Dark Tidings [Closed]

[Alecto]

When Alecto revived, it was vision that returned to her, first. Overhead, a night sky unobstructed by cloud and devoid of moon glittered with distant lights and washes of galactic colors. The mouth of a cave loomed at the very edge of her sight, which she supposed with relief was the door to the Unseelie Court. She turned her head toward it, and was met by the sudden return of feeling to her body, consisting principally in the awareness of extreme cold and damp. The slush in which she lay was quickly resolidifying with the deepening night, and her meager clothing was soaked through with melted snow. She slowly lifted herself onto her elbows, steadied, and reached up with one hand to wipe the dried blood from her face, stopping after the initial swipe to investigate the surprise contents of her hand. An amulet, it seemed – though, if it were a gift of the mysterious Nightflyer, one must wonder whether its purpose was to protect or destroy. In the darkness, Alecto could not discern the writing on the note.

Tucking the necklace into her clothes for the time being, the sidhe cautiously rose to her feet. It appeared the hunter had not harmed her, beyond beating her senseless with the flat of his sword and kicking in her face. Both these injuries had healed, leaving only the soreness of travel, her skirmish with the two beastly women, and her undoubtedly rough relocation. Perhaps Skylla had protected her, after all – or maybe the strange faerie merely had more use for her, alive. Alecto peered into the night, half-suspecting to see the golden glow of a sun god in the craggy mountain landscape, but perceiving nothing but silvery-blue snow, black trees, and night. Wincing imperceptibly, she turned back toward the Unseelie caverns, and began her descent into the Court.

It was a pipe dream that she sneak in unnoticed, in her disheveled state; the darkling throng had its fair share of night owls, and an entire fleet of servants who saw to the courtier’s nocturnal wants. But by some miracle, the first fae Alecto encountered was one she recognized: an ancient goblin by the name of Strilk, who had served in this court as long as she could remember. The garlanger paused when she caught sight of the woman.

”Strilk,” she said, her voice ragged from her ordeal, “Is there a chamber I may use, just for the night, to mend my appearance and rest? Nothing richly adorned or spacious…I will not impose on the court without proper introductions.” The goblin nodded, her eyes glinting curiously, and began to lead the sidhe through the labyrinth of corridors. The chamber Strilk chose was simple without being insulting; two small, adjoining rooms draped in carpets and lit with candles, a bronze bathing tub, a writing desk, and a modest but well-appointed bed. ”If you would, hot water….and some parchment. I must address the court but do not wish to disturb—“ she paused, realizing that she had not asked the current regent’s name.

“King Cel,” the goblin answered softly, and ducked out of the room. The tub was shortly filled and parchment brought, and Strilk even had the kindness to fetch the few belongings Alecto had left behind, from her last stay in Alanor. The Sidhe thanked her – an uncommon gesture to make for a servant, but theirs was a peculiar kinship – and asked to be left alone for an hour, to recover herself. In privacy, she stripped off the soaked and mud-matted clothing, and stepped into the comfort of blistering hot water, allowing weakness to take her and her body to shake violently; the effects of a beating and hypothermia. In moments, she knew, she would be fully recovered, but for now she felt a surge of rage at having been reduced to such a state for what seemed a crime committed in innocence. The Fury would not soon forget this transgression, though she felt her anger directed more at the female creatures, and less their leader.

After bathing and dressing – fully, for there would be no sleep tonight – Alecto set to writing. She addressed it to King Cel in perfect formality, leaving out nothing and yet adding no flattery, then proceeded directly to the point:

I regret to address You in this impersonal manner, seeing as we have yet to be acquainted. I was delayed in coming back to the Court by an unexpected ordeal in the Mists, about which I would have words with You, at your earliest convenience. I do not mean to impose, but to convey findings that may interest You and Your Court.

I am at Your service,
Alecto, Princess of Havoc, Seeker of the Unseelie

This she sealed with wax and trusted to the garlanger, who she knew would deliver it promptly to a more ranked servant of the court.

