Queen's Quest

Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven Queen's Quest The Home Coming

I made it a point to keep an eye on our guests, and especially those of the darker persuasion. "The Morrigan" was lodging protests daily concerning the treatment of her and her group, even Trick and Ciara voiced concerns, their fears that they would be prevented from ever seeing home again. Captain's Demlin and Giyax spoke to all of them in private meetings, again warning "The Morrigan" that the behavior of Fanor that hurt her cause dearly, but that her best course of action would be to simply lay out all the facts and state her case plainly with no exaggeration. Captain Demlin told me he wasn't sure his efforts had been successful but that "The Morrigan" appeared to be listening. Meanwhile, our research people continued to interview the light Fae concerning life on earth the locations of Fae communities, and the threat they felt the humans posed. Surprisingly, even "The Morrigan was interviewed squelching her protests that we were favoring strictly one side. Even Commander Siofra and a couple other Guild members sat in on the interviews, admitting later that she did have some legitimate complaints concerning the humans. Commander Siofra's other task was to ascertain the exact nature of "The Morrigan's" magical force.

"Apparently she can dissolve flesh at the touch of her fingers," confessed the commander.

"It seems she also runs some sort of talent agency in the human world representing young musicians stealing their lives in exchange for fame. This is an old game with witches that have gone "bad," their "clients" work their arses off then in the end the witch, or in this case, "The Morrigan" takes everything and leaves them with nothing, more than a few suicides have occurred because of this. Outside of that, her "powers" are typical of a level seventy witch; I'm a level sixty-five which is why it took so much to defeat that Garuda. She's very cagy and devious but I've met her kind before, you know, come to think of it Malcanthet is a lot like her, but "Mal" has common sense and her only concern is for her people, Queen Kolee treats her right so she doesn't have much to complain about."

One "evening" I was sitting in the Officer's club looking over some reports when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye,

"Greetings Ensign, what's up?" I thought.

"I was looking for company and saw you sitting all by yourself and thought I'd stop and chat if you're up to it?"

"By all means Ensign Fashar, what's on your mind?" The Pixie settled on the rim of a mug I had been drinking Drowma from and began to express his thoughts.

"I've been talking with my fellow pixies concerning these Fae from earth, and we feel they are going to be nothing but trouble."

"Is that you're thought or the collective," I thought.

"Collective," came the reply, "I don't think I need to tell you that we pixies specialize in cutting through all the dreck and getting to the point, Hell! That's part of the reason we're here. Did you know there are no pixies currently living on earth, or kobolds, brownies or any of us tiny people however there are a few of what the earth Fae call "Leprechaun's" whatever they are."

"Yes," I thought, I've heard that, not the part about…What did you call them…"Leprechaun's?"

"Yeah, but that's about all I know as well, my friend Zoema herd one of the light Fae mention it to one of the others."

"What do they think of you Pixie's," I thought.

"Well Ma'am that's what I wanted to talk to you about, they're frightened of us and by that I mean all of us from Isseth. Oh, they'll never admit it, but until we showed up, they felt like they were some sort of superior race over the humans, that's why the dark Fae have been cooking up this war with the humans. The light Fae all claim to be above all that but deep down if it looked like the humans were loosing this supposed war, they'd jump right in with the dark side in a minute,"

"You and your friends picked all this up from listening to them?" I thought Fashar snickered,

""Oh absolutely, don't forget, they don't have pixies on earth, we're an unknown to them, naturally we're not going to reveal our "hand" to them, we just flitter around acting dumb and just let all that information come right in. But like I was saying, now that they've gotten a chance to see who we are and how squared away we are they're scared, scared that we're going to accuse them of being "slack" that they're inferior. Were you aware that that woman who calls herself the "Faerie Queen," cries herself to sleep every night. "The Nain Rouge" is convinced we're going to lock her up for being some sort of pretender, I don't even want to get into that."

"You know we're not going to do any of that, Ensign."

"I know Commander, but they don't. Imagine that you thought you were "It" better than anybody, especially those dirty humans, then Wham! A part of your race suddenly shows up with all sorts of different family members, people who get along very well with humans, people who are very confident in themselves. You suddenly feel like you're nothing, like it's all over for you, that's what they're all feeling right now, even that b***h that calls herself "The Morrigan."

"Speaking of her," I added, "What's your opinion of her?"

"Nothing but trouble, seriously commander, she's evil, we Pixies don't even like to probe her mind, I think she knows we have that ability, but since she's in lockdown and has all those binding spells on her there's not much she can do, but if I had my way…Next stop…The dungeon…For life." Smiling, I looked at Fashar, and thought,

"Let me throw an idea at you, didn't you say you had a friend who was Malcanthet's "right hand."

"Yes I did, Commander, why, what do you have in mind?"

"Do you think "Mal" is a match for "The Morrigan?" Ensign Fashar seemed to be considering my question.

"I din't know Ma'am…Perhaps, I only know her through my friend, I'd have to get back to you on that one, what do you have in mind?"

"Well, Brie is supposedly a succubus, so "Mal" might take an interest in her, Commander Jina has already promised to introduce the two. What if she accompanied Brie and the others back to earth to…Let's say, "Instruct" Brie in the finer points of being a succubus as well as keeping an eye on her, as in protecting her from "The Morrigan," That's kind of what I had in mind." Ensign gave his heartiest pixie laugh, and his reply entered my mind.

"I'll have a talk with my friend, she'd be the one to drop the hint to her "boss" in just the right manor, Commander, I apologize, I had you figured all wrong." At that, we both laughed.

Ensign Fashar's revelations concerning our guests was certainly food for thought, so much so I shared it with Captain Demlin.

