The dinner was elegant, refined, and the most stressful thing I'd ever done. I had to sit up straight, mind my eating, and engage in cultured conversation with the others around me. They were mostly faeries, high-ranking, with the occasional human or pet thrown in. Fyora presided at the head of the table, surrounded by her most loyal allies. I was alone here in this sea of power, drowning and out of my league.
I was asked about everything from the latest symphony orchestra performing down in Neopia Central to my opinion on the stock market. I mostly bluffed my way through, or laughed charmingly and waited for someone else to answer. It was then an air faerie took special notice in me.
"So I hear you were sent as a representative to Fyora," he said charmingly from across the table.
I nodded, trying not to appear too eager.
"I was. My island has long been isolated and we wish to rejoin the Neopian political scene. We aren't that big but we have a lot to offer trade and commerce."
"Indeed. Would you like to walk with me after dinner?"
"Certainly."
He settled back serenely and I concentrated on finishing my meal in silence.
As the dinner drew to a close people rose to leave in ones and twos. I finally stood and found the faerie also standing to leave, giving me a gracious smile. I followed him out of the hall, glancing back and forth for anyone following us. We were alone in the hallways.
"Have you seen the gardens?" he asked charmingly.
"Not yet," I replied, "Where are they?"
"It's a bit of a walk through the palace but I doubt you'll mind. I certainly don't; it's an elegant thing, Faerieland."
He laughed and glanced down at me. Faeries could take on various sizes depending on the situation and he had chosen a height that gave him about a foot advantage on me. It was unnerving, but not as unnerving as the faeries that chose to remain human-sized.
"Are you sure that allying with Fyora is the best idea?" he asked delicately.
"There is no other alternative."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that. There are... some... who wish for a change in Faerieland."
I continued in silence, completely unsure of what to say.
"It might be beneficial to consider other options," he prodded.
Oh heck. I wasn't one to banter words. Obviously I wasn't cut out to find things from trickery - time to stick to the tried and true method of violence. I spun and kicked at his ankles, attempting to knock him off balance. He let out a startled cry and staggered away, managing to save himself with his wings and the wall.
"What the -!" he exclaimed, drawing a knife from beneath his elegant dinner jacket.
He lunged at me, drawing a knife as he came. I hissed in fury and grabbed his wrist, clamping down on it with my teeth. He cried out in surprise at the ferocity in this seemingly meek zafara but quickly recovered. He tore free, leaving the tang of copper in my mouth. I dove for him, tackling him about the middle. He didn't weight that much and I was able to bring him to the ground, his wings being crushed beneath him. I hit him on the face, twice, until a blinding pain filled my shoulder. I cried and ripped the dagger from his grasp and out of my shoulder blade, smashing his head into the ground with my other paw. He grunted and made a couple other feeble movements. I hit his head against the ground a couple more times for good measure until he finally stopped moving.
I dragged my captive into the nearest empty room, panting. The wound in my shoulder was bleeding freely and I tore off a strip of the gown to bind it. Then I sat back, panting, and hoped that one of Fyora's faeries would come soon.
I heard footsteps outside the door. I slunk over and peered through the crack to catch a glimpse of fire fur.
"Taffin?"
"The one and only," he hissed back.
I pulled the door open, jerked him inside, and slammed it shut again. He gaped at the unconscious faerie in a corner and then back at me.
"I figured I wasn't about to find anything out by being clever," I growled, daring him to make a smart remark, "so I figured I'd just beat it out of him."
"I wasn't going to say anything," he said warily, "I guess I'll teleport him down to the dungeons?"
"Right. I'll meet you down there."
He knelt by the faerie, grasped his wrist, took a deep breath, and with a pop both were gone. I drew myself up with a deep breath and ignored the pain in my shoulder. I had to get out of the main hallways without anyone seeing me. I pressed my ear to the door and listened for anyone outside. Nothing. I slipped out into the hallway and into the first side hallway I saw. I continued in this, occasionally ducking aside to avoid a faerie until I reached the stairs to the dungeons. I hurried down the spiral staircase, the marble changing to bare stone. Two faeries guarded the door at the bottom but I knew they were loyal to Fyora. They recognized me and I passed unchallenged. Skyil met me and gestured for me to follow down the hallway. Taffin sat outside a door, his head on his chest, apparently drowsing. That teleportation had taken most of his strength.