Getting long, so I'll elaborate further in the next post.

[King Cel]

Cel and Saalyn had emerged from his chambers, descended the stairs and were already making preparations to have audience with the court. They would have no such luck tonight. The doors to the throne room opened, the echoing of the large jade slabs of stone catching Cel’s attention immediately as he lifted his head to see the goblin Strilk making his way towards him, a piece of parchment clenched in his knotted grip. The goblin was old, respected even for a garlanger but had never made it to high court as far as Cel knew. Perhaps once the goblin had been a conri or even a segna, but those days were long gone. He managed the outer caverns now, the area closer to the mouth of the cavern where the commoners frequented.

The goblin bowed and handed Cel the paper, though the creature uttered words to the King, Cel ignored them in favor of taking the letter and turning to Saalyn. ”This is uncommon.” He said bluntly as he picked at the wax seal, a look of curiosity but cautiousness painted across his handsome visage.

He read the letter with a narrowed gaze and when he was done he found himself irritated by the ambiguity of the note. His eyes drifted towards the door but the goblin had already left, he would meet with the woman tonight. He sighed and allowed the Hand of Darkness to activate. He was the king of the shadows, and thus he could see all in the cover of the night. Images of faerie sleeping in their beds, others fornicating, danced in his mind’s eye until he finally found the woman, Alecto. He looked back to Saalyn, ”Come, we have matters to attend to.”

Cel strode from the palace quarters, moving with more purpose than he had all day. The King didn’t like mysteries, he preferred to know every detail at all times, so the vague letter that contained a story that was worth the king’s time, raised alarms with him. He moved down the corridors without taking note of anyone or anything in his way, it was perfectly reckless, but for a king who feared no one it was perfectly in character.

They arrived at the corridor soon enough, he knocked, ”It is King Cel, open the door.” His voice was stern, the voice of a ruler as he commanded her to act. He looked back to Saalyn and uttered, ”Though I hope this is nothing and I ring this sidhe’s neck for disturbing me, I do not like to be left ignorant of the happenings in my kingdom.”

[Saalyn]

Saalyn silently followed her King, walking a pace behind him as to not be rude. Although he had seemed to acknowledge her as being worthy of his presence, she wasn’t brash enough to go stepping over any political lines. After all, immortality could be a bitch if you pissed off the wrong people.

As they entered the throne room, Cel stopped abruptly, and it was only after sending the man a questioning look that Saalyn noticed the goblin entering through the doors across the room. It was with curious eyes that she watched the exchange take place—the goblin handing the King a letter before stalking away in its boorish, ungraceful manner.

She watched the King’s changing expression as he read the letter, and Saalyn could tell that he wasn’t pleased with whatever it said. When he ordered her to follow, the blonde sidhe did so without question, although her curiosity of the content of the note was burning at her insides. Just what could it have said that could get the King to act on it so quickly?

Eventually they came to a door, Cel pounding on its wooden surface and bellowing for the occupant to open it immediately. Saalyn wasn’t expecting for the man to turn to her when he did and she blinked in surprise before she answered.

“You said yourself that happenings such as this are uncommon, my Lord. Perhaps this person does indeed have important information for you.” Pausing, Saalyn gave the man a reassuring grin, “In the worst case scenario, they merely waste your time and you get another body to play with. It doesn’t seem all that bad to me.”

[Alecto]

Though Alecto did not know she would have only minutes, perhaps a half-hour to herself, she fortunately did not attempt to relax after dispatching her brief note to the King. Instead, she examined each of her belongings in the small pile delivered by Strilk (some clothes befitting the court, others designed for her nighttime hunting excursions, twin blades, a small cache of jewels), then scrutinized herself in a looking glass which seemed to be embedded into the cavern wall. Her reflection, as usual, surprised her. Alecto often forgot that she was beautiful, if in a startling, eerie way, and though she looked tired from the day’s events, her appearance was striking in her robe of black silk and gauze, and the earrings of golden disks which cascaded onto her collar bones. Her skin, which seemed forever cast in moonlight, was fresh from a recent scrubbing; her hair was almost dry, with a slight wave falling to her middle back. It was a comfort, to know that she was not wholly unpresentable, while a bit weary. She turned from the mirror and replaced her clothes, ornaments and weapons in the knapsack, pausing over the strange amulet which had been left to her by (presumably) the nightflyer. Her slender fingers unrolled the note.