"Actually this doesn't really surprise me Commander," he said, I suspected it myself; I watch for body language as well as eye movement. Some of the things my intelligence people have reported to me following extensive interviews suggest the same thing, we've shaken their world. It's sad in a way we come from a vibrant society they come from what are basically survivors just trying to live one more day in a human world."

"Do you think there's any merit to their fears of the humans?" I asked.

"Oh absolutely," he replied. "Our Pyrrian experts have all talked to these people; they tell me there's a subtle uneasiness from our guests stemming from an ingrained fear of humanity. Quite honestly Commander I don't know what we're going to do, our leaders are certainly going to have their hands full making a decision on this one, I certainly don't envy them."

Shortly before we arrived home, I sent for Dayson, Brie, and Trick. I asked that Ensign Fashar as well as Lieutenant Geardot be present. When Brie and Dayson entered I watched them closely, their eyes were immediately drawn to Ensign Fashar who was lounging on top of a bookcase, behind me. Ensign Fashar was right, just for a second, I saw the look of fear.

"Have a seat," I said indicating the three chairs in front of my desk.

"In another cycle or two we'll be home, things are going to get pretty hectic so I thought I'd take one last opportunity to chat."

"Haven't you picked our brains enough already?" said Dayson when I interview suspects I don't ask near the level of questions you people have."

""That's right," I replied, I saw in the report you are a police Inspector of all things, rather interesting that you work with the humans like you do," I said matter-o-factly. Dayson shrugged,

"Helps us keep a handle on any Fae that might tend to get in trouble or commit a crime that might arouse suspicion within the humans." Then quickly adding,

"I've been meaning to ask you, shortly before you people landed there was an American communications satellite that mysteriously exploded, you wouldn't know anything about that by any chance?" I studied him for a moment then grinned,

"Maybe."

"I thought as much." As he finished speaking Brie blurted out,

"Are we going to be arrested?"

Grimacing and shaking my head, I responded with,

"That's not my call, certainly not you people. As for "The Morrigan," and her people that's another story, I certainly she has the good sense not to mouth off in front of one of the Queens. Listen," I added, "we keep telling you when you're in front of the royal commission just state the facts, as a police officer you ought to realize that," I said, turning to Dayson.

"From what I've been told, you folks have a serious problem with the humans, and quite frankly I don't really know what we can do to help you, I know what "The Morrigan would like us to do, but that just isn't going to happen. I've heard talk of allowing certain screened Fae light and dark to emigrate here if they so chose, but again, that's not my call to make." As I was talking, I noticed my guests focused on Fashar. I was sure Dayson and Trick could understand him were they to be spoken to but since they made no indication of that, I assumed Ensign Fashar was deliberately remaining silent.

"You said they could only speak telepathically," observed Dayson, why can't we "hear" him?" I looked at the Ensign who winked at me and grinned.

"I'm sure I don't know, perhaps you simply don't have the ability to pick up what he says."

Trick then spoke up,

"One of the people I spoke with told me I might be meeting with a Kink Trueblood or somebody like that." "Furgas Trueblood, King of the Dwarves," added Gretchen, "He's a character; strangers assume he doesn't take his job seriously, but they make a huge mistake when they think like that. I don't know what his reaction to you will be, obviously, you are a dwarf and from earth, so I would imagine he'd be excited to discuss the dwarf situation on earth. Treat him with dignity and respect and you'll get along just fine."

"By the way," I added, "Obviously you all are from the country known as Great Britain, are you the only group of Fae on the planet? I'm sure you've all been asked this but I haven't seen it mentioned in any of the reports I've read." Trick answered the question,

"There is a small group living in Norway "The Morrigan" claims them as hers but we've only her word on that. There is a small group of seven possibly eight Leprechaun's living in Ireland but they are so scattered we cannot attest to their loyalties. It's quite possible there could be a few in America, but again, who's to say. Living as we do it's a little difficult to hold "family" re-unions every year." He then turned to Lieutenant Geardot who was sitting next to me and apologized.

"Lieutenant, please pardon me if I speak harshly of the humans on earth but they are a fact of life and a real danger to us. I'm glad you humans get along so well with the Fae in your world, were it the same for us, but unfortunately it's not. There have been cases in the past where some of our people have been taken never to be seen again. We're sure their scientific and governmental agencies are aware of us and are always looking for us which is why we think like we do."

"And "The Morrigan" thinks that starting a war with them will solve all your problems," replied the Lieutenant.

"The woman only thinks of increasing her power," answered Trick, "we're on her "list" as well, be careful of her, she will try and influence your rulers to act in her behalf, thinking they are doing something else." I guffawed,

"Don't bet on it, Queen Kolee, as well as the Witches Guild will see right through her, especially when they read Commander Siofra's report as well as the observations of those that interviewed her. If she is as you say she is, and I've no doubt of it, I think we'll see some real "fireworks" at the royal hearing." Lieutenant Geardot then added more of her thoughts,

"It could very well be as you say Trick concerning the humans on earth and the treatment you receive. I'm not going to say that all the humans on Pyrra love and adore the Faerie folk, far from it. Often times it's simply a case of hating them from afar. I'm aware of many situations where a Pyrrian meets an elf and begins to observe them up close they are soon won over. That's one of the reasons our governments have created this situation where Pyrrians serve a tour in the Issethian navy. When you are all working towards a single goal, friendships quickly develop. The program itself is quite new only since the war, but already most of us from Pyrria are preparing to sign up for another tour of duty. Hopefully all of you will be able to spend some time in Karenta meet other Fae as well as some of us humans, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised."