I do not own this story, all credit to the very gracious Sunjinjo. Enjoy.

An Overlady's Audiences Part 13

Jinx was still smiling in amusement of Diego as the next visitor came in. She briefly rolled her eyes; it was an Imperial again, a shining example of the fat nobility like Autanius. She pondered a quote she'd heard once; if one is afraid of spiders, the risk of finding them in one's bedroom is increased? She knew exactly where to find spiders now, but it seemed her encounters with bloated Imperials were becoming increasingly predictable too, even though they instilled only mild annoyance in her instead of fear.

The visitor was a woman, and while Jinx reluctantly admitted to be able to recognize Arcadiopolan jewellery on sight, the heavy necklaces and bracelets this highborn lady was wearing were unfamiliar to her; gleaming, deep indigo spirals snaked around her wrists and neck, and she bore a diadem of the same material on her forehead, set with a beautiful, pale purple jewel.

The woman was clearly nervous, and Jinx grinned. She was in the mood to make her life a little harder. She straightened out and waited, wearing an expression she hoped would be interpreted as haughty. It didn't take her visitor long to bow deeply.

"Greetings, Milady. I am Claudia Lucia, governess of western Sylvanum."

"Evernight," Gnarl muttered. He chuckled, and a moment later a grin crossed Jinx' face, too.

"Ah, welcome, governess." She had to strain herself to keep a straight face. Barely an hour ago, she'd sent a horde of green Minions with Mithralia to maul the Empire's woodsmen, and now their employer was here, to ask a favour all the same… the elf and the governess had even shared the waiting room. "What would you ask of me?"

"Honoured Overlady, I am well aware of your opinions on the Empire."

Jinx smiled coolly. "I've never made a secret of them. Are you here to propose peace? The last one to do so is somewhere over there." She waved her hand at the floor.

"Not in the least, Milady. I want to ask you to help me gain autonomy from Arcadiopolis and its Emperor." The governess looked up confidently. "I would, of course, return the favour using my proceeds from the province."

"Why this… change of heart, governess?"

"The new Emperor is a little too strict for my tastes. He is young and knows little of respect. He's certainly not showing it to the right people… like you or me."

Jinx' mouth twisted in a half smile. Don't be too sure of any similarity between us, governess.

Then she smiled in earnest. The governess visibly took that as a good sign. "I humbly request your help in separating, be it with your Minions, sellswords or the gold to hire my own… I will repay you many times over."

"You're probably already busy felling the forest to reach the treasures you plan to pay me back with?"

The governess nodded affably. "Certainly, Milady. My woodsmen already have encountered many strange and wonderful things."

Jinx looked to her right. "Gnarl, would you be so kind as to get the map?" The grey advisor nodded and shuffled behind the throne, to a hollow in the basalt formation the lava came dripping down from. Moments later he returned with a large parchment map. Jinx took it and unfurled it on the throne. "If you would come closer, governess."

With some reverence – but not enough, in Jinx' opinion – Claudia Lucia stepped forward, to pause next to the Overlady, before the throne. "Where is your bastion at the moment?"

"Here," the governess pointed. "Lucrapolis, by the river." She frowned; her city went by another name on this map – Cereilia. Moreover, it was still surrounded by forests. Currently, the city was at the edge of the woods.

"I advise you to go here." Jinx guided the plump hand north, level with the elven capital. "And to continue chopping east."

The governess looked at her, eyes shining. "Are you sure?"

"The elves are weak and divided. But I do know their queen is there, and more strange and wonderful things than the rest of the forest could hold combined. I am prepared to invest in your sellswords and to give you a few green Minions, but do allow them to fight in invisibility where the forest is concerned, it will work to their advantage. If you manage to capture the queen, you will of course bring her here, possibly with other members of the royal family."

"Of course, Milady! Thank you!"

"Oh, and one other thing…" Jinx struggled to keep a straight face as she rolled up the map and seated herself. "Where you're going, the forest is… different. Darker, more dangerous. You will certainly need the extra help. The woodsmen will be frightened, and sometimes refuse to follow orders, but you have permission to threaten them with my fury."

"That will certainly get them going," the governess nodded. "I cannot thank you enough, Milady. Count on my… substantial gratitude soon."

Jinx nodded graciously. "I'm looking forward to it, governess. Good luck."

As the flame swept the chubby Imperial back up, Gnarl took the map from Jinx' hands. "So the elves have greens to help them deal with the woodsmen, and the woodsmen are aided by greens having a go at the elves, all in invisibility? My compliments, Mistress."

"More's the chance to meet my nephew or niece. Ah, I wish I could see it… those two sides decimating each other… though Claudia's side will bleed out on its own anyway. Not much I have to do to further that. Her greens will join Mithralia's once that happens."

Gnarl rubbed his hands. "Invisibility is not yet part of your talents, I'm afraid, so we cannot witness it. But you are growing to be as cunning as a green. Here I thought you planned to spare the elves."

"I'm sparing no one," Jinx chuckled. "Bring in the next one."