For the Heir.

Odd. And troubling, but Alecto would not bring it to her King’s attention, yet. Who knew if he were the kind of regent to take a needless risk? And if she were to place a dangerous relic in her new leader’s hands, it could easily be misconstrued as subterfuge. No, the Sidhe would safeguard the necklace for now, until she had discovered something more of its heritage. She wrapped it in a bit of silk and tucked it deep in the pack, where it would not be discovered. And then, there was an unexpected knock.

“It is King Cel, open the door.”

The Fury’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. She had not intended to wake the King or take him from his other duties – that had been the purpose of the letter, to allow him time to schedule a meeting – and she had expected even less to host him in these temporary quarters. But if her King were impetuous, then she would oblige him, and hope he was not disturbed by council in these modest quarters. She moved to the door, all these thoughts having taken her only a fraction of a second, opened it. There the King stood, with a woman who Alecto presumed was an advisor or higher Court, both covered in what appeared to be blood. She would have laughed, for their gore-spattered appearances were in stark contrast to her rare cleanliness, and it was not often that she found herself on the opposite side of this comparison. Instead, Alecto met Cel's eyes briefly, considering their beauty, then bowed with one arm crossed over her middle; a gesture which betrayed her great age in its androgyny.

“I apologize, my King, both for disturbing you and for the ambiguity of my correspondence. I believed the goblin trustworthy, but did not want to risk my story being delivered into the wrong hands.”

Her voice, with its hour and a half of rest, was smoky, dark, and without a trace of emotion. Only her face showed her fatigue, the kind that a Sidhe could acquire solely through battle. She rose slowly, beckoned the pair in with an extended arm. Alecto wanted to verify that the woman was indeed some trusted confidant of the King’s, but assumed they would be introduced briefly. Until then, she waited upon the man’s response.

[King Cel]

Cel stepped past Alecto as she still bowed, studying her chambers with a trained eye. One might have thought Cel’s scrutinizing gaze was due to the fact the quarters were hardly fit for a King’s comfort, but really, the adjudicator cared more for security than anything else. While Cel himself was a master of espionage, a prying eye in the darkness that spanned all of Alanor, he was very cautious when it came to his own secrets leaking out to the public. If the information that Alecto had to share with Cel was truly important as she had deemed, then it was most likely something Cel would keep between the close circle of himself, Alecto, and Saalyn.

It might have seemed odd that he was allowing Saalyn to accompany him, but the sidhe had proven that she was loyal to the Unseelie. If what Cel believed was true, he was the best ruler for the Unseelie, and thus, Saalyn would be transitively loyal to him.

Cel turned back to Alecto and Saalyn once he deemed the room safe for them to speak in. ”Yes, I understand. Though I hardly am the patient type, especially when pressing issues await.” He turned fully now, facing them, noting the beauty of the two females before him without any outward sign. Cel was not the type to be seduced by beauty and beauty alone, for as previously shown, his preferences were not standard when it came to his lovers. Though he would have delighted in a bit of bloodletting with the sidhe Saalyn, he doubted he would ever act on such urges. Alecto, however, was a different story…

The King realized that in the blur of things he hadn’t introduced Saalyn to Alecto, which would most likely prolong the delivering of whatever news Alecto had. Thus the King promptly spoke, ”Princess Alecto, this is Princess Saalyn, her and I were in the midst of a meeting when I received your request for an audience. She is trusted and whatever you have to say, she is privileged too as well.” The King was about business now, he wasn’t a patient man and it was certainly showing.

