The