In the Fae Courts, there were many sources of power. They all built on the Law of Fae, but each was a different expression or variant. There was Authority, the most direct power, most often used by Lords. There was Favor, very often used by individuals; especially useful for interacting with one not beholden to oneself. Another great pillar of Fae power was Influence, useful for the Senate and other governing bodies; and very subtle. There were other powers, but these were the big three.

And Magic Alliance used none of them.

They drew on a different power. It meant it was harder to bind them to their words, and it also meant that many of the complicated interpersonal relationships between the powers that be were often missed by the magic users.

Wizards were easier to accept, after years and years of training, they learned enough about the laws of reality to change that reality. By the time they were powerful, they were almost always wise, cautious, and too old to cause trouble. Mostly only the wealthy courts and factions had the money for that extensive level of education, which meant that wizards were often beholden to one court or another, either as a descendant of that house, or were patronized by that house or court. This meant that for the most part, Wizards at least conducted themselves within the accords of the Law of Fae, even though they were not governed by the magic directly.

Mages on the other hand...

Sometimes random individuals, of any age, race, or station, would be handed significant power over a force of nature with no training and no requirements. Some realized their humble origin and strove to find their place in the world of the powerful, spending careful years understanding the complex politics and machinations of the Law of Fae, the Seelie Courts, the Factions, and the Senate, before attempting to change things.

And then there was Esra.

Lordling Parcel and Daniel both cringed as Esra's voice continued. "I'm done arguing. My buddies are inside. I know I saw Parcel come this way. I'm not leaving until I talk to him."

Thankfully, the conversation grew muffled again for a moment.

"You handle it," Parcel said, gulping. "I cannot get stuck playing 52 pickups from the ceiling again."

"No, no, no." Daniel countered. "Esra, the Great Gravity Mage is looking for you! What would your Court say if they knew you were avoiding such a key ally?" Daniel said, gesturing with his hand for emphasis. "What. Would. They. Say."

"I spent months trying to create distance between myself and Silvia. Esra's just as likely to ruin it. He says he 'ships' us. I don't even know what that means."

"I think it means relationship," Daniel said, thinking back to the days he'd been stuck on campaign with Esra and the rest of his Circle in the far rural places. Esra had spoken long about the different people he 'shipped', and their unique names combined. That explained who 'ParSiliva' was. The strangest part was Esra would 'ship' characters in plays and books, not only real people.

"Really?" Parcel looked touched, then troubled. His dark wavy hair fell in front of his eyes. "She needs to focus, but she's too loyal to me. I need her to leave me behind already. I'll just hold her back."

Daniel felt surprised. He had known Parcel was a hopeless romantic, but this was a new angle he hadn't considered. It was rather... selfless. He did not enjoy learning new things about former rivals that made them more personable. It threatened to make him question other aspects.

If that was the case...what else must he reconsider?

The thoughts were halted when Esra's voice pierced the large grand foyer again. "But I am a mage. I got the hat and everything. Oh, wait, I lost my hat. But I do have a Mage hat somewhere...Let me in, or do you need me to prove it?”

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Parcel suddenly smiled. "I, Lordling Parcel command, the Servant Branch to lend a hand, and handle the dreaded Mage Esra please, at least until after tea!"

The Law of Fae was enacted, and the debt between them was cleared.

"No!" Daniel said, upset. "What was wrong with a little violence to settle things? It was going to be an amazing duel."

"I wanted to see how much you had regressed," Parcel added, regretful. "I would have smacked the floor with your face."

"You would have tried," Daniel said and didn't voice the second part, that Parcel would have probably succeeded.

"We had such good vigor going on too." Parcel sighed. "Well, next time I get sent to cause trouble for you, I'll see what I can do about that rematch."

The Glasbin fae was staring at both of them like they were insane.

Lowlings had no appreciation for the finer things in life.

Daniel felt touched by Lordling Parcel's show of faith, but then he remembered Parcel was leaving him to handle Esra. The good feeling became cold again. "Parcel, don't go. Just because Esra is here for you doesn't mean he won't wreck the Game."

Parcel started striding toward the hexed door. "Just do what Servants do. You can handle it. You were always so good at coming out ahead."

The noise at the large entrance door grew louder.

Parcel gripped the stem of the door handle.

"At least handle the hex on the door before you leave!" Daniel complained. This was not going well for him at all.

"And risk you becoming indebted?"

"You could tell the doorknob was hexed?" The Glasbin fae said, then realized he had spoken aloud and went back to looking horrified.

Parcel and Daniel shared a look. Lordling Parcel lifted an eyebrow, "You saw something that a servant should not. So I will tell you, to balance the scales of this unsightly behavior. Adjust your thinking, for you regard us Lordlings too lightly. Do you think we just attend parties and drink and play? I know of several Lordlings who hold debt over you in secret, having suffered in your stead. Your mistakes as you serve us at parties are not missed because we do not see, but because we pretend we do not see. Parties are in fact some of the most stressful times for us. We must find everyone's else agenda while hiding our own. Poison, treachery, assassins, people who want you for your power, people who want your power..." His piercing blue eyes were unfocused as if he was seeing a distant place. "I look forward to being an old Lordling. People leave old Lordlings alone."

Of course, the moment was ruined by Esra.

Afternoon sunlight spilled in as the main entrance doors crashed inward heavy and then stayed open as if they were dangling from their hinges over a chasm. The doorkeepers dangled dangerously from the door handles, their down now the opposite wall instead of the floor. Dust was kicked up, and rain of leaves and flower petals drifted in, caught in the vortex of the great working of power.

Esra's shadow then spilled into the room, showing the figure of a tall and gangling person, head completely hatless.

"I'm out! Remember, Servant Branch! After tea time! That's all I need." And the Lordling opened the door much the same way Daniel had, and closed it.

Daniel felt anxiety rising inside his chest. This was still perhaps the worst-case scenario for himself.

Esra entered, wearing blue tweed trousers and a thin shirt with a picture of some kind emblazoned on the front, long faded. The garments were a far cry from any clothes that would denote Esra's affiliation, hat or otherwise, but they were unique. He had taken great pains to repair them over the time Elswith had spent with him. Perhaps they were sentimental. His shoes were finally replaced with new simple brown leather shoes, instead of the crazy neon shoes with strange soles that did not conduct electricity. The Mage had grown at least a foot taller over the five years Elswith had known him, no doubt his foot size had grown as well. Perhaps he could no longer cram his too-large feet into the shoes after many years, or perhaps they had simply fallen apart.

Esra seemed completely unashamed for crashing a party. He scanned everyone, looking distracted. He almost missed Daniel, but on a second look through, Daniel felt the Mage's eyes lock on him.

The bindings on Daniel started to enact, and Daniel sighed. Two bindings, the first because of his duties as a Hall Attendant, and the second his duties to attempt to keep Esra from finding Parcel until after tea time. Tea time...was 4 o'clock. Which was now. The clock tower rang in the new hour.

Did the Servant Branch just have to ensure that Esra would not bother Lordling Parcel during that time, or did it mean that he would have to keep Esra engaged for an hour?

Esra walked through the doorway, ignoring the doorkeepers clinging onto their knobs to keep from crashing down.

"Spikes!" he called. "Have you seen Parcel? I've been looking for him everywhere."

Well, he hadn't called him Elswith. At least that was a good start.