[Saalyn]

When the door swung open, Saalyn’s pale gray eyes fell upon the one that was responsible for the letter to King Cel. She was a beautiful woman, wearing black robes and a fatigued expression, neither of which the King seemed to have noticed as he walked straight into the room, past the woman and her attempt at formality. The blonde sidhe couldn’t help but smile at the exchange—or lack thereof—as she stepped inside, giving the other woman the slightest nod of her head in acknowledgement before she turned, checked the hallway for any passersby, and upon seeing that the area was clear, closed and locked the door behind her.

Once the King had introduced her, Saalyn turned her full attention to Alecto. ”And whatever you have to say had better be worth our King’s time,” she added to Cel’s instruction. Though it was said in the calmest and most pleasant of manners, delivered with the ghost of a smile even, Saalyn’s eyes spoke differently. Her building excitement danced across her silver irises, pleading for a good story, not wanting to be disappointed. But there was also a hint of a warning as well, speaking of the dangers should Alecto’s urgency have been unnecessary.

Maintaining her position by the door, Saalyn crossed her arms and ankles. She didn’t particularly fancy herself a sentinel—being capable of fighting with physical prowess wasn’t one of her usual concerns—but the least she could do was keep an ear to the door should any unwanted visitors try to eavesdrop on the impending conversation. And if Alecto tried to run…Well, perhaps she would at least be able to slow her down, if only a handful of seconds.

”Our Lord’s time and attention are precious things, Princess Alecto,” the blonde sidhe continued now that all of the standard procedures seemed to be done, ”Speak quickly, but efficiently.”

[Alecto]

As the King and his confidant entered her half-way house, Alecto followed the former’s eyes placidly, unperturbed by his careful scrutiny of their surroundings. It made sense that he would be cautious – in her mind, he was taking a needless risk coming to her instead of summoning her to him – and for all any of them knew, the strange woman was an assassin sent by the Seelie to dispatch him in the dark. In fact, Alecto was an assassin of a sort, but very few would be able to discern this about her from the simple intensity of her gaze, which rarely blinked and which seemed hungry in a way that was less lustful than animal. These burning eyes settled on his face again once it was turned to her, concluding several things about him by the way he looked at his company and how he carried himself. She would have known he was impatient without being told, but listened to his introduction politely, and (again politely) turned her face to Saalyn in a nod.

Their interaction would have ended at that, had the woman not taken this opportunity to speak. The Princess’ words gave the Fury a moment’s pause; first, because their warning was thinly veiled, and second, because the threat of retribution by another’s power was something Alecto found to be simultaneously condescending and sycophantic. She stared intently into the smiling eyes, not smiling in return, and deducing that Saalyn was after something for herself – a title, perhaps…consort? Ambition was the other Sidhe’s prerogative, and Alecto could forgive her that, but she did not appreciate the affectation of rank that had slipped into the Princess’ voice. It was unwise to assume another to be inferior to oneself, without due inquiry.

But again, these thoughts and the brief exchange between them was moments long, perhaps a second in full. Her eyes had flashed their own warning, in their flames, but her face retained its immovability, and she soon faced the King again, without a trace of annoyance.

“Then I will give you the abbreviated version, first. In the mists I encountered what I can only think to call a Sidhe Nightflyer, accompanied by two remarkable beasts that were not faerie and certainly were not mantels. They attacked me, unprovoked. If that news does not seem a waste of my King’s time, I will happily give you every detail. But perhaps you have already heard of such creatures inhabiting Alanor, and my tale is not so pressing as I first thought.”

The words were delivered without any rudeness – she sincerely wished not to encroach on the regent’s duties, regardless of her feelings about Saalyn’s comments – and this sincerity was evident in her voice.

[King Cel]

Cel smirked; Saalyn chided Alecto, already sounding like one of his dignified advisors, his confidants who were not only responsible for helping him make decisions but also for keeping him happy. With the court’s judgment looming in the near future, the way Saalyn was carrying herself would only find her seated amongst the high court. She was a perfect contrast to Cel’s passion, the logos to his ethos.

