Written Wonderland

Adrianna shook her head and crossed her arms in what Melisade was coming to know as a sign that Adrianna thought she had the upper hand.

"I think we should go to her. Tonight." Melisade could not keep her eyebrows from raising. She did not expect that.

"The human indicated that something of import would be happening tomorrow," Adrianna continued. "We can still angle for a trade, but regardless, it may engender some good faith to be proactive. Besides, I suspect there is quite a lot to learn in the goddess' territory, and this is a good excuse to venture into it."

Melisade nodded to buy herself some time. She couldn't exactly leave herself--not on that short of a timeline and not while the foreign dignitaries were here--and she suspected Adrianna knew that well. Her advisor was certainly in a good position to be the one to negotiate with the goddess, for better or worse.

"Did the human say any more about this event of import?" Melisade asked, still mulling over her choices.

Melisade nodded, contemplating. She was no doubt calculating that she likely couldn't leave, not on such short notice and certainly not while hosting a delegation. Adrianna very practicedly kept her smugness silent and invisible, a soft pleasurable warmth at the back of her head.

"Did the human say any more about this event of import?" Melisade asked, and Adrianna's smug warmth faded a little. The question sounded like it might have been as much stalling as actual interest, which irritated Adrianna a little--if she was going to reveal cards, she hated to do it just to allow her interlocutor more time to think. Still, she kept her expression patient and pleasant, as always.

"More humans will be arriving."

She could at least be a little short. She felt she'd offered Melisade plenty upfront, and the least the queen could do was put in some effort to get more.

"More humans will be arriving," Adrianna said somewhat tersely. Melisade drew in a breath, frustrated that it felt like Adrianna was belittling her somehow. Her brow furrowed as she stared at the woman, allowing some small amount of her frown to show. This, like most things around this court, was a setup, an opportunity to see the queen flustered and unsure, no doubt, among other things. Gods, she was tired of all the duplicity.

The queen took a deep breath, remembering she needed to keep Adrianna on her team. Bring her in, she told herself, Give her the chance to be a co-conspirator.

Softening, the queen looked at Adrianna and said, "That might diminish the value of the human we now hold, then. I agree--we should work quickly before that happens." The queen paused, gently urging her eyes to widen, to look more innocent and trusting. "Do you have people you would trust to go? We shouldn't waste any time."

Melisade showed some displeasure in her expression, but Adrianna held strong in her approach. It might be one thing if she'd committed to charading as an honest player with the queen, but that game had run its course quite some time back. The queen may not delight in some of the courtly games in quite the same way as Adrianna did, but she was skilled enough at them to earn some transparency from Adrianna--which meant that Adrianna had to sometimes be transparently uncooperative, lest the queen take her cooperation for granted.

"That might diminish the value of the human we now hold, then," Melisade answered, softening, and the subtle warmth of smugness bloomed at the back of Adrianna's head again, victorious in this small match. "I agree," the queen continued, "we should work quickly before that happens. Do you have people you would trust to go? We shouldn't waste any time."

"I do," Adrianna nodded, her tone a little warmer now. "Are there any specific objectives you'd like me to pursue with the goddess, especially concerning a potential trade?" Adrianna had some ideas, but she wanted to offer Melisade a small olive branch, acknowledging her authority as queen here to dictate the court's official goals for this venture.

"I do," Adrianna said, appearing to acknowledge and accept Melisade's truce offering, at least, if the subtle warmth of her tone was anything to go by. "Are there any specific objectives you'd like me to pursue with the goddess, especially concerning a potential trade?" Adrianna asked.

Melisade had hoped to broach the subject herself, but she took Adrianna's question in stride. And, suddenly, an idea did form in her mind, a terribly devious idea she almost did not dare to voice.

"The court still retains two portals as an emergency measure. Perhaps it is time to play those cards," Melisade looked pointedly at Adrianna with a smile as though letting her into the game. "Or at least threaten to play them." She paused again for effect, letting the gears turn in Adrianna's mind.

"I think we should--carefully--encourage the goddess to see that we have the power to negotiate with other gods, if necessary. I tire of exchanging trifles with her. It's time for her to collaborate with us like the deity she is."

Melisade paused again, thoughtfully. "But if that is not a successful leverage point, then we should ask for more than portals. Two of the dark fae should be instructed in how to make them." Melisade's eyes glittered at the thought. It had been too long since movement between realms had been unrestricted, and as best as she could tell, the goddess had something to do with why it had happened in the first place. It was only fair that she be confronted with it now.

As an afterthought, Melisade added, "And, of course, a few casks of her wine. The royal supply is getting low." She smiled mischievously then, licking gently at the wine that lingered on her lips.

"The court still retains two portals as an emergency measure. Perhaps it is time to play those cards," Melisade looked pointedly at Adrianna with a smile as though letting her into the game.

As Melidade spoke, Adrianna slowly allowed her expression to open--wider eyes, a cocked eyebrow, a curled, excited grin. There had of course been whispers of portals in the court's hands, but no confirmation that Adrianna had been able to secure--that wasn't exactly in her purview.

"Or at least threaten to play them." Melidate added, and Adrianna nodded thoughtfully, gears turning in her own mind to surmise where precisely the queen was going with this. She'd given Adrianna more cards to play, but not yet revealed how she wanted Adrianna to play them. Just what was it that the queen was ready to up the stakes for?

"I think we should--carefully--encourage the goddess to see that we have the power to negotiate with other gods, if necessary," Melisade offered after an ample pause. "I tire of exchanging trifles with her. It's time for her to collaborate with us like the deity she is."

Still a bit esoteric, but certainly very interesting. Adrianna could assuredly come up with the details needed to steer her encounter with the goddess in the direction the queen was gesturing, though it looked like the queen was still thinking on more to add.

"But if that is not a successful leverage point, then we should ask for more than portals. Two of the dark fae should be instructed in how to make them."

The queen's eyes glittered at the thought, and Adrianna was sure that her own did, too. She was restless to traverse more than this realm, to learn more about the goings-on in the many elsewheres they'd been long separated from by the unpredictability of their gates. She was elated that the queen was prepared to put momentum there, and that this seemed like a perfect opportunity to do it.

"And, of course, a few casks of her wine. The royal supply is getting low."

Adrianna giggled softly, the sound a warm and pleasant sparkle.

"Well then," she said, her voice rich and velvety as she dipped into a graceful curtsey--perhaps understated by her outfit, but elegant in gesture nonetheless. "I shall be delighted to serve as your hand in this matter, your majesty."

Melisade could not deny that she appreciated the ways Adrianna eagerly followed what she had to say, down to the last drop. The woman even giggled softly, pleasantly. There was something beautiful about her... when she wasn't sizing Melisade up.

"Well then," Adrianna said with a grand curtsey that could nearly have summoned a complimentary gown from the air, "I shall be delighted to serve as your hand in this matter, your majesty."

Melisade nodded. "Given your discretion in dealing with the human and the speed with which you delivered the necessary information, it seems only right." May as well praise the woman for good behavior lest she get any ideas. After another moment, she added, "Ask that the goddess teach you and I to create the portals." The queen knew that giving Adrianna personal stake in the negotiation would lead to a more favorable outcome. "We should both prepare ourselves for that. I suspect learning from the goddess will be no small task."

She looked Adrianna over, wondering how much thought the advisor had given to what learning from the goddess might entail.

"How soon can you be ready to set off?" the queen asked.