, silver buckle. Hooked onto the belt was a coiled, leather whip with a blade fashioned to its end—her only weapon of choice. Finally, she covered herself with a thick, hooded cloak. It was also made of leather, although the inside was lined with a softer, warmer material.

She grabbed the pack her servant had prepared, checking its contents for food and water, before she left the room and made for the entrance to the caves. As she approached, Saalyn could see a silhouette standing in the opening and assumed it could only be Alecto at this early an hour in the day. This assumption was proved true when the figure called out a greeting, one that the blonde fae returned in full.

”Oh? Better or worse, I wonder?” Saalyn playfully replied to Alecto’s final comment as she approached the other woman, squinting as both the sunlight and the cool winter breeze played across her face. She wasn’t much looking forward to traversing the cold, snow-covered land on two legs, but thought it would be rude for the pair to make the voyage to the Seelie court in silence because Saalyn preferred covering long distances in her mantel’s form. Besides, this would be a grand opportunity to get to know Alecto on a more personal level. There was a good chance that the woman would be serving in King Cel’s court as well, and having allies would prove advantageous in the future. Experiencing a little discomfort now seemed like a fair trade in the long run.

Stopping beside Alecto, the blonde continued to look out into the distance. ”I suppose I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” she stated before turning to meet the other’s gaze. She was about to say something more, but a sudden paleness had come over Alecto’s face. Reaching out from under her cloak, Saalyn gripped her by the arm. ”Are you sure that you are well?” she asked, her regenerative magic searching for illness but only finding minor remains from the woman’s earlier skirmish with the Nightflyers.

[Alecto]

Alecto blinked back her nausea, feeling her throat constrict and her mouth go dry. The amulet… she thought to herself, lifting a hand to her chest but resisting the urge to pluck the chain from her neck. Had she poisoned herself, by wearing it? But then the feeling subsided and the Fury straightened, noticing a new sensation radiating out from her arm, where Saalyn held her.

“Thank you,” she breathed, not meeting her eyes at first and not answering the question. Once she was sure the nausea had passed, she shifted her pack and began walking down the path. “Restoration?” she commented as they walked, by all appearances oblivious to the episode she’d had moments before. “A very useful Hand. My own Hand is less appropriate to my lifestyle, although it did serve me well in my scuffle with the hunter’s pets. I do hope those creatures scar…” Her jaw set at the memory, a look of both outrage and satisfaction washing over her face at the memory of her assailants’ wounds. Armed with a mere letter opener, she had gotten in her shots. What would become of those two if they encountered her now, with her blades by her side? Alecto almost hoped they would.

“I have been away a long time, it seems, and because of this I am full of questions. When did you arrive? How long has our King held the monarchy? It is a remarkable accomplishment for a faerie so young.” The downward slope of the path began to level as time passed, giving way to patchy forests and fields, dry and dead, where the last of winter’s snow clumped in glittering mounds. The sky was a translucent blue devoid of clouds, which made the day colder, but more pleasant nonetheless. “And what do you know of this Seelie Queen, Annette? I am sorry to bombard you with inquiry.” She smiled at her companion, cast her glance over the landscape, and casually removed the necklace, keeping the vial hidden in her fist. The trinket went into her pocket, where she felt painfully aware of it, as if it were a viper coiled there and not a chain. Then she remembered that she could easily eat a viper, and felt comforted.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JADED!!!

[Saalyn]

As soon as Saalyn had seen the sickness pass over Alecto’s face, it was just as quickly gone. Could it have merely been a moment’s apprehension on account of their impending journey? This woman did not strike Saalyn as the type to get the jitters before going on stage, and as Alecto brushed off the topic, the blonde sidhe stalled a moment before following a step behind her.

As they walked, Saalyn listened to the other woman’s words halfheartedly, her gray eyes fixed on the woman as she pulled her cloak closer around her body, blocking out the winter chill. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Alecto was keeping something from her, although she wasn’t sure what it could be. Was it something that could potentially put them in danger once they reached the Seelie Court? Surely Alecto was experienced enough to not make such a folly. After all, Saalyn thought, the King had sent this woman as her guard. He had faith in her, and Saalyn herself had said that she believed in her as well. If Alecto had something to hide, she would just have to trust that it was for a good reason.