The King did note Alecto’s response to Saalyn’s words. She responded accordingly, as he would have, with a challenging gaze that did not take kindly to being warned as if she were inferior. The King continued to smirk, looking between the two females who were now more like the rattlesnake and the mongoose than faerie. It would be interesting to see the relationship between these two should they both find a place amongst his court.

Almost immediately the King’s countenance changed, as talk of what had brought them all together resurfaced. He turned his head to Alecto, eager to hear what she had to say. Though Cel was wary of his conspirators, he could have never guessed the new Alecto brought could have anything to do with faerie that were not within his court. Had she brought him a plot from his enemies he would have been thrilled, but instead he found himself listening intently with a troubled look slowly creeping into his features despite his best efforts.

”Details, Alecto.” He said harshly in a hushed voice, he stepped towards her, ”Did the nightflyer have a name? What did these other creatures look like? How did you escape trance?” Evidently Cel thought the news was important enough, for with each question he seemed to become more urgent in wanting a response.

[Saalyn]

Saalyn hadn’t expected Alecto to be so on edge. The look the other woman had sent her had been quite a hostile one, more so than the one Saalyn had sent her to begin with. It seemed she had offended the dark-haired woman, although it hadn’t entirely been her intention. Saalyn didn’t think of herself as better than Alecto—she didn’t know the woman well enough to jump to such a conclusion—instead she wanted to make sure that Alecto paid their King the respect that he deserved. After all, the man had immediately responded to her letter despite having other matters to attend to, and the accommodations she was providing him were already lacking in both aesthetic and safety. If this mysterious woman decided to insult Cel any more, Saalyn really would give her a piece of her mind.

But, in the meantime, if the fiery-eyed woman wanted to jump to unnecessary conclusions and be upset about them, then Saalyn would let her. At least, that was what Saalyn attempted to convey in the return glance to Alecto as she stifled the urge to roll her eyes at the other woman (which certainly would be adding salt to the opened wound).

When Alecto began to speak, however, the emotions in the small room shifted dramatically. She spoke of nightflyers, foul beings that Saalyn had heard of, but thankfully never encountered, as well as some other unknown creatures that had attacked her. The King seemed bothered by the news, and even the usually stoic blonde stiffened at the tale.

”And where exactly did this attack take place? Could they have followed you?” Saalyn added her own inquiries to Cel’s rapid succession of questions. It was a problem if these creatures were in the far depths of the Mists, but it would be a threat if they were already at its edge, creeping closer to the Unseelie Court.

[Alecto]

If Alecto had noticed the look Saalyn had given her in return, the Fury gave no sign. She was absorbed in more pressing matters now than her own pride, and the King's concerned response only heightened her awareness of their import. At his string of questions, she could only nod as she allowed him to finish -- many of them were unanswerable -- but after Saalyn's interjection, Alecto again provided answers.

"I will tell you everything I know, My Lord, but sadly the faerie's name is not among them. As for whether the creatures followed me, I'm afraid they would have had no need -- they were already quite familiar with the Unseelie's location, and may be here even now. However, I doubt they would remain here long, unnoticed, and further doubt that they would bother."

She paused for a moment to allow these details to sink in. Both of her companions looked tense, and Alecto could not say she blamed them; in fact, it seemed more surprising that she, herself, did not feel worried. Perhaps it was fatigue, or the fact that the Nightflyer had spared her, but the Sidhe felt only curiosity about the incident, now...with the slightest touch of vengeful anger.

"Allow me to explain, she continued, as gently as she was capable, obviously trying to sooth the pair's sense of immediate danger while preserving the general gravity of the situation, "I encountered them deep in the high woods, which run up the sides of our mountains. They were hunting -- what, I cannot say -- and I was alerted and drawn to their presence by the sound of the leader's hunting horn. When I finally glimpsed them, I was surprised to see that the hunter was a beautiful Nightflyer, by appearance a pure-blooded fae with the exception of the characteristic wings and tentacles. He was golden-skinned, like some of the more ancient Sidhe, and carried himself with poise and power. The two creatures, on the other hand, were hideous; leather-skinned, rat-tailed creatures which shared their leader's variety of wings. They were strong beasts, and swift..." she peered into the King's face as if she could see them there, remembering how unbelievably fast they had been, "Swifter than anything I have ever seen, my King. They darted through the tree-tops as if propelled by some unnatural force. But when I saw them, they were still, gathered around a fire of blue flame."

