Who: Una Nicnevin and Velathra Featherbite What: Questions and answers, aka Velathra wants to know what Una knows about missing artifacts When: 3 September 1888 Where: Una's home in London Warnings: Sidhe snark?
Those of the Winter Court, it was often said, should always be treated by outsiders with as much caution as respect. Matters between themselves, however, could be fraught with suspicion and politics; the degree of which often depended upon status.
For Velathra Featherbite, socialising with her own kind was a rare indulgence - and, frequently, her arrival could often be regarded with concern, with even nobility having reason to worry if her purpose was in their forced arrest and retrieval. It was a reputation more likely to create enemies than friendship, with an icy temperament best suited for hunting than games of intrigue.
A certain sense of illusion was paramount to retain when it came to dealings on Earth. There, Featherbite want by at least one other name, chiefly to avoid others who might see fit to involuntarily summon her by magic, as well as to remain largely undetected by those of the Winter Court, itself, who would likely know of her true title of address.
The home of one Una Nicnevin, a similarly adopted name, was where the shadowy figure of Velathra now presented herself. In this case, however, it was for the purposes of retrieving information, not a suspect accusing of criminal misconduct.
"Winter's greeting, kin," she offered, inclining head in the expected social custom. The language spoken largely foreign to human society. "I come invested with purpose of the Court. Will you furnish me with privacy?"
There were always servitors close by in Una's home: her redcap butler and the smaller creatures under the redcap's supervision. She dismissed them all with a word and answered Velathra in their own tongue. "Winter's greeting, kinswoman, and be welcome in my home and in the shelter of hospitality, without obligation." The return inclination of her head was at the precisely correct angle for their relative age and station in the court.
Una had decorated her home in a manner fit for entertaining the mortals whom she expected there, but beneath the lines of glamour, Velathra could see the truth: many of the carvings and curves of the wood mimicked the fittings of the Winter Court in kind, if not in material, and the blues and whites of the decor called back to those colours.
A polite gesture offered Velathra a seat in one of those chairs while Una constructed a quick set of wards against scrying. "How may I assist our Queen, and you in her service?".
The huntress had a way of seeming more like she was adopting a perch than sitting in the conventional sense. Sometimes nobles even invited her to social functions, purely to see if they could make other guests fearful. So many things could be a game in politics. A game of knives. Rarely, though, were such invitations accepted. Velathra did not fancy herself a tool for others to curry favour through.
"Queen and country," Velathra spoke in English, simply to make a point of mockery before switching back to a language both were more comfortable with. Even she could issue forth a reserved chuckle when the moment suited her - brief, though it was. "You bind yourself with the undead... But I come not to pass judgement."
With that, a brief series of gestures were exchanged and magic lit the air before them. The human world had its signatures, able to be forged with right application of skill. Magic... Magic could be made to possess a certain taste. Symbols conducted in the correct order, which could convey flavours, scents and sensations, knowledge, beyond the limited senses of mortal beings. Not overly elaborate, but most certainly definitive.
Fae magic went beyond mere pen and ink.
Effectively showing personal credentials and proof of the Queen's trust, the magic vanished, leaving nothing for others to copy - and there were consequences for those who might try.
"The royal armoury. There was an... Altercation. Our cousins of the Summer Court are not yet aware, but a number of our more powerful weapons, tools, passed through the veil. Less responsible hands than ours would find the power they wield to be most gratifying... Especially if foolish minds were to try to force the secrets of their crafting."
There was a pause. Velathra allowing a moment for the ramifications to mentally sink in. While the possibility of London, itself, being swallowed by catastrophe might not necessarily alarm the Queen, being blamed for it would not be desirable - and nor was the possibility of certain dimensional doorways being unlocked. Some realms were left alone for good reason.
"Should the Life-Drinkers have knowledge of our property's whereabouts, you would be well-placed to discover this."
Velathra's judgement hardly concerned Una; she knew what Mab thought and beyond that Velathra's feelings were of no moment.
The business of a theft of weapons from the Winter Court's armory was another matter entirely. "I have not heard of any such thing, but if I should, you will be the first to know it. I already serve as the eyes and ears of our Queen in the community of the unliving; I will simply add this to those things I seek additional knowledge of." Una found herself frowning, more in thought than in distress. The idea of destroying any of the worlds displeased her, if only because of the problems of balance. "Do you have any specific information that make you believe it is the vampires, or are you asking me because I am conveniently placed to know the answer? I can assist more thoroughly if you're permitted to bring me into your confidence regarding your suspicions."
"Convenience," supplied the guest. "They hunger for power as much as the wolves... A whiff of such things may almost certainly attract their attention, even if not personally involved. If one seeks blood in the water, look to where sharks begin to circle. Be subtle... Even your betrothed may have a hand in this."