"Yes, it is nice to have, although it makes me quite useless in a fight," Saalyn remarked on her own abilities, quickening her pace enough to walk alongside the other woman, "Once the skirmish is over, however, I am suddenly everyone’s friend." Here she smiled amusedly despite the hint of mockery in her tone. As a healer, Saalyn had become used to being seen as a mere tool to some of her fellow sidhe. It wasn’t like she could completely blame them, either. Why bother living in discomfort when you could have someone simply touch you and make it go away?

These thoughts were fleeting on the edge of her mind as she kept up with the conversation with Alecto. "What Hand did the maker bestow upon you that you find so ill-befitting?" Saalyn inquired. She would have liked to ask the details of Alecto’s fight with the Nightflyers more, but after what had happened at the mouth of the cave, she doubted she would be given a fulfilling answer. If she ever were to get the fiery-eyed fae to open up about what had happened—or speak of whatever it was Saalyn presumed she was hiding—she would have to work slowly at softening those erected walls of stone. The real question was whether or not Saalyn had the patients for such a task.

As they continued to walk through the relatively barren landscape, Alecto continued to chatter, this time asking about the political situation in Alanor. Saalyn fixed the woman with a quizzical glance, blinking at her rather than returning her smile, before she turned her eyes back to the path ahead. "Just how long have you been away from this world?" she commented more than questioned before she sighed and set to answering in the only way she could. "I hate to disappoint you, but I am not one that usually bothers with specifics in this eternal life. It matters not when King Cel became ruler of the Unseelie, only that he is ruler now, and our court is better for it. As for Annette…" Saalyn let her words trail as she looked to Alecto again, this time making sure to catch her eyes, holding them with her steely gray ones. "All I know of the Red Queen is that she is more violent a ruler than the Seelie have ever known. We will have to be particularly cautious when in her presence. If you are to be as curious then as you are now, we’d be better off if you leave the talking to me."

OOC: Thanks, Dema! <3

[Alecto]

“Havoc,” Alecto did answer this question, “Which is only misplaced because I am a subtle fighter, and it is not a subtle magic.” She did not add what she was thinking -- that she preferred to take her opponents down when their backs were turned -- because the explanation would likely be taken as a threat or a warning, of which it was neither. “When they came for me,” she continued slowly, answering Saalyn’s unspoken question, “I had only a moment to slow both of my attackers. This was...an unusual situation for me, and one for which my Hand was well-suited.”

After they had walked in silence for a time, and the Fury had finished her barrage of political questions (it was probably rude to ask such things, but she had no understanding of that kind of delicacy, and she needed the information in one form or another), Alecto reacted to Saalyn’s baffled stare, diplomatic response, and chiding warning with a laugh. Her laugh was always ironic, her amusement stemming more from some internal connection than actual humor. “I mean no disrespect to the King by my curiosity. It is difficult for me to say how long I have been gone -- twenty years, maybe, or two-hundred -- but the Unseelie monarchs I have known before him were all of considerable age. It takes time for the average fae to develop their power, after all -- not just effort. But I delight in details. It is the timeline I forget...” She trailed off at this thought, considering how all her memories were mashed into one fluid “past,” which had no real chronology because she was outside it...outside of time altogether. “As to Annette, there is no question that you should do the talking. I have trouble with the choreography, when the dancer in question is of no concern to me. And she, for all her indubitable power, is not my Queen.”

Alecto uttered this disrespect easily, in this no-man’s land between courts, with a mile or two left in their journey. She was too ancient to hold regard for court politics, really; they came and went as all empires rose and fell. The Fury had cast in her lot with the Unseelie because they were more forthright, and this aligned more closely with her own sensibilities. She respected and served her monarch and his courtiers because he represented this honesty, this unwillingness to hide the truth of oneself for the sake of appearances which could only break and fade. Perhaps she would have served Cel anyway -- he was interesting, after all, and he seemed strong both in body and conviction. These were things she could respect.

Saalyn, on the other hand, was an enigma. She could perform the steps as if she had written them, herself; perhaps she had. But she also kept her head, and that was a valuable thing in a person. She dealt with the problems at hand.

“Needless to say, I will keep my mouth shut,” Alecto murmured, as the Seelie court came into view in the distance. “And my eyes open, for Seelie tricks.”