Alecto was surprised she remembered this detail. At the time, she had been so focused on memorizing the beings' appearances that she had not given a second thought to the fire. But now, it seemed highly significant to her that whatever the trio had been hunting was a creature of magic...perhaps faerie.

"The Nightflyer touched the flames and was not burned, remarked on them as if they had some relation to the object of their hunt. I was in my mantel's form, still as a stone, but the Nightflyer realized my presence then, and sent his creatures after me. Having brought only a small dagger, I could only defend myself so long before they subdued me. Why the Nightflyer only robbed me of my consciousness, and not my life, is a mystery...as is his leaving me here, at the entrance of your court."

She turned her face to Saalyn, then. Her expression was businesslike, their exchange forgotten at least for the moment. "He said I 'must be without trance,' for what it is worth. That leads me to believe his target is not the Unseelie court, at large. But any being that shares Alanor with us, particularly without our prior knowledge, should be cause for questions."

[King Cel]

Cel remained silent, his narrowed blue eyes portraying enough emotion so that words were unnecessary. He was focused in his listening, as if he meant to memorize every detail so that he would not miss anything of importance. The King might have portrayed a worried façade but truthfully his feelings toward the situation had morphed from anxiousness to confusion. As Alecto dictated the events to him with an uncanny eye for detail, Cel found he was more and more familiar with the creatures she had seen, though their intent was what confused him.

He lifted a hand to stroke his chin, a contemplative gesture that should have put Saalyn at ease, as it was apparent he was no longer as anxious to hear the news despite the fact that Alecto still continued on with the story. Though Cel continued to listen, his gaze wavered, faltering to the ground as he hypothesized silently. If they hadn’t thought Cel knew what they were dealing with, they would certainly get that feeling now.

Upon hearing Alecto’s voice quiet, Cel let out an audible sigh. Slowly he lifted his gaze to meet that of Alecto’s before he glanced towards Saalyn and then back to Alecto, ”And that is all? They left you with nothing but these details to remember them by?”To Cel, the story seemed odd, but not because they had aggressively attacked the sidhe then let her go without any repercussions, but more so because he thought he knew what had attacked her. The creatures he assumed they were dealing with were indeed hunters, but they did not leave any they revealed themselves to alive. More times than not, who they revealed themselves to were who they hunted.

He lowered himself into a chair, resting his chin on his fist. He thought for a moment; what should he share with these women? He’d be brief, for while he did have his gut feeling, he wasn’t sure enough to deal in absolutes with his words. ”No creatures aside from the faerie inhabit Alanor, Alecto.” He said as he sat up straight, his voice filled with assurance, ”The portals would not allow it, nor would the Fate Skylla. The creatures you saw were, in fact, faerie. The man you described was most definitely a nightflyer…and the females, I’m not so sure, but they are likely to be his kin. For your sake Alecto, I urge you not to investigate the matter any further nor share this information with anyone. I will send word to the Seelie, see if they know anything of this nightflyer.” Cel’s voice fell away to quiet thought. His eyes studied Alecto, he couldn’t understand why they had allowed her to live to relay the message back to the King. He would investigate the matter himself.

[Saalyn]

Saalyn drew a breath, her burning lungs alerting her that she had been holding it for the majority of Alecto’s recollection of her encounter with the Nightflyer. It was a haunting tale, making the woman feel quite relieved that it had happened to Alecto and not to her. The thought of them switching places made her want to shiver, but she fought off the impulse, and instead she began to fidget with the ring on her left hand, spinning the silver band with her thumb. The old habit served as the only outward sign of her concern, aside from the creases etched into her brow.

