Queen's Quest

Chapter 10

Chapter Ten Queen's Quest Family Odious

The news that they were going to be taken back to Isseth did not go over well with our guests. Everything from "We've got things to do, "We're being kidnapped," "Are we being arrested?" to, "This isn't right, you have no right to do this." All fell on deaf ears, and speaking of ears, we discovered that most of the Fae on earth had had their ears "bobbed" as they called it to avoid undue attention from the humans. At first, this was received with horror, but when things were explained, it became apparent that is was merely a survival device. For all of her obvious faults "The Morrigan," as well as Ciara explained to us in careful detail how hard it was for the Fae to remain unnoticed in the human world. Captain Demlin as well as his investigative team in extensive interviews with members of both factions began to see how the seeds of hatred had been sown towards the humans because of these facts. It was very hard for us to truly understand what our "cousins" had to endure, but it also became clear to those of us that held extensive interviews that there really was no "good" or "Bad" side here. It was true that "The Morrigan" along with her minions had been working up a war between the two factions and it was very fortuitous that we had intervened when we did, Commander Siofra and the other witches all admitted that they were only able to defeat the Garuda by the slimiest margin, and that it wasn't completely dead, and that they were under no illusions that "The Morrigan" would waste no time in attempting to revive it.

In the end, Captain's Demlin and Giyax threw up their hands and shook their heads, "We're kicking all of this "upstairs," Our rulers as well as the Guild can deal with this Queen Kolee will make short work of all the lies and deceit we've been getting," Demlin told us at officer's call, "She and the Guild will get their minds right in short order, we're heading home."

Not long after we began our journey home Brie sent word that she wished to meet with Commander Siofra and myself to talk about her situation. We consented but made sure we had hidden recorders on ourselves as we had no idea what she might say. Meeting in a small room, she appeared to be stressed out and afraid.

"I really need someone to talk to," she lamented, "The dark side hates me "The Morrigan" would love nothing better than to kill me, I know the Light side hates me as well although they won't admit it. Because I have a human friend and live in the human world all of them consider me a risk and one that should be eliminated. I've tried to begin a relationship with Dayson, but I see the distrust in his eyes as well, I'm at the end of my rope, I don't know what to do." Commander Siofra smiled at her and quietly replied,

"Why don't you tell us about yourself Brie, we've listened to the likes of "The Morrigan" as well as Ciara, this man called Trick, and "The Nain Rouge, tell us about yourself."

Brie frowned and collected her thoughts,

"I grew up in an adopted family who only revealed this after I…Uh killed my boyfriend after we had s*x, I didn't mean to I don't know what happened, this happens every time I make love, I…I don't know what's going on, they tell me I'm something called a succubus, I have abilities that scare the crap out of me. I'm just trying to find out who my real parents were, my mother…"

"Relax Brie," I soothed, "We'll help you, we're not clear what's really going on with the Fae back on earth but certain things are starting to become apparent.

"

Well, Doctor Keirin examined me and told me I'm a succubus and that she might be able to help me with the problem of killing my lovers."

"Who's this doctor Keirin?" asked Commander Siofra.

"She's a human doctor working for the light Fae, she knows all about the various sub-species of Fae, who we are, she's a scientist as well." Siofra and I looked at each other, and frowned, a human doctor working for the Light Fae…Interesting.

"Well, anyway," continued Brie, "I want to use my powers to help people, is that so wrong?"

"No, not really," replied Commander Siofra, who then asked, "This doctor Keirin, is she part of the group that came on board."

"Oh no," replied Brie, these are just the elders, but I think there's more I've heard names mentioned, but they didn't come." Again Siofra and I frowned at each other, more interesting news, again more double-dealing and deceit.

"So you're trying to find your own way between these two factions," I asked, tell me is the Fae community very large on earth?" Shrugging, she replied,

"I'm not really sure, nobody will tell me anything I'm trying to find out about my real parents and I know they know, but they just won't tell me."

"How about this Trick fellow," asked Commander Siofra, "Do you think he knows?"

She shrugged again,

"Maybe…Yeah, I think he does, but he tells Dayson to stay away from me, he runs a bar in London called the Dal Riata it's where Fae of both factions can gather under a truce." Commander Siofra turned to me and said,

"By the way, apparently this Trick fellow is legitimate, the "Blood Sage" thing is as well, even though I've never heard of it. Captain Giyax asked around and one of his dwarves engineers told him it was a title given to very magically inclined dwarves a very long time ago, but that's about all he could tell the captain, so I'm sure old Trueblood will be able to put someone on that once we get back home." Continuing with the interview, I asked Brie,

"We are going to level with you Brie, your fellow Fae have been less than honest with us, Commander Siofra here is a senior member of the Witches Guild, she and six other witches were able to defeat the Garuda. The Guild takes a very dim view of that sort of thing, I think some of your fellow Fae are going to have a lot of hard questions to answer when we get back to Isseth, if you're considering choosing a side be very careful, be…Very careful."