[Saalyn]

Saalyn merely hummed her understanding when Alecto spoke of her magic. She had always wondered if a sidhe’s magic made them, or if the individual made the magic—did a person adjust to what was given to them, or were they given what fit them personally? If Saalyn had been dealt an offensive Hand, would she, in turn, be more aggressive than passive? Or would she merely have a better means to fight back when attacked? With her restorative magic, she had learned to use her wits over her physical prowess, and thus would probably be seen as weak in that regard compared to many of her fellow sidhe. But one thing Saalyn was sure of was the need of balance in the world, and so she chose to embrace the Hand she was given rather than debate over whether it was the right one for her or not.

Her attention was brought back to her companion when Alecto mentioned the attack, and Saalyn’s ashen-colored eyes were on her instantly, watching the woman’s face, searching for clues. She was silent for a moment after the other fae had finished, pondering as she looked back to the road ahead. ”You mean to say that you are usually the hunter and not the prey?” the blonde remarked, smiling subtly. Alecto did strike her as the type to take action rather than sit back and wait for something to happen, so she imagined that it must have been a trying situation for the woman, and decided not to pry any further for the time being.

As the pair continued to walk, the view of the Seelie Court, the eternally green forest, came into view. It was a stark contrast against a landscape crafted by the hands of winter, completely unnatural, and Alecto’s words were lost upon Saalyn’s ears as the blonde stared ahead. Her brow creased at the sight before her as she hugged her cloak closer to her body. Those Seelie fools were far too concerned with appearances, she thought, frowning. A concern for appearances could only lead to deceptions, hidden things, of which the Seelie were likely masters. The fact that her Court, her King, was quite the opposite was what Saalyn appreciated about them. The Unseelie didn’t bother with hiding the truth. Walking into this place would be like walking into a lie.

”And I appreciate that more than my words could ever express,” Saalyn replied to Alecto’s final comment as she returned to the conversation, sparing the woman a momentary glance before she turned back to the Seelie homeland that lay ahead. It seemed as if they were on a similar line of thought, and it managed to bring the blonde some comfort, if only a little.

Saalyn went quiet after that, and the two women proceeded in silence until they reached the outskirts of the Seelie Court. She had been pondering over the best means of handling the delicate situation of requesting an audience with the Queen since the eve of their departure, but now it was finally time to make a decision. ”Hold for a moment,” Saalyn asked of her partner, dropping to one knee as she removed both her cloak and her pack. ”I do not want to give them reason to suspect ill intentions,” she explained as she folded her cloak and placed it inside of her bag, removing her wineskin for a quick drink before putting it back, ”If I am to play the politician, I should look the part, no?” Grinning, Saalyn held the bag out for Alecto to take, and once it was out of her hands, resumed their trek to the Royal Palace.

Although Saalyn was sure she had visited the Unseelie Court before in her lifetime, it still felt like a strange and foreign place. She preferred the safe, enclosed caves of her Court to the tall trees whose branches formed a high canopy above the grass-covered ground, and every step she took felt as if she were sinking into the earth. It was an unsettling feeling, one that made her long for the stone floors of her home. The sooner they got out of this place the better.

Thankfully, finding the grand fortress was not a difficult task—even in this unknown forest it stood out like a candle in the depths of the Underdark—and swallowing her previous anxieties and discomforts, Saalyn approached the guards outside with a calm confidence. ”I am Princess Saalyn, Branwyn of the Unseelie Court. I have been sent by King Cel, Monarch of the Unseelie Court, with a message of great import, and request an immediate audience with your Queen.” Her tone was no-nonsense—she would save the true formalities for when they stood before Annette rather than waste her breath on these commoners.

Still, she watched carefully as the two guards exchanged glances, pleased to see one shift to station himself solely in front of the entrance as the other disappeared inside to relay her message, although her expression did not change. ”I do hope that you are ready,” she whispered to Alecto as she casually smoothed out the fabric of her skirt.

OOC: Sky, I don’t know if you want to go ahead and post with Annette before anything else happens…

[Queen Annette]

The guards did little but move aside, they had been placed there not to deter unwanted visitors but to act as the queen’s eyes. The Seelie would deny entrance to any who meant to do it harm, its natural magic a defensive barrier. No sooner did the Unseelie faerie step foot upon the emerald green grass of the Seelie forest the white lions appeared, their features looming and powerful, a stately gaze watching over a puffed out chest. They kept their distance, sensing the darklings had not come to make war but still watched with a healthy caution.

Alecto and Saalyn walked, the gossamer streams of reds, yellows and blues leading their way to the throne room. The lions walked too; alongside of them, their heads turned to watch the sidhe without ever once glancing forward to make sure no objects obstructed their pathway, they simply moved when they had to. Yet the Unseelie faerie wouldn’t need to make their way all the way to the throne room, for as they looked away they were greeted with the sight of the Red Queen, flanked by two guards, beaming as she walked towards them.

She looked as if she had been expecting company or as if she had just left a ball for she was dressed in a flowing white gown that was decorated in red gems. Her silken rose hair was done up, high upon her head. The men who walked with her were shirtless, both clad in breeches and carrying swords. Their sweat glistened in the sunlight and they both shimmered with a sidhe’s grace. She looked like a princess with her bodyguards. The image before them was certainly not that of a seasoned warrior, one who had written her name in blood and earned the most coveted title in all of faerie.”Welcome Unseelie faerie, to the Shining Court, I am Queen Annette, Princess of Blood and Striae. It is a pleasure.”[/b][/color]

[Alecto]

Alecto returned her companion’s smile, slinging the bag over her other shoulder – for a Sidhe, she had little regard for appearances, herself, and did not mind the temporary role of pack mule. Fury fell into step behind Diplomat, noting her sidelong glances at the surrounding, unnatural woods. It was an odd place, to be sure. Alecto felt strangely exposed, in spite of the canopy of trees. Could this forest really protect its inhabitants from a bitter winter? But it was warm, and the whole place bloomed as if it were the height of summer – false summer, for a false people. The Unseelie princess felt eager to accomplish their mission, and leave.

“I do hope you are ready.” Alecto smiled, or smirked…it was difficult to tell. She was curious about these people, and had lost the instinct to fear what was to come, long ago.

Saalyn announced them, the guards parted, the court opened up before them. The fortress stood out because it glowed like a candle, and Alecto stood out because she seemed crafted from shadow and ice – a stubbornly dark corner, defying the glitter of Seelie light. Her skin gleamed, in the way a knife point in the dark may gleam, but between her clothing and her coloring she embodied otherness, in this place. Even her eyes, which were bright in their own way, were the blaze of a wildfire, not the glow of a hearth. She quickly scanned the entry hall, noting the presence of the lions with quiet resolve; it was an interesting magic. As the Queen approached, Alecto took a moment to study her and her guard, before bowing in a way similar to her greeting of the King, standing just behind Saalyn and to her right. She waited for the Voice of their party to introduce them both, then rose, her posture easy but alert.

As promised, her lips were sealed.

[Saalyn]

Saalyn had wondered what it would be like walking inside of the Seelie Royal Palace. Perhaps she was even more curious on how keen of an eye the Seelie would keep upon a pair of Unseelie strangers, but she hadn’t expected to be escorted to the Queen by a pair of albino lions. Oddly enough, she wasn’t disturbed by their presence, or their constant stare, and aside from an initial curious glance in their direction, she paid little attention to them save for the direction they were leading.

They hadn’t traveled far inside of the fortress before the woman they were searching for presented herself before them. The appearance of Annette was as stark a contrast to Saalyn and Alecto as their respected kingdoms were to one another. The Queen seemed out of place amongst the lush greens of the flora that filled the fortress walls. Either that, or she was the solitary red rose in this magical garden the Seelie faerie called home. Saalyn didn’t like the imagery, and reminded herself that she would have to be careful to avoid the thorns that always accompanied such an enchanting beauty.

After Annette introduced herself, Saalyn bowed, although it was out of formality rather than any true respect. ”I am Saalyn, Princess of Restoration, Branwyn of the Unseelie, and my companion is Alecto, Princess of Havoc, Segna of the Unseelie. We have been sent by King Cel, monarch of the Unseelie Court, to inform you of a possible sighting of what I believe you refer to as the Host.”

Standing again, the blonde fae fixed her eyes upon the Red Queen, paying no heed to the presumed consorts that flanked her on either side. Saalyn wanted to get straight to the point, and to gauge Annette’s reaction to the news she was about to deliver. ”There have been rumors whispered amongst our people about strange noises coming from the forests near our Court, as well as reported spottings of fleeting creatures whose appearances are not quite like the fae you and I are accustomed to seeing,” she explained, her voice level as she tried to walk the fine line of informing without giving too much away, “Our King wanted to pass this knowledge on to you, Your Highness, and to ask if any similar rumors or sightings have occurred in your kingdom that you are aware of.”

