An Overlady's Audiences Part 10
One jet of flame later, and suddenly there was another elf standing before the Overlady.
The contrast with Twinklion couldn't have been greater, however.
Firstly this elf was female, and far less colourful and decorative than the Everlightian avenger had been. Instead of flashy fabric and leaves she wore an elegant, streamlined set of armour, completed by a helmet from which her pointy ears emerged. Dark, gleaming hair cascaded down her shoulders and back from underneath.
Jinx realized she'd studied the visitor for a few moments already, and the elf had remained silent and unmoving during that time, her dark eyes betraying no emotion at all. The Overlady focused. "If I'm not mistaken, you're an Evernightian elf."
"You are correct, Milady. One of the last survivors whose bloodline leads back unbroken to the high elves from the blue shadow." Her voice was deep, as musical as queen Fay's, and yet very different. "My name is Mithralia. I come as an envoy from the rest of the last survivors," she spoke dryly.
"I had no idea there were still living elves in the Old Forest. I thought you'd all fled to Everlight."
"Not everyone." Mithralia seemed slightly ill at ease as soon as she'd said this, and Jinx frowned briefly, with a faint smile and a mental note. "But we do face more trouble than ever before."
"The Empire?" the Overlady guessed. "Emperor Solarius… oops, Florian Greenheart…" her smile widened at the discomfort she caused the elf with this, "has tried to move his borders to the east by cutting down Evernight for as long as I can remember. I imagine Emperor Sayron isn't very different."
"Correct again, Milady." Mithralia folded her hands before her waist. "And that is why I came to you for help. As one magical being to another, I beseech you to show you are truly Vessperion's daughter… the Overlord who was good to the elves of Evernight, who saved our women – including myself – from the dwarven mines…"
Jinx smiled at the mention of her father. The speed with which that news spread through the world surprised her, even reaching the isolated elves… Then she realized it meant much more than that, and her smile widened slyly.
She now knew exactly where queen Fay was – the only one who'd had that information and could have passed it on to Mithralia's people. Twinklion had unwittingly told her she was not hiding on Everlight... and this confirmed she did reside in Evernight.
"And what do you offer me in exchange for my help?" the Overlady asked, the smile still glued to her face.
Mithralia grew more nervous with the second, and her neutral mask did little to help her. "We don't have much, Milady. Everything was taken from us in the dwarven war, and what little we won back has been destroyed by the Empire. You can imagine…"
"All too well."
"Then…" A crack appeared in Mithralia's carefully constructed armour, and Jinx savoured the subtle emotion the elf showed. The Minion Mistress kept silent, but ensured her maddening smile did not change. She was very much aware of Gnarl looking at her mindfully – he'd arrived at the same conclusion as her, most probably earlier than she had.
Mithralia's defences broke. "There are children, Milady, I'm begging you. You are the only one who can help us before there's nothing left of the Forest and the last elves are slaughtered!"
Children.
Jinx just felt her eyes glow brighter with that revelation. Now she was sure of it. Elves didn't reproduce thoughtlessly, she knew that very well. The nigh-immortal race made sure to pick the time for children carefully, and the previous years had been very unsuitable… but one certain elf hadn't had that choice. One certain elf hadn't been able to wait to get pregnant and birth a child… though her opinion had probably changed since then.
This also explained Mithralia's urgency. If she and her people had really survived in Evernight for all those years, she wouldn't have feared the new Emperor this much. But now Fay was with them, pregnant or with a newborn prince or princess…
Sayron had or was going to have an heir in Evernight. Half elf, half human, half light, half dark, a scale waiting to be tipped. By now he'd have an heir in the Empire as well, but Fay's child offered Jinx the perfect chance to have some more fun and mess with her half-brother… and even the elven queen… when the time was right. She didn't want him to find out and potentially harm the threat to Kelda's child.
Gnarl felt her making her decision and abruptly turned to her. "You can't be serious!" he hissed. "The last elves! Please, Jinx…"
"I'm sorry," she muttered. "Not this time." She rose and turned back to Mithralia. "It'd be my pleasure to aid you. You're an old race and the world would be impoverished with you gone." She looked up at the balconies, as the dark-haired elf sighed in relief. "Whisper? Are you there?"
"Mistress," it resounded in a hissing voice from somewhere up in the hall. One of the two green leaders dropped down.
"Ready a good part of the clan, with spider riders. You're going back to Evernight." She smiled as Whisper started grinning – she knew the clan would appreciate this. "Grubby, construct some gates in old ruins where they won't stand out. Whisper, you'll guard the western borders of the forest and take care of the woodsmen now and then. Make it look like accidents. Make them fear the forest."
"Will do," Whisper grinned. He nodded once and then hurried to the floating rock and the Barracks.
Mithralia stayed behind, in the middle of the throne room, and Jinx briefly envisioned how nicely she'd fit through the trap door. She knew how much Gnarl would like that, but she restrained herself. It was more fun to play with people than to exterminate them. Right now, in any case.
As the greens came back the Overlady nodded at her visitor. "I wish you and your people all the best, Mithralia. May the light of the Forest recover swiftly." She winked, just at the moment the fire flashed the elf up, so she had no chance of replying.
Gnarl hummed next to her. "I still think it's a real shame."
"And you were so loyal to Fay while she was here."
"She'd have snapped my neck if I hadn't been," the advisor retorted. "But it's good you caught it…"
"Caught?" Kniff asked from the other side of the throne.
Jinx turned to him with a broad grin. "Fay fled to Evernight," she gloated. "And she's with child. Sayron's child!"
"I've got to admit that slightly improves the situation," Gnarl pondered, audibly weighing options.
Kniff's eyes had widened, and Jinx could almost hear his mind work. "Mistress… Empress Kelda is possessive. Fay's spawn…"
"…wouldn't stand a shadow of a chance were the Empire to find him or her now. But imagine how much fun it'd be if they were to meet later!" Jinx laughed. "And I might not be able to visit the Empire ever again, but this does give me the chance to meet my other niece or nephew someday. I'll be keeping an eye on Evernight, maybe two."
"Though it'd be good if you kept an eye on the waiting room right now."
"Treasury, you mean. I had no idea audiences would be this entertaining." Jinx looked up at the portal. "Keep them coming!"
Maraxus: What the heck? Fay's got a kid?
Gnarl: Which means Kelda's child will have a rival.
Maraxus: Oh this is going to be really interesting in the future. Please review readers and all respect to Sunjinjo (Iris) for her story.