“Why not simply destroy the demoness, my queen?” The Fae Queen flexed her fingers as Marcus, the Master of the Prison, eyed her from beneath his raised eyebrows. In a different world, S’ha Ren-la ripped the throat from such an impertinent questioner, as an example to the others. But the same explanation stayed her hand. Should the whole camp of mortal magicians turn against them, that would be inconvenient too.
“I do not care to explain my whims, Marcus.” She settled her hand back on the throne, trying to relax the tension out of her body. “But as it is you who asked, I will answer: it is because I wish to study her. She was prepared to give up her life for the mortal. When was the last time such a display occurred among the Infernals?”
“If I may offer my opinion, my queen?” S’ha Ren-la shut out the image of slitting his throat and motioned to Marcus to continue. “It is because the demon knew her only chance of survival was to display so-called compassion. Her race is not capable of such feelings.”
“I wonder…” Rage made the Fae Queen voice her question and she bit her lip. Around her, the Gemini shook their fingers at her as if admonishing a naughty child. She rolled her eyes and decided to complete her thought aloud. “…once Fae and most otherworlders were seen through the same lens. Soulless and therefore incapable of empathy, love, or any rarefied emotion. And yet, even ogres and giants are accepted among the mortals who know the truth.”
Stolen story; please report.
“My queen, but the demons are Infernals…”
“I do not believe I heard you correctly, Master Marcus. Were you about to attempt to educate me on the nature of the demonic?” S’ha Ren-la had her limits. Sometimes examples had to be made.
But not this day. The sycophant dropped to his knees, with his head touching the carpet. “Forgive me, my queen. I have vastly overstepped my bounds.”
“Indeed.” S’ha Ren-la dismissed the masters with a flick of her hand. “I have made my decision regarding the Demoness Cary. She is to remain alive and imprisoned in the special demi-plane for now. Before you leave, Marcus, what of the true instigators of these events, Grigo and his consort, Esme?”
Marcus’s shoulders sagged into the carpet where he kowtowed. Still, he waited for the last of the masters to leave before he answered. “They’ve been secreted away. Under our noses, as it were. I suspect whoever removed them used the same general trick they used to allow the mortal Emilia to escape our notice.”
S’ha Ren-la dug her nails into the arms of her throne. “Find them. I would have them flayed as Waerlock as a lesson to any others. And I would find their conspirators.”
“The traitor fairy, Mira…”
“Stop. Mir of the White Bell is no more a traitor than I am a goblin. I have examined her and found nothing amiss. She is to be returned to her former position. Restore her freedom.”
Marcus twitched under the queen’s orders, but he left his forehead touching the carpet. “As you command, my queen.”