. Once inside the entry vestibule, two steps lower than the room beyond, I immediately confirmed what sort of establishment this was. Actually, let me rephrase that. The fact of what sort of establishment I had entered metaphorically stood up and slapped my face with itself. If the inside reminded me of anything, it was fantasy art depicting the interiors …

. While I waited for the east-bound to arrive, my escort milled outside the gate, debating what to do. Finally they agreed that Mára would ride with me while the ‘Watch’, which was apparently the name of the patrol, would follow the tram in the air. I had a lot of fun watching Mára stumble her way through purchasing fare …

. As I took to the air, Prince Manlon spoke again, the voice traveling with me as I flew. “Kiki, remain with my niece, as much as you can. And you may remove this bug, now. My deepest thanks for your assistance.” “Yup yup!” the pixie who was still on my shoulder agreed, then put her little hand behind my …

. “An appropriate witness, Your Highness?” “Sal-nedo (Esteemed Sister), I suggest strongly that you all wait for this witness before making any more claims concerning my little niece’s adventures in Royses.” “I hardly see how it will make any difference, Your Highness,” Mára told my aunt. “It remains clear we cannot have this monster entering the sacred royal grove. We …

. The woman had just called herself my mother’s sister, but I refused to show any negative reaction to a relative calling me ‘monster’. I simply kept the genteel, diplomatic smile I had been giving her from the beginning. I was good at it; the palace ladies who tutored Tiana in protocol in her youth had been merciless. I won’t repeat …

. “No! Miss!” The pink-haired fairy warrior dashed forward and grabbed at me. “It’s dangerous!” She had pulled pretty hard, but as a mere lesser fairy, she didn’t have my vampire fairy level of strength and failed to do more than halt me. “I’m already standing inside the field,” I pointed out. My voice was shaking a bit, because… IT …

. A short while after I climbed back into the sky to resume my flight, Kiki reappeared. I had been so busy I didn’t realize she’d been missing. “Where have you been?” I wondered. “Sneak sneak on greenie!” she said as she reclaimed her perch, this time right between my shoulders with her legs hanging down each side of my …

. By reflex, I had already cast my clumsy [Wind Wall], forgetting my agreement with Durandal, but the holy sword spirit didn’t miss a beat. His Earth mana shield formed around the children and the fallen mage, instead. He had read the tactical situation faster than me. I couldn’t shield the others myself, because I couldn’t locate the new attacker, …

. “Left!” Kiki declared. I resumed flying, heading to our left. She said, “More left!” then, “Too much. Go right!” We kept that up for a bit until she was happy with my direction, then she asked. “Bad fairy strong strong, yup? “She was,” I agreed. “But I guess she didn’t chase after us.” “Nope nope! Kiki strong strong too! …

. Up ahead, I was pretty sure that I could see the meadow where Möemnen’s pets abducted me in the first place. I didn’t know how far her territory extended, but if she sent her bugs to that meadow to bring me to her, perhaps her direct control didn’t extend that far. She had to have their help to pull …