”Why would they bother bringing you back here…?” the blonde sidhe whispered, speaking more to herself than her companions. But then she looked up, made eye contact with them both, and strengthened her voice so they could hear what she had to say next. “It seems like quite an effort for your attackers to deliver you to the front steps of the Unseelie Court, and I would not imagine it to have been for courtesy’s sake.”

Saalyn sighed, and leaned back against the door with her arms and ankles still crossed. She had only just been given the news, but trying to come up with plausible conclusions as to why it had happened was already draining her. Perhaps it was all of the unknowns—meandering around in the dark had never pleased Saalyn that much, as alluring as the excitement could be. The current situation was not one she would classify as an appealing mystery.

”If these creatures are anything like the stories I’ve heard, it’s a wonder that you’re not dead, Princess Alecto,” the blonde added after a slight pause, trading glances with her compatriots, “Everything seems far too intentional to me. If they weren’t planning something for you immediately after the attack, surely they have something in mind for the future. But they had to have known that you would likely inform someone of what happened…What reason would they have to wanting their presence known?”

Saalyn turned her ashen eyes to her King, hoping that the man would have some kind of insight since he seemed familiar with the creatures.

[Alecto]

“I do not doubt your resolve as to these creature’s faerie heritage,” Alecto affirmed, continuing to stand tall before him with the air of a soldier at attention, “One of my first thoughts, based on the resemblance of traits between the women and the man, was that these creatures may be the source of the Nightflyers’ corruption. But the hunter’s appearance was unlike that of any garlanger I have seen, and what faerie of dilute blood would dare attack a Sidhe? Furthermore, how did they know that I belonged to this court?” She watched the King’s face for signs of a hypothesis, noting how carefully he seemed to consider his words. “They obviously intended for me to deliver this news to you – as a warning, perhaps…or a threat. But the nightflyer seemed to strike me with regret…” Alecto suddenly remembered another detail, one she had forgotten until now. She continued in a hushed voice: “He apologized to me, before knocking me senseless.”

This detail was enough to break some of the Fury’s resolve. She stared into space, demanding answers from it, and paced a few steps back and forth. Where Saalyn appeared to be drained by the effort, Alecto was animated by it, overcoming some of her physical weariness with passion. “I appreciate your concern, my King, and will certainly not disobey your commands. But how can I rest when this mystery remains unsolved? I have lived a long time. I have watched kingdoms rise and fall, and stalked many enemies in the night. In my millennia of hunting, I have never met with such an adversary as this Nightflyer, who dealt with me both harshly and with strange, inexplicable tenderness. Please let me see this through, in whatever way I can. If you do not wish me to seek answers in the woods, and test these creatures’ power at the point of a sword, then I beseech you to send me as your messenger to the Seelie, where at least I may compare details.” Here she paused, studied the King. “And if you have even the shadow of a theory, my Lord, I beg you to share it.”

She took one knee before him, in order to look up into his face. There were unspoken questions there, she felt – intuitions, perhaps. “I understand that it can be unwise to present an idea before it is fully formed, especially when your council is new to you, and unproven. But my loyalty has lain with this court a long time, and now that it is yours to command, it lies with you. Whatever words you ask me to safeguard will never pass my lips unless required by you.”

OOC: sorry to ignore ya, Jaded. I promise I won't in the next round.

[King Cel]

The King nodded in response to her proclamation of loyalty, ”The creatures that attacked you are the Sluagh. They live in the Underdark, and the Unseelie monarchs have allowed them to for ages.” He glanced at Alecto, a troubled look in his eyes that he did not often convey in his expressions. It was not rare for the king to show confusion, but true worry was out of the ordinary. ”The Sluagh would not risk war with us, our pact keeps them from being expelled from Alanor. Without Alanor they would fade into nonexistence.”

Feeling restless and unable to sit, Cel stood, running a hand through his hair in an exasperated fashion. He paced to the furthest corner of the chamber, looking around for something to take his frustration out on. Finally, his eyes settled on a letter opener. He picked up the knife and repeatedly slammed it into the top of the dresser that was placed alongside Alecto’s bed. He hacked at the piece of furniture for a few moments, his face live with emotion. Eventually he stopped, and the calm, almost eerily serene look passed over Cel’s face.

