"Ke ke kekeke, then perhaps I will peruse what will soon be mine." The fairy king said glancing over the still damp earth. He would have to cleanse the area thoroughly before he planted any of his seeds.
Nix raised a brow as the fairy king frowned at the Adarian delegation. Faster than the human eye could track he and the fairy king were among the Adarians.
Nix was sitting on Rommel's shoulder while the fairy king was lifting what looked like the Adarian prince by his throat.
"You are not welcome here, was my warning not clear?" The fairy king asked lifting the familiar to eye level. Before it could speak, hundreds of roots pierced it through.
Rommel had barely taken a step before his highness… burst like a popped water bag. All that remained were his clothes. The roots quickly soaking up the mana rich water.
The fairy king's neck twisted as three others were speared through. "Nix, why let them plot under your beak?"
Nix blinked, "Because they are beneath me. What matters not the justification, but the actions taken. The choices made. If there is no choice, there is no chance."
The fairy king expanded his domain for any other interlopers, "You know they are plotting to kill you, and if they kill you, your God Ru is next."
Nix leapt off Rommel to land on the fairy King's shoulder. Half draping himself on the fairy king's head. "It is no matter because I cannot be killed, so if they try, well, only time they kill."
The fairy king paused, a smile creeping onto his face. "Come little ones." He coaxed looking at the offending building. So much iron… so unnatural. What a strong willed young one.
Rommel stared at the patch of wet earth that had just been Prince Zane… falling to his knees he gathered up the shredded cloth… What… why hadn't Lord Reece…
The fairy king lost his smile. "Am I being… ignored?" The sinister voice was accentuated as the earth rolled. Sharpened roots starting to surround the hunting palace.
Nix tilted his head, "Perhaps they did not hear? Why would little ones have reason to fear?" Nix snapped his fingers. More than a dozen figures fell before the simmering Fairy king.
The ranger just barely managed to keep from falling to his knees. As it was, he bowed his head, remaining a step in front of Randy.
Randal took a step forward when all the little bird hiding in his clothes suddenly darted forward with excited chirps. The only reason he didn't keep going was because of the Ranger's hand that had shot out.
Randal watched as roots encircled the chirping birds. He'd seen fae before… this… was nothing like how he'd imagined. Its skin was so tight over its skin he could make out more than just the bones. He could actually see the blood flowing through the fairy king's veins. If he hadn't been looking, he'd think the veins were cursed tattoos.
The fairy king gathered up the five small birds. All chirping the secrets of the land without reservation. Petting the most vocal of the small golems, the Fairy King turned his attention to his kin, and the dragon before him. Both wearing masterful illusions.
The Ranger didn't dare raise his head, not even Idril dared to confront this fae. The last time anyone had even seen him leave his valley was four hundred years ago.
Any who'd entered his valley uninvited… had never left. The only being in recent history who'd called upon this fairy king was the Mother Tree. Yet Nix spoke as if they were old friends.
"They are so wary, when did you become scary? What did they do to fear king of the Plum Fairies?" Nix asked with a yawn.
The Fairy King gave a wide smile, "They uprooted my seeds. Is that not right little ones?" The scent of plums was almost cloying.
Nix blinked. "What naughty children, up to such mischief."
The Fairy King patted Nix's leg as he settled the golems in his lap. Just as he was reaching to remove the illusion from his kin one of the golems chirped, leaping to land on the back of his hand. The tiny talons scrambling for something to cling onto. Failing to do so it fell.
The ranger moved instinctively, catching Mitt in his hands.
The Fairy King raised a brow. "Nix, the pieces of your soul are… claiming pets?" The small golem was hopping in his kin's hands. Chirping that this false human was his.
Randal paused… pieces of Nix's soul?
Nix kicked his feet lightly. "A pet, a companion, they have what mine lack, so long as they're happy, claimed for a snack."
The Fairy King's lips twitched, "They offer blessings… in return for snacks? One would think after 10,000 years of betrayal your heart would harden."
Nix glanced at the overly bright sky. "Cheep?"
"Fine, a barter for the little ones then." The Fairy King picked a blackened flower from his sash. It grew, flowered, wilted, then reshaped itself into a small pouch. Vines surrounding the petals, then growing into drawstrings.
The Ranger's hands trembled as the petal pouch was dropped in his hands. Barters with Fae of any species was a bad idea. Bartering with a Fae king was suicidal. Refusing… wasn't an option.
Nix chuckled, using his toes to close the ranger's hands around the pouch. "You've scared him so badly, he knows not what to think, what is the barter, what toast was he forced to drink?"
The Fairy King glanced at the small golem looking at him wide eyed. How long since he'd seen such… innocence? "Those are seeds of my tree."
The Ranger snapped to attention. Seeds from the Plum Fairy King? He could… grow a new plum fairy, one who would have every chance to become a new king. The seeds were no less precious than a mana fruit tree… more precious to their kind. Each seed… Dread engulfed the ranger… what barter could be worth such a reward?
The Fairy King leaned in close, whispering for only those in the immediate vicinity. "Pray to the sun little one. Pray and be accepted. Ke kekekekeke." The eerie laughter could have been from a demon.
Randal stiffened as he felt the Fairy King's gaze slide over himself. He couldn't speak. No matter what, he could not speak.
"As for the other… well, it wouldn't hurt to find a patron god for one so young." The Fairy King patted the young dragon on his head. Barely half a century old, he could still be considered a hatchling. He was marked all over by one of the pieces. Perhaps Nix had finally started recruiting followers for Ru.
Lifting Nix and his pieces up, "If either of you succeed, one of those seeds can demand a favor from Idril. A favor that could cancel out a certain cry for war." Nix blinked at the Fairy King innocently.
The Ranger was forced back as the ground swallowed the Fairy King. He clutched the petal pouch to his chest.
Nix held the golems. All playing with… tactically acquired plum flowers. Nix shook his head as he started walking back to his nest. This… body was so heavy. After a few steps Nix let himself fall through a rift into the fox's soft tails.
Lucera was trembling… "Lord Nix… why… Prince Zane…"
Nix tilted his head, "Eh? What did I miss? Did something happen to the Adarian Prince?" Nix realized… all the humans looked horrified. Nix blinked, then snapped his finger. A rift opened for all to see the unconscious prince in his tent.
Rommel stumbled toward the rift, "But… he was… when?" How wasn't important, if there were imposters… then the missing maids may not just be missing.
Nix leaned back as he yawned so wide it brought teers to his eyes. "Eh? Did they not say? Sneaky fish here in hopes of kin to sway. They walk among you, hide in the rain, when their business done, well not all life is safe."
Rommel paled as the rift closed. "What do you mean… they didn't say anything?" Were… were these imposters sent by Alaina?
Nix settled in, pulling one of the tails over his lap. "They were not subtle, rather hard to miss, if you didn't see, it was lack of focus." After a brief pause, Nix sat up just enough to eye the Adarian general. "I'm almost offended, in the lack of your faith. Really, despite all you have seen, your eyes are a waste."