It is a warm and blustery morning in Jastrey. Tattered fliers old and new flap in the breeze from under their tacks and nails. Over the treetops, South of town, two figures approach. A tall thin fairy and a short plump fairy circle the town once, then descend to land next to the post. They look at it intently for a moment.
"Tansy, my friend." says the tall fairy. "It looks like we've arrived just in time."
"I agree, friend Willow," the plump fairy replies. "Now we need to find a cousin to deputize."
"Indeed," slender Willow says. She reaches into a bag that is slung over her shoulder and produces a pearly colored horn. She lifts the horn to her lips and plays a short tune. The instrument's sound is mellow, but long carrying and adds a sweet perfume to the breeze.
The travelling fae exchange a smile and a nod.
Tansy steps forward as Willow puts her horn away.
"I thank you, Cousin Glimmer. We would be delighted to join you in a cup of tea. And we're hoping you can assist us in a project for the Seelie Court."
The fae link arms with Glimmer and await her guidance teaward.
Glimmer links arms with the two fae and leads them towards the tavern. As they enter, she directs them to her table and says "Is fada o tá sé d'onóir agam a dheimhniú obair chléireachais!" (It has been ages since I have been able to confirm clerical court duty. basically, lol) Thank you cousins. What are my duties within this project?"
Glimmer places three teacups on the table after turning it upright and pours. "Sugar, or no? We Papillio do love our sugar."
Willow sinks languidly into the offered seat. "No sugar for me," she says with a warm smile.
"I'll take her share!" Tansy says, filling her hand with cookies and sitting as well.
"It's a fairly simple thing, Cousin," Tansy says around a crumbly mouthful. She indicates a blue bag at her side. "We're starting up a Fairy Mail service."
Willow nods as she sips. "You see, the Court has had some unexpected expenses lately and we need to raise some revenue..."
"Sooo, his Majesty decreed that we will all put our talents to use, and the one thing we're good at is getting around, sooo..." Tansy interjects.
"So we Papillio are becoming messengers." Willow finishes "We'll take a message anywhere, if they pay enough. What we need you to do is collect and deliver the messages on this end, and collect the fees." She reached into the bag on her side and produced a few items.
Willow lays a fancy hat, a bag and two small books on the table. "The bag is for the letters. It's enchanted so it can't be stolen from you. You give it to the fairy who comes to deliver and he will give you another like it with messages for your town. One book has all the prices for delivery and the other is for keeping track of the letters that come and go. The hat is fabulous and is for you, if you want the job."
"We'll come by every mest or so to pick up the profits." Tansy says with a self-satisfied smile. "You can keep 10% of each delivery charge for yourself and we get the rest."
Glimmer prepares Tansy's tea with several cubes of sugar, look's at Willow with a befuddled gaze at the refusal of sugar, but sits down before speaking.
"Fae Mail! What a WONDERMUSFUL thing! I'd be happy to oversee a portion of the project and open a post here in Jastrey. The hat IS fabulous, as you say." Glimmer places the books in the magical bag and the hat on her head. She sits up straight and sips her tea, pinky-out, suddenly seeming much more aware of her position and feeling important.
"So cousins, I will accept this task from the court. Please take my best regards and wishes with you! Is ther anything else I should know or deal with before I spread the good word?"
The two fae look at Glimmer solemnly for a moment and pull their chairs closer.
"Well, Cousin," Willow says in a low voice. "You probably should know that the reason we are filling the King's coffers is that he just concluded a series of stunning attacks against the Queen and her Unseelie forces. Word around Court is that if we can raise enough funds, His Majesty will drive them fully out of the Mortal Realm this summer."
Tansy winks and smiles conspiratorialy. "Can you imagine it, Glimmer? A world free of Unseelie? "
Glimmer nearly chokes on her tea at the words being spoken as she tries to calm the anger rising in her cheeks. She leans closer to the pair and says "Well hear hear I say, I do. It's QUITE time for those bloody treacherous wenches to be shown what's what and whom's whom. I do so hope I can be of greater service at some point. I dare say I wouldn't mind shootin' off one of me tipped arrows at one o' the ol' gals. They're no more than common demons I say. Mouthy beasts, too. Is minic a gheibhean beal oscailt diog dunta!" (An open mouth catches often catches a closed fist.)
Glimmer calms herself and continues on "I do so hope we don't upset the balance of things. Do you know what caused My Lord the King to errupt so? I'd hate to upset our Mother Nature. But again, I AM all for a good dose of beatings. I shall do my job well with pride and love for My Lord the King and the Summer Court. Thank you, cousins. Thank you ever so much. I will begin my work immeadiately." Glimmer claps her hands together and pulls the pouches from the bag to begin studying.
The two fae look startled for a moment.
"I don't know WHAT set his Majesy off," Willow says after a moment.
Tansy shakes her head in agreement.
"But we all must do our jobs well," the tall fae concludes. "Thank you for being so willing to take on this assignment. The first courier should be by here tomorrow. We'll send him here to look for you."
With that the two Papillio rise (Tansy sneaks a few extra cookies into her bag.) and curtsey gracefully.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Cousin Glimmer," Tansy says, opening her arms for a hug.
"Yes, thank you," says Willow.
Glimmer hugs Tansy tightly and sways her about a bit. She reaches into her traveller's pouch and pulls a smaller pouch of cookies, placing them in Tansy's hands. "Safe travels cousins! I shall be here tomorrow to accept the mail!" Glimmer curtseys once more and sits back down to her tea.
Glimmer is sitting quietly in the tavern drinking her tea as usual, pondering the day and what tricks she may play. As she puts her cup to her lips, a swett melody playing a familiar tune floats on the breeze past her ears. Glimmer promptly drops her cup, breaking the edge and squeels with joy, jumping directly into the air and kicking over the table. "COUSINS! I say. New cousins have arrived!"
Glimmer flits quickly outside, following the sound of the horn's melodic lilt. She approaches the two new fae with arms wide and dances a small circle before curtseying low and saying "Welcome to Jastrey dear cousins. It has been too long since we've had visitors of such a pleasent sort. I am Glimmer of the Papillio. Well met my well to do's. WINGS OF THE FAE my manners. Pardon. Would you two like to come sit for tea in our tavern to rest your tired wings from your travels?"