Quiet Laughter

A troll carefully poured a spicy vintage into three wooden goblets before balancing the tray and carrying the burden over to the special patrons of a small Camino Fantasma bar.

“Imagine my surprise when I found my favorite beverage was being served here.” Danu said as drinks were set before them. She bowed in thanks to the troll before continuing. “Lolita’s Cherry, served in the human realm, by a troll. Ah! What ever will my daughter, our queen, think.”

“That you’re doing pretty much whatever you want.” Royal answered promptly, eyeing her goblet with suspicion. Tighe pulled his own drink toward him and peered into its depths moodily.

“Well yes.” Danu replied sourly before taking a delicate sip of her drink. “But do you suppose she would break all those masks of hers in a fit of anger? Might she finally quit hiding her face because I refuse to hide mine?”

“Honored Grandmother,” Tighe said with a sigh. “Your daughter, Queen Titania the blessed Premier Lady of the Court has reasoned that the only person that may view her face is her husband, King Oberon the mighty Lord of the Court.”

Danu and Royal gave him disturbed looks, the former gently patting her brother on the back.

“Fraello, have some of Danu’s special cherry sherry and relax. Forget the long drawn out titles. Forget Lian and everything related to the ass. Get drunk, I’ll pick your pickled little hide up and cart you home.”

After a brief moment of hesitation, Tighe took the wooden cup into his hands and guzzled the sherry down. Almost the moment the mug was slammed down, a troll--possibly the one from before--- refilled Tighe’s drink.

Danu smiled briefly as she sipped her own drink, watching Tighe throw back three more cups before he began to show signs of intoxication. Royal dutifully kept an eye on her older brother while relishing a slight buzz.

“So Royal,” Danu said before laughing quietly as Tighe laid his head down upon the table and promptly passed out. “What are you going to do with Tighe while you serve Karnik?”

Royal winced and took a sip of her drink as Danu continued.

“If memory serves, the brute is a sadistic fiend with homosexual preferences. Your brother would not do well in an environment such as that.”

“I know!” Royal growled as she slammed her cup down, sloshing a few drops of blood red liquid onto the table. A troll dutifully appeared to clean up the mess before leaving.

“But I can’t break my vow to Master Karnik, nor can I leave Tighe unaccompanied.” she continued with a sigh.

“He may accompany me.” Danu responded with a lazy smile and then took a sip of sherry. “My colleagues do not stand on propriety. Garai Lian would never dare to approach my Valkyrie warriors and my what lovely get-togethers we have. Have you ever been to one, Royal?”

“Nope, can’t say that I have.” the young girl said mildly with a smirk on her face. Fae nature struck again.

“They’re very fun. Tighe will adore every single one.”

“I’m sure.” Royal replied as she rose to her feet. “Listen, I gotta go. I have my duties to perform and Master Karnik will want his reports written and mailed off.”

“Oh come now, “Danu pouted. “As your former queen I command you to drink more with me and share courtly gossip.”

“Fine.” Royal said with a smirk leaning over the table toward Danu. “Hand Maiden Ellyon of the House Blackwater is dead. She pissed me off and so I blew her air head off into the sky. Garai Lian is a poofter with designs on my fraello.”

“I knew that tidbit since you, my dear, were nine.” Danu replied with a chuckle. “Don’t tell me you never knew of the nasty looks Garai sent you anytime he spied Tighe showering you with affection.”

“I thought he just hated me for my diluted blood.”

Danu laughed, “That too but mostly because Tighe loves you and not him. Almost the entire court knows this. Even those Fae here on Camino Fantasma know. Personally I think Garai is being silly. Yes, very annoyingly silly.”

“He’s gone too far.” Royal revealed quietly standing up straight. She began walking out the door before adding, “Take care of Tighe for me. He’s my most precious brother.”

Danu cut her eyes to Tighe’s unconscious form before smiling and taking a sip of her drink.

“Dear, that was the whole point of this exchange.”