I stepped inside, Skyil by my side. MiracleStar and a dark faerie were inside, standing over the groggy air faerie.
"You awake now?" MiracleStar asked, leaning over and lifting his head.
He stared at her, still dazed. I noticed that his hands were bound behind his back with a chain leading to the floor, preventing him from being able to stand.
"Where...." he gasped, still trying to make sense of what was going on.
"He's up already?" I asked, coming to stand by my owner, "I was sure I hit him harder then that."
"You did," the dark faerie retorted, "I had to wake him up with magic."
He glanced at me then back at MiracleStar.
"What's going on?" he finally demanded, "Why am I here? What have I done?"
"You are here because you are part of a rebellion conspiring to overthrow Fyora," MiracleStar stated firmly.
"That's ridiculous!" he protested, "I would never do any such thing."
"He's lying," Skyil said softly.
"The aisha is a mind-reader," the dark faerie grinned, "So your words aren't getting you anywhere."
He fell silent, glancing at the aisha in trepidation. She furrowed her brow and stared at him for a few dragging heartbeats. Finally she shook her head and her golden ears seemed to wilt.
"Too strong. He's fighting as hard as he can," she finally said.
MiracleStar was silent for a moment, glancing between Skyil, the prisoner, and the dark faerie.
"This," she said with utmost loathing, "Is one of the reasons I left. And why I never wanted to come back. Outside, everyone."
We tromped out to where Taffin lay in the hallway, still sound asleep. MiracleStar shut the door on the faerie and regarded everyone before her.
"Alright. Syrene, we don't need you here. Go search his belongings for anything."
The dark faerie gave a mocking bow and vanished. MiracleStar turned her attention to us.
"Here's the game plan. Right now he's our only lead and we've got to get some information fast before his allies figure out what happened. Nianso, your job is door guard. Keep an eye on Taffin. Skyil, keep trying to break through."
"What will you do?" Skyil asked softly.
She looked away.
"What I've always done for the queen. Make him break faster."
I felt sick in my stomach. And I thanked everything that I would be staying outside in the hall with Taffin.
She then nodded to us and the two re-entered the room. I poked a paw in to keep the door open and peered in. The faerie looked up at the two in calm resolve.
"I won't betray them," he said simply.
"No, you won't," MiracleStar affirmed, "Skyil will do that."
I let the door shut and flopped down next to Taffin, ridding myself of everything but my dagger and makeshift bandage.
It was nearly two hours before something interesting happened. I had to refrain myself from blunting my dagger edge by toying with it against the rocks. Taffin was still asleep. The door creaked open and a very tired looking Skyil walked out and collapsed next to me.
"Done," she whispered, her aisha eyes sliding shut in exhaustion, "Finally managed to get into his mind. I know everything now."
I slipped into the room to see what was going on. The faerie's head was bowed and he refused to look up as I entered. MiracleStar was kneeling before him. I could see bruises on his face and wondered if I had caused those from our fight. He was stripped of his formal jacket and the white shirt beneath was spotted with the dark red stains of blood.
"I hold nothing against you," she said softly, "I'll see if I can ensure your release unharmed after this is all over."
"I'm a traitor in their eyes," he murmured, "They'll never let me go."
"They've let other traitors go," she replied, "I was one of them."
He raised his head to look her in the eyes, deep pain etched on his face.
"And yet you returned."
"Because I had no choice. And neither did you."
She rose and brushed past me into the hall. I walked up to the faerie and bent over to look him in the face. He refused to meet my eyes.
"For my part in this," I said softly, "I'm sorry. MiracleStar is right. None of us had a choice in this."
And I walked to the door to rejoin my family.