View source for The Forgotten Hours

== The Fair Folk Arrive ==

The call for the government's meeting was sudden and mildly inconveniencing to everyone that was called to sit in the meeting room at meeting hall at the Feathered One's palace.  Among the attendees were the three head priestesses, Buruku, Cyretha, Jathin, and the various secretaries and advisers to the state, of which Sheevawn was included in these.  As an administer of interior Sheevawn was most curious to see what sort of business required that everyone important in the city needed to immediately converge.

The Feathered One's meeting hall was adorned with red curtains hanging along all the walls, draping down at the corners.  Various coral statues decorated the ground, and the furniture of the meeting hall was constructed of the finest wood that the country never exported.  When everyone arrived at the hall, the talking began immediately with the Feathered One taking the lead.  “Welcome, and I apologize for giving everyone such a short notice,” he said, “but there is a problem that the priestesses who made the latest sacrifice have reported upon their arrival back at the temple.”  He paused, looking for some kind of reply, but there was just mere silence as everyone waited for him to continue.  “The priestesses spotted some Fair Folk on Mount Hamoji while they were conducting their sacrifice.”

There was a quick buzz filling the room, when finally someone made their voice known a little more loudly, saying, “Should we request dynastic aid?”

Buruku shook his head and frowned at the man, speaking quickly “This is probably nothing the troops can't handle.  Lets not get any more silly Dragon-Blooded involved with our island than we absolutely need to.  How many did the priestesses see?”

One of the senior priestesses turned to answer, saying, “They saw seven.  They just watched and didn't interfere.  The priesthood ignored them and nothing happened.”

The panicked man spoke up again, “This is not good, we have allies, lets use them.”

Buruku turned to the Feathered One and said, “I must protest to his fool notion that we require the Scarlet Dynasty to defend ourselves.”

“Very well,” said the Feathered One, “I'll leave this in your hands, Buruku.”

“Wait!” Sheevawn stood up suddenly interrupting. “It's always been our policy to only hunt the Wyld creatures that come off the mountain.  I don't see why that has to change if the Fair Folk agree to stay put.”

“Sheevawn, I don't think I'm alone when I say I'm going to have to agree with Buruku's idea unless you can present some compelling reason why we should let the Fair Folk be.” Said Cyretha.

Sheevawn turned and said, “Well look at it this way.  Suppose there is more than just a handful.  We could be starting a war.  Not that we don't have the resources to win it, but in the mean time, a war with Fair Folk on our mountain would mean delayed sacrifices, as it would take longer to organize a large military unit to escort sacrifices up the mountain.  In addition to how much longer it takes to move a large military unit compared to just a few priestesses and their sacrifices.  That is to say nothing of what happens when the priestesses are sacked and the sacrifice is either killed by the Fair Folk or escapes.”

“And just who is going to go work out this deal with the Fair Folk?” One of the other priestesses said, leaning forward over the table that everyone was gathered around.

After a long, uncomfortable silence, Sheevawn looked around and said, “Fine, I'll do it.”

“You're hardly qualified for something like this, Sheevawn.” Said Cyretha again.

“Yeah, well, I'm better than nobody.”  Sheevawn frowned a little.

“Alright, enough of this.”  The Feathered One spoke up again for the first time since the beginning.  “I see no harm in letting Sheevawn try her negotiations.  If it fails, we'll go back to Buruku's plan.  In the meantime, Sheevawn, I'll appoint you ambassador to the Fair Folk.”

“Thank you, Feathered One.”  Sheevawn said.

Buruku shrugged and chuckled a little. “Let me know when she fails miserably.  I'll have the men on standby in the meantime.”

[[Sheevawn Lockheart]]