When I Awoke the Next Morning…

found that my retinue and I had made our way from the Fortunate Island to Scotland. All up and down the river were signs of both upheaval and recalcitrant signs of reconstruction. The sails of the barge of the Great House, inscribed with my seals and insignia called a soft attention to both noble and peasant who watched the passage of our immense vessel from both sides of the great, lazy river.

The people in the North had been let to starve. How, I wondered, could a ruler – any ruler- let such inequity happen? Didn’t Itet and the rest of his Unseelie lapdogs understand that the good of the People and the Land were a sacred trust to be guarded? I found myself disgusted more and more with the disparity that I was witnessing.

When at last we reached our destination. somewhere near Ban Bradaugh, I sat beneath the golden canopy of State flanked by, Siamen, and KhenumRa, two of my closest advisers. Directly behind me was Fergus MacKay, a cousin and leader of our armies. As Itet’s ’s messenger, Silenus was brought before us, the Unseelie messenger, like all Unseelie messengers that I have ever encountered, showed the typical arrogance that their new expanding “Republic” had given them by right of conquest. In attendance he had brought an adolescent slave, a half Goblin who was very young and shy. The poor creature’s body was like a slender reed next to the expansive girth of the Unseelie that he served and the goblin’s eyes darted nervously about the room, particularly at the court officials, attending priests and my cousin who must have looked quite formidable standing behind me.

Silenus was not nearly as tall as Nuada, I noted, nor even as tall as Siamen or even myself. After a glance at Siamen, I raised my hand to signal the herald that the Unseelie messenger would now be allowed to speak.

Silenus raised his great hooked nose disdainfully, he began to recite the proclamation that Prince Itet had entrusted him with. That the Unseelie prince, on the behalf of the People Unseelie council, Itet now banded demanded the sum of five thousand talents of gold.” On and on he droned of how the amount was owed for services rendered to Morgienne. The monies were owed by the state, and the removal of Morgienne by another did not render the debt null and void. A hush fell over the chamber. I could feel the hard eyes of my advisers behind me. They stared hard at him, anger held barely in check, while I deliberated for long moments.

“Is that blood money, Tribune?” KhenumRa growled, “Why should we pay for what Morgienne worked out with Itet?”

I raised my hand and signalled silence. KhenumRa again quietened. With reluctance he moved back to where he had been moments before, his knuckles white within his crossed arms .

“We should make all effort to pay Itet the debt that we owe to its beneficence and goodwill toward Us and our People, ” I said quietly. I was careful to give no outward sign of anger or irritation to show upon my face except the absent tapping of my finger along the flail sceptre within my hand.

“While the Fortunate Island does not need Itet’s approval or recognition, we should make every effort that he our Kinsman should receive their just due.” I turned to the scribe, “Do you understand the Unseelie language as well,” she asked him in Gaelic, “Can you transcribe it directly for me?”

“Yes, My lady,” the scribe replied, to me in Unseelie.

“Good,” I nodded, “ I want Itet to be able to read and understand my meaning without need of interpreters. I want there to be no misunderstanding between our two great Nations.” I fondled the long gold and lapis beads of the sceptre.

The scribe was handed a fresh roll of papyrus by his apprentice and as he lay it on his small portable desk before him, sitting at the ready. It was not until he looked a me expectantly that I continued.

“By the authority entrusted to me, High Lady and Sole Sovereign of the Fortunate Island, I give the following decree: That every effort must be made to repay our debts to Prince Itet.”

“You are most generous, “ Silenus, ignorantly interjected, clearly he was unaware of the protocol of Our court.

“Of course, Silenus,” I replied sweetly, seemingly ignoring his impudence, “We are a reasonable and civilized people.” I then nodded to the scribe to indicate for him to begin writing again. “One of Our ships shall be taken to collect this debt from the furthest reaches of our Kingdom. Upon it shall be loaded all provisions for the expenditure on behalf of Us.”

No one moved, the stillness in the room was now profound. All eyes were on me.

“So that Itet and the Unseelie Kingdom shall will know Who We are,”I continued, ” and that our Great Empire is true to the stability our lands, let every Unseelie male allied with Prince Itet l be counted as enemies of Our State. As it was in the tradition of Warfare of our Great Ancestors, each and every Unseelie allied to Prince Itet shall offer unto him, his phallus, his hands and his head in sacrifice for his alegience to Itet in order to ascertain his loyalty to our Kinsman. So that Itet and the people whom he rules will know that We are a civilized land, and have every intention of paying Our incurred debts, we decree that each slain Unseelie male found upon Our soil will be coined in the mouth with one piece of solid gold, as is in accordance with Unseelie custom and respect for their glorious dead and the selfless sacrifice of their sons.”

Silenus’s mouth had moved in stunned silence. When at last he found his voice he roared before them, his face like a blistering pomegranate.

“This is an outrage! You dare to declare war on Prince Itet? You cannot do that!” he bellowed, his great hooked beak of a nose resembling a squawking vulture, “You are a mere woman! You have no authority!”

“You forget where you stand,”I said, keeping my voice even, but the sceptre that shook within my hand alluded to my barely contained anger, “You are in my Nation, and you are subject to Our laws,” I said, unsmiling, “Therefore, I have decided that beginning with you, my decree shall be carried out.”

Turning to the young goblin, I fixed him with a stare, “You….boy. What is your name?”

“Mammus” the goblin shook and bowed low before us. His eyes darted nervously over at Silenus, Siamen, KhenumRa and Fergus whose hand was now on the hilt of his sword.

“Mammus,” I smiled at him, “Since you are not one of my people, nor one of Itet’s you are not under my decree. You are to be spared, but you are being given the difficult task of delivering my message to Prince Itet. The boat will have natron and the appropriate priests so that we may preserve those things for Itet which are Itet’s. We no longer care to have them here. “

The goblin nodded his head and looked at his feet. Fear came from every pore in his body, but it was clear that being released from the man who was his Master was appealing. I found myself wondering if the young goblin had been used in ways that were distasteful and I shuddered to think of what life must be like for anyone who was so close to Itet.

“The Prince will not stand for this insult!” the Selinus bellowed, “We shall bury you and your accursed island!” Silenus stumbled forward, nearly tripping headlong into my lap. Before I could even could react, Fergus and three other guards were on the Unseelie nobleman, restraining him, Fergus pushed him to the floor, his booted foot on Silenus’ back, his sword held at the Unseelie’s throat.

“Itet has insulted us once again,” I said quietly, “but as I explained to you, we are a civilized people and are doing all we can to ensure that justice done. Die well Silenus. This young Goblin will explain to my kinsman how you, a son of the Unseelie, met your death. Will he recount to your Prince that you died well? “ The Unseelie nobleman did not respond but lay panting beneath the feet and blades held uncomfortably at his body.

Rising from the throne, I moved toward the goblin and lay a hand upon his shoulder. He was still trembling and tried to manage a smile as I held his chin between my thumb and forefinger. “Be sure to tell Itet that his Kinsman, the High Lady of the Fortunate Island will let him leave Our Lands with his own head, hands and phallus, just as long as he leaves. Also, be certain to remind him that he has only just so many sons of his kingdom here, and I have more than enough gold.”

Muse: Fanny Fae
Fandom: Original Character / Folklore / Mythology
Word Count: 1522
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