>>5843598“The Fairy Court of Old Maple—uh, that is, the old hill with the maple tree beyond the southwestern trade road… Theyhave a possible solution. But they need something first.”
“Fairy Court…?”
The Queen looks confused for a moment, then seems to realize who you refer to. A strange expression passed over her face—recognition, fear, embarrassment, and hope. You recalled the spriggans words up on Old Maple Hill. He’d said that the Queen had been present when ‘a dragon that walked like a man’ had been engaged in some altercation with another member of the Bonum Chaoticum.
“What is it that they want, then?” she asked softly. “If they can truly help… I’ll do whatever is in my power.”
You found yourself feeling rather bad for this woman, whatever her station or the company she kept. You could tell she was rather out of her depth here, and desperate. She seemed earnest enough, and you felt yourself wanting to tell her it would be okay—that you would provide a cure one way or another. How did someone like this end up tangled up with evil monsters and fighting fairies, you wondered? Or were you just being naïve, taken in by an act and—admittedly—a pretty face?
Either way, this wasn’t ABOUT you. You’d made a deal, and you intended to keep it.
“They want land,” you said plainly. “A parcel of it around their hill, to be reforested and treated as a sacred… Rather, as a legally-protected space. No farming, no hunting, no roads, no industry. No intruders, if you can help it… Only people they allow.”
“How big a parcel?” she asked, then squinted. “No, nevermind. It doesn’t matter. Yes. It’s fine.”
You blinked a few times. That was easier than expected!
“Still, if I’m going to do this…” she continued.
(Ah. Here was the rub.)
“The Council must approve the land grant as well,” Queen Ekaterine explained, frowning and furrowing her brow.
“But… You’re the Queen of Hawksong,” noted Pearce, a bit indelicately.
You glared; he shrugged.