"That's right," added Commander Siofra, "The Guild hasn't conducted a good inquisition in a very long time, "The Morrigan" might find herself the new "Queen of the Cantard," if she doesn't get her mind right."

"What's this Cantard you keep threatening us with," inquired Brie.

"Quite simply a wasteland," replied Siofra, "It is however transgressors, criminals and the occasional Orc eak out a living, the worst of society live there, but it's better than life in a dungeon. Surprisingly many find redemption out there, if they can last the first month chances are they'll make it, we send our novices out there for a period of time it sounds cruel but it toughens them up, and we don't place them in the worst areas, pretty much all who go are in medical training as well so their expertise is welcome, you don't mistreat someone who can save your life."

"When you say witches," asked Brie, "Do you mean women who go around riding on broomsticks and wearing black robes and pointed hats?"

Again Siofra and I looked at each other then at Brie,

"Say again."

After more explanation and chat it was clear Brie had been thrust into a society she didn't understand or feel comfortable with, threatened from both sides all she wanted to do was find her place and fit in helping those in need along the way. It was clear she had no use for Fae politics of any kind, finally at the end of our discussion Commander Siofra said,

"When we get to Isseth, the Guild will help you to find the answers Brie. At some point you will speak with Queen Kolee as well as Malcanthet the "Queen of the succubus" however if you do be on guard with her she's a lot like "The Morrigan," in that she's very crafty and deceitful, but she's always straight with Queen Kolee so take your advice from Kolee, don't worry, we'll get you through it."

A couple "days" later an incident occurred that shook the Nessa to the core and soured relations between the ship's personnel and the Fae from earth. The ship was two hours into "sleep" cycle normally from 2300 hours until 0500 hours, I was awakened with a call from security alerting me as well as the other officers that a lockdown had been initiated due to the escape of one of the earth Fae. Quickly dressing and heading for their assigned quarters I ran into pure bedlam, the whole deck was in an uproar, marines as well as ship's security were everywhere. The whole deck was in complete lockdown I repeatedly had to show my ID. Commander Geardot and I were still in the process of learning what had happened when word came down that the subject had been caught. The next thing we knew "The Morrigan" was whisked from her room under armed guard to where we didn't know. Eventually we discovered the sordid truth. Apparently a young rating had been assaulted and r***d by "The Morrigan's" thugs Fanor. It was only the fact that he was interrupted before he could kill her. Knocking the intruder out of the way he ran off and attempted to hide but was caught by a squad of marines. "The Morrigan" complained that when she visited him in the brig he had been beaten half to death, but the young rating had a lot of friends on board that didn't take too kindly to her being assaulted and r***d. After that, all Fae of the dark side were placed in full lockdown and their meals brought to them, they could only visit the head twice a day and only under heavy guard. Commander Siofra was asked to place a couple more binding spells on her on top of the ones she was already under. My last words to her were,

"You really did it this time lady, if you were hoping to win anybody to your cause, forget it, that's all gone and you've got nobody to blame but yourself. As for Fanor, he'll never see home again, it's either a dungeon or the Cantard for him depending on the court of inquiry decides. For that I was hissed and glared at.

A couple days later the trial was held, the poor rating was still visibly shaken but pointed out Fanor as her attacker backed up by the steward he knocked out of the way. The court recommended the dungeon but a full hearing would be held upon arrival on Isseth so it was possible he could end his days in the Cantard. Even though the light Fae faced no lockdown, they were still viewed with suspicion by the ship's crew being shunned by pretty much all. It was with this in mind that some of the Pyrrian cadets wished to speak with Brie's companion Kendi, curious as to what humans from earth were like. Later on in conversation

Gretchen told me,

When I spoke to a couple of them later on I asked their opinion of Kendi. All I got were frowns and,

"No disrespect Commander but either all earth humans are dumb as rocks or Brie befriended the village i***t. Have you ever heard of a place called "OZ?" I said I hadn't. She thinks that's where we are going, and did witches ride broomsticks and wear pointed black hats," came the reply. All I could do was shake my head."