Velathra seemed like she should be feeling arrogant enough to put feet up on the nearest table, just to give a visual statement of power. She was no thug, however and respect could gain long-term favours better than threats.
Not that Una, herself, was above suspicion. Velathra had not yet voiced such concerns, but nor did she really have to. Still, there was no harm in tossing Una what seemed to be parchment, illustrating the basics of size, type and shape of what was sought.
"Tell me... Why must you suffer the surroundings of man? I understand you engage yourself in their affairs well beyond what duty requires."
Una turned her cool gaze on Velathra. "It amuses me to do so and alleviates the tedium of existence. And the Summer Court interferes here all the time. For all that their representative holds the office here, even from Her Majesty, there are tasks which I am well situated to perform for the Court. And that is precisely because I choose involvement, rather than shrinking from it."
The truth was that, other than the mayfly lives of men, they weren't that different, the courts beyond the Veil and the courts of mortals. But it was precisely that difference and those changes that made life among mortals so much more interesting to Una; there was always something new, some new art, some new poetry, some new music. The Courts were unchanging, even stagnant; fights and schemes were vicious and petty precisely because the stakes were so low. It wasn't the only reason why Una had chosen the life she had, but it was a factor in her choices.
Velathra was narrowing her eyes with a frown. She really did find it odd for one like her to willingly be engaging with mankind in this manner. Then again, actually wedding one of the undead seemed just as bizarre.
"I suppose it brings you purpose," the visitor concluded, leaning forward. "Though the allure escapes me... For such limited beings, they enjoy success far in excess of what is earned. It is... Perplexing."
The slow shake of head she exhibited, was enough to convey her sincerity on the matter. Humanity really was something Velathra failed to comprehend compassion or desire for.
"When was the last time you joined a hunt? The society of these creatures is suffocating, but the land... That I understand."
"It has been some time since I rode to a true hunt, though I take time to hunt and visit the lands that are mine under mortal law in Scotland every year. Perhaps when you have finished your duty, I can show you the pleasures of this side of the Veil." The invitation was real, though Una's gaze and attention was mostly on the list. She finished skimming it and looked up at Velathra. "I do know something that may be of use to you. I can't be certain because I'm not party to the details of the other event, but it seems unlikely that there are two groups of mysterious artifacts loose in the city.
"There are two Americans in the city, from the American equivalent of the Night Watch. They were watching me so I asked one of them what he wanted, and it was to find out what my betrothed might know about ritual objects that were stolen by vampires in a coven called Stahl. They would not tell me what the objects were for, and I chose not to force the matter at the time. I spoke with our Summer kinsman Conall mac Ruadh on this matter; he knew the coven of old, before they fled across the ocean."
Una touched a long, delicate finger to her tongue and then blew across it, causing a cone of frost to extend out toward Velathra. She whispered a few ancient words and most of it fell away, leaving the likeness of Elliot Rogers hanging in the air. "He is called Elliot Rogers, and he can be reached through the local office of the Pinkertons, the American agency. For you it will be simpler to find him by the smell of the magic on him. He travelled in time, not very far and not very interestingly, but usefully for your purpose. I can fetch his card if you want it as well."
Americans? Velathra took a moment to process the term, sifting through her memory. The cultural differences of humanity were not a priority for her. Velathra's time on Earth was usually for very specific reasons and only rarely demanded anything along the lines of conversational interaction.
"Conall... Yes, I've had dealings with him before. If this muddy business is not soon resolved, our cousins may have to be informed. Let us hope otherwise."
Allowing the frozen air to eventually fall to one relaxed hand, palm upwards, like some shimmering, slow-motion waterfall, Velathra entertained the smallest of fond smiles in its wake. There had, perhaps, been a time in her youth when such such demonstrations were marvelled at and mankind's typical inability to muster even these simple acts, seemed to epitomise how malfunctional their species was.
"This will prove useful, yes... And if not related, the undead still make for excellent hunts. You may wish to keep that in mind, should your new husband prove less than adequate," Velathra added in jest, lifting her gaze from where the frost melted and standing to feet. "His card. Yes, what does it say?"
The mention of travel through time had earned a lift of brow, though little more. The both of them knew enough to not find it overly remarkable. More humans and other living things disappeared through dimensional portals and sink-holes than mankind, itself, ever realised, let alone acknowledged. Some beings even took advantage of such lack of knowledge.
Fairies being one of them.
"I would not be averse to your invitation, thank you. Our ancestors once thrived freely in this realm, after all. We may enjoy safety, but this breeds stagnation."
Una gave the mortal address, and wrote it down for Velathra, along with directions for how to get there by large and notable landmarks. It wasn't as if Velathra were going to take a cab to get there, after all. Offering the paper to her counterpart, Una said, "That is one thing you can count on among the mortals. Stagnation is not a problem here."