He fixed his hair and leaned against the wall, smiling at the two women before him. He spoke to Saalyn first, ”Saalyn, you will be made Branwyn upon next judgment. As a delegate, you will travel to the Seelie, for one night only, to relay the message of what has transpired to Queen Annette.”

He then shifted his focus to Alecto, ”For now, I will make you my Segna, and you too will travel to the Seelie Court. But you shall only be traveling with Saalyn as a precaution, a bodyguard if you will. You are not to share that you were the sidhe who was attacked, and you are not to relay any details to the queen. Though we must share our knowledge with the Shining Throng we must not put ourselves at a disadvantage when dealing with delicate information. They are creatures of deceit, anything we tell them they may use as weapons against us.”

Cel didn’t like the idea of sending two of his allies to the Seelie Court, but it was necessary. If the Sluagh posed any threat to the true faerie and Cel did not take the necessary precautions to warn his Shining brethren, then he would face dangers the likes of the Seelie and the Sluagh combined could not concoct. He made his way towards the exit of the chamber. He turned, ”Leave as early as possible and return as early as possible, time spent in the Seelie will drain you. Also, refer to the sluagh as “the Host”, the term sluagh offends the Red Queen.” Cel offered no more advice or instructions, and left the chamber. He’d be doing his own investigation, the likes of which Alecto and Saalyn could not be a part of.

[Saalyn]

OOC: I…I got doubly ignored T_T

Saalyn stood by silently as Alecto and Cel continued to talk, focusing intently on what the two had to say in hopes that some of Alecto’s story would begin to make sense. Unfortunately, it didn’t. First she had been viciously attacked, but then her attackers had been merciful. And then there was King Cel—first nervous, then calm, then violently anxious. Saalyn didn’t bat an eye when the man began to unleash his frustration upon the dresser. She just watched until he was finished, though she wasn’t sure if she should be more worried about the mysterious Nightflyers or her King’s sporadic shift in mood about them.

Before she could come to a conclusion on the matter, Cel was looking at her, telling her that she would be the one visiting the Seelie Court to see if they had any information about the creatures now that she had been appointed as Branwyn. Saalyn traded the grin that threatened to spread across her face for an understanding nod, honored by both the title and the trust her King apparently had in her. Apparently she had done something right to gain his favor, and she would be sure to repay his kindness with her continued loyalty.

But it didn’t seem that she would be going alone as in the next breath Cel instructed that Alecto would be going with her. Her gray eyes shifted toward the other woman momentarily. The thought of the expedition was an exciting one, for sure, but the idea of going by herself admittedly made her a little nervous. That being said, Saalyn was certainly comforted by the fact that she wouldn’t be going to the Seelie Court on her own, though she showed no outward sign of her discomfort or her following relief.

When the King made in her direction, Saalyn pushed herself off the door, opened it, and bowed as the man departed. ”As you wish, my Lord,” she stated as he passed, only returning to her full height once he was gone. Immediately she turned her gaze to Alecto and offered a smile. ”It would seem that you have garnered our King’s trust, and if he finds you trustworthy, then so do I,” she informed the woman, hoping that it would alleviate some of the earlier tension that had sparked between them.

”I know that you have just retuned from an awful and tiring ordeal, but as the King has said, it would be best if we leave sooner rather than later,” Saalyn continued, turning her full body towards the other fae, ”I believe that you are more knowledgeable in the subject of travel than I am, though. What supplies do you think we will need for a day’s journey? If there is anything we need to gather, I can do so while you rest a while longer."

The blonde paused, chuckled quietly to herself, and reached up to pick off some of the dried blood that remained on her face. "Plus I wouldn’t mind taking a bath and finding a change of clothes before we depart. Somehow I do not see the Seelie Court being particularly welcoming to an Unseelie covered in blood.”