Yes, the High Royal House of Faerie is represented by a nine-pointed star, just like the Trinity Star inside my chest. Their star represents the Nine Great Magics: Love, Power, Protection, Health, Abundance, Transmutation, Beauty, Acceptance, and Hate. They happen to be the same magics I have a direct line to through my star... when my star wants to cooperate. Why was a Goblin—a Fire Faerie—wearing the House of Spirit's device? Because every house is required to send members to the High Royal House to serve for a few years. It was considered an honor to be chosen.
“Duchess Isleen.” Arach nodded to her. “And Aren, it's good to have you home. Is your term over?”
“No, my King” Aren bowed, his dandelion fluff of hair settling softly on his pus-green scalp.
Most Goblins preferred to stay in a... well, an unkempt state. They prize dirt and grime the way everyone else enjoys the scent of soap and the feel of clean skin. They do bathe regularly—they don't stink up the castle or anything—but once clean, they tend to smack on something to deal with that annoying state. That being said, the High Royal Household has different standards than the House of Fire and they don't permit their staff to slick back their downy hair with lard. So, poor Aren was left glaring at his snickering friends as he self-consciously smoothed the fluff that would have normally lied respectfully limp around his excessively large ears.
Aren stepped forward with his shoulders back and straightened to his full height of about four feet two inches. “I have come with a request from the High King.”
“You may deliver it.” Arach made a prompting gesture.
“King Cian requests that you and Queen Vervain join him at the Castle of Eight this evening for a meeting concerning all of Tír na nÓg.”
The Fire Fey went still and alert. Their king narrowed his dragon eyes.
“This evening?” I asked. “That's rather short notice.”
“The High Prince has just returned from a visit with his mother and has some unsettling news that he wishes to discuss with every monarch.”
“That's not at all ominous,” I muttered.
“Very well, have some breakfast with your family before you leave, Aren.” Arach waved toward the Goblins. “It appears that they've missed you greatly.”
“Thank you, my King.” Aren bowed then strutted over to his fellow Goblins.
Although Aren's pristine state was far from the Goblin ideal, the high royal tabard made up for it. His fellow Goblins admired the uniform as he joined them, especially the women. I hoped Aren wasn't going to return to the High Court with grubby fingerprints all over the royal device.
“Will you be joining us, Isleen?” I asked.
Our Leanan-Sidhe chatelaine had been dating the High Prince for awhile now and since he'd just returned from the God Realm, I assumed that she'd want to see him.
“If it's all right with both of you.”
“Of course,” Arach said. “Have a carriage prepared for us. We'll leave after lunch.”
“Yes, my King.” Isleen hurried off to handle the arrangements.
“Who are we leaving in charge?” I asked Arach.
“No one.” He gave me a face that said the mere idea of someone other than himself being in charge of the Fire Kingdom was laughable. “What could have possibly compelled you to ask that?”
“We're taking Isleen with us. She runs the castle. What if there's an emergency while we're gone?”
“They will summon us back.”
“What if we can't get here in time?”
“I will advise them through a mirror.”
“Or you could leave King Roarke—”
“Do not finish that sentence, A Thaisce,” Arach warned me.
I laughed and gave Roarke an apologetic look. “Sorry, I tried.”
“Well, don't do it again,” Roarke retorted. “The last thing I want is to be in charge of this kingdom. I can barely handle leading the Fire Cats; what would I do with an entire kingdom?”
“Burn it down, likely,” Arach muttered. “And not in a good way.”