[Queen Annette]

She frowned as neither woman made a comment about the men alongside of her, for they were beautiful specimens. For Annette, the greatest insult (or rather disappointment) was when she was trying to appear beautiful or lavish, and no one commented on it. It was a stark contrast to human norms where the mortal beings casually flitted around the fact that someone was trying to appear attractive, drop hints as if it were a guessing game. Annette had no need for flirtation, she took to her bed when she wanted with whom she wanted, and she expected to draw praise in the exact same fashion.

Though Saalyn did most of the speaking, Annette’s red eyes remained fixated on Alecto. The queen looked the woman up and down, but not with the catty glare of a woman, but with admiration, intrigue, and curiosity. She licked her teeth; the pale pink tongue visible as it flicked across the white ivories that sat like perfectly aligned tiles in her gums.

The Red Queen didn’t respond to Saalyn’s initial introduction, which perhaps was what prompted the Branwyn to continue on with her words before Annette inquired further. However, even as Saalyn continued Annette didn’t pry her glance from Alecto, still examining the sidhe. Saalyn was barely finished when Annette began to speak, her words nearly cutting off the darkling’s.

”Is your friend a mute?” She asked as she turned her head towards Saalyn. She doubted the King of the Unseelie had sent Alecto, the Segna of the Unseelie, as the sole guard to protect his Branwyn. It made sense that the Branwyn was acting as the messenger, not that the Segna was acting as the guard. The King must have had an ulterior motive for such actions, and Annette would find out what that motive was before she discussed any business with these creatures.

Besides, she wasn’t about to tell Cel what was going on in her court. Any predicament that involved her people did not involve the Darkling Throng, no matter how much they chose to share with her.

[Alecto]

Alecto could feel the Queen’s eyes on her, as much as she could see them. She met that gaze with her own, holding them in what was not a challenge, but an attempt to divine what insult the woman had obviously taken, and what interest she had in the darkling fae before her. By all rights -- by her beauty, formality, and rank -- it was Saalyn who should have been garnering the attention. But Alecto could tell she had drawn suspicion, and would have to quell it with words. It was a game she hated, but could excel at in trying circumstance. Her earlier comment to Saalyn had been exaggerated humility.

“Merely dazzled, your Highness,” she offered smoothly, in honey-dark notes, “Such radiance is rare, even among our kind.” Alecto was old enough to know that a hot-blooded Sidhe required flattery, more than reverence. And she could tell by Annette’s look that she would need appeasing, before any cooperation could be had.

The words had a sincerity to them, related to her choice of words; she was, in fact, dazzled by this glittering world in which the Seelie lived, and by its colorful queen. The Fury was not accustomed to this variety of opulence, and though it did not suit her personally, she regarded it with interest. The shadow of a smile spread over her face. It was an almost flirtatious expression, in appearance. But like most of Alecto’s projected emotions, it indicated a very different internal state.

For now, she left it at that -- enough speech to quell doubt, she hoped, and uphold her agreement with Saalyn. Inwardly, she questioned whether it would be wise now to divulge the attack without getting more information from the Seelie monarch, first. It seemed Annette was disinterested in their message, which Alecto found suspicious. But her eyes were open, as she said they would be; they had noted many things, already. For one, a distinct lack of higher court to advise her at the arrival of emissaries. Perhaps the Red Queen’s disinterest in their cause was a sign that she did not have a firm grasp of the reins.

[Saalyn]

Saalyn was quick to shut her mouth when the Queen began to speak, and she stood a little straighter upon hearing the other woman’s words. Annette’s eyes had been on Alecto for the entirety of her introduction, and now the Seelie monarch was inquiring about her as well. Had this woman already discovered that Alecto was more involved in this matter than simply relaying a message? How could that be possible? Was Annette aided by some Hand that Saalyn was unaware of? She had only stated that she was a Princess of Blood and Striae…An advisor, then? But speaking of advisors, just where were the Seelie Court members?

Ashen eyes shifted from the Red Queen from one side of her to the other. No, these men were not of the Court. They looked just about intelligent enough to know not to swing the swords at their waists at their own bodies. So, what could a lack of delegates indicate? A lack of leadership skills, perhaps, or maybe it was that Annette wanted to be the only Seelie with any leadership skills.

