An Overlady's Audiences Part 8

The next visitor was a woman again, but dressed for a colder climate than Miranda with her thin tunic. This woman was clearly Nordbergian, clad in leather and fur, wearing the same kind of sturdy boots Jinx had worn for a long time, until her feet had become as leathery and clawed as a real Minion's.

"What is your name?" Jinx inquired.

"Freja," the visitor spoke nervously, staring around at the Minions. "Freja of Nordberg, Milady. Forgive me my intrusion, I won't waste much of your time."

"Don't worry about that, I have all day."

"You'll need it, the waiting room is far from empty," Gnarl muttered from the corner of his mouth.

"Shut it, Gnarl. Freja, what's your business here?"

"It's… well…"

"Nothing's too odd."

The young woman wrung her hands. "Your Minions stole something from me years ago, and I was wondering if it might still be here."

"What are you looking for?"

"A hat, Milady. A tuque hat. It's been in the family for a long time, you see, and I could do nothing when it was stolen…"

Jinx leant forward and studied Freja a bit better. Yes, she was of the proper age… "Could that have been thirteen years ago?"

Freja nodded silently.

Jinx looked to the side, at the Minion still standing next to her. "Kniff, I think you can tell her better than I can."

The Minion had already had an expression of pity in his eyes, and it only deepened as he stepped forward slightly. "Was me. Sorry."

Freja kept silent, but her eyes didn't leave him.

"Had to disguise to get the Master… to get Sayron away from Nordberg. Couldn't help it."

"You could have given the clothes back," Freja spoke quietly.

Jinx reached forward and placed a hand on Kniff's shoulder. "He's taken good care of the hat, Freja. He's loved it for years."

"Where is it now?"

Kniff swallowed. "Lost in the Last Sanctuary. Few months ago… salamander set it on fire, couldn't do anything."

Freja looked down at her feet. "Then…" She looked up. "Then you lost it much the same way I did."

Kniff looked up at her for a moment, and then did something surprising both Jinx and the other Minions; he reached up and wrapped his arms around Freja. The slight jealousy Jinx had felt due to the strange bond with the Nordbergian woman reached its peak, and she hissed, briefly and involuntarily. Kniff let go.

"You'll have to find a new hat, you've had thirteen years already," Jinx spoke coldly. She felt a brief sting seeing Kniff's hurt expression, then she composed herself. "I meant Freja, not you."

"O-of course, Milady. I'm sorry for…"

"You know what happened and you're getting away with your life. That's better than the average visitor's fate. Now get out."

Freja bowed, trembling. Then Jinx' gauntleted hand swept in her direction and the portal's fire engulfed her.

"I would never say that to you," the Overlady spoke in a softer voice as Kniff returned to the throne. "Or anyone here, for that matter, you know that." The Minions in the hall chuckled and expressed their approval, and Kniff smiled as he plucked at his new silken headgear.

"I'm still sorry about the hat, but I didn't want you to catch fire." Jinx paused. "Perhaps I'll find an even better one for you on our next voyage."

"Doesn't matter under which hat I serve. Serve under you."

Jinx laughed and pulled him close. "How am I to receive people seriously with you saying that kind of thing?"

Kniff grinned. "Next?" he suggested to Gnarl.

"As long as the Mistress is keeping up…"

"Alright, alright. Next."

Maraxus: Weird.

Gnarl: All that fuss about a hat?

Maraxus: Hey, don't you be putting down the connection between people and their hats. I mean have you ever tried wearing a fez?

Gnarl: Oh for the love of…

Maraxus: I think a fez would suit you. Okay readers, take care and please review.