Hearing Alecto speak behind her, Saalyn got the impression that her partner believed the latter, and following the dark-haired woman’s intuition, moved to speak. ”As my comrade has stated, it should be of no surprise that anyone not accustomed to the beauty of Your Highness and her Court would be rendered speechless by their splendor,” she began with a smile, ”Or react in a way similar to my own—forgetting all manners on account of being overwhelmed by the beauty of it all. My apologies to you for any unintended rudeness, Your Highness.”

Again Saalyn bowed, somehow managing to keep a straight face while she cringed on the inside. Still, she kept her smile present when she returned to her previous position. She wanted to find out just where the Red Queen stood politically, and so she chose her next words carefully. ”Although we would be honored to be given the opportunity to speak with you on more leisurely topics, Your Highness, the matter that brings us before you is a pressing one,” she started, “It is not our intention to impose on you and your people for any longer than need be, but we are more than willing to patiently wait if you need to call your Court to discuss the situation involving the Host.”

[Queen Annette]

While the queen was one to accept flattery, her curiosity was not quelled by it. Her name was Reticent Fury, but so many of her emotions were reticent, calmed, and tempered. She often didn’t show that she was curious or contemplative, deferring to remain neutral or even the opposite of curious. Perhaps it was deceitful of the queen to pretend as if such flattery won her over easily, but she had learned long ago that her appearance came attached with connotations and stereotypes that while they harmed her public image, it hid her true motives. She was youthful, beautiful and seemingly susceptible to flattery, she was fine with that.

Annette nodded, grinning widely at their remarks. ”Your words flatter me, though true they may be.” Annette made no similar remarks about either of their appearances, declining to return their compliments. Though Annette knew their remarks were made in an attempt to win her over, she also believed what they said. The Red Queen was fairer than most fae.

She waved for them to follow her, turning her back as the guards at her sides moved to block her from any attacks from behind. She walked, leading them towards the throne room as she listened to Saalyn speak. She bobbed her head, affording Saalyn with the knowledge that she was listening despite the fact she never turned to face the Unseelie messenger.

They were still walking when she spoke, ”There is no situation involving the Host, Princess Saalyn. The Host are your problem. If they are violating the terms set by the darkling treaty then that is for you to deal with. I, on the other hand, have no time to deal with the lesser fae. And though I haven’t gotten wind of any “sightings”, as you call them, if the Host were to enter my court I would see fit to squash them like the roaches they are.” She laughed condescendingly; irritated by the words she spoke to the Unseelie beings. She stopped and turned to them, the guards parting so she could speak to the messengers face to face. ”If you had seen the Host, you would know, and they’re not known for being a peaceful bunch.”

[Alecto]

Alecto followed the Queen and Saalyn warily, casting her glance around the room and behind them in a distrustful manner. She did not take offense to the woman’s lack of compliments, but did find herself stiffening, a coiled spring, when Annette finally addressed Saalyn directly. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she attempted to discern whether this “Red Queen” sincerely thought that her Unseelie visitors had come simply to complain about troubles within their own court. It was an insulting prospect and a foolish assumption, and as usual, the Fury bristled at her obvious condescension. In Alecto’s eyes, the Queen had forfeited any right to the information they came to provide about the attack which had taken place outside the court, in unclaimed land, where surely her own people wandered from time to time. If the Princess of Blood and Striae wanted to risk her people’s safety for the sake of her own inflated pride, internal dissent would surely bring about her fall from power.

She smiled fleetingly, almost mocking, at the comfort in this thought. So full of assumptions, your Highness. I wonder what occupies your time so fully that you are unable to consider the danger lurking just beyond your influence...

Alecto suspected that it was her hairstylist's attentions.

“Then it appears our desire to warn your Highness is misplaced, as you are already so well informed of the Host’s nature. Forgive us for the intrusion.”

The words were soft, for it was in her nature to speak softly, but they veiled a current of distaste which was growing intolerable. Alecto, of course, had seen the Sluagh (the term “host” was growing bitter to her taste) and was quite aware of their capabilities. She was also sure that the attack had nothing to do with her court affiliation, as it had no regard for her purity of blood. Her glance flitted to Saalyn, hoping the Branwyn would see fit to end this little meeting. As far as Alecto was concerned, nothing more could be accomplished here, and they wasted time on this stubborn Queen. Let the Sluagh show her for themselves what plots were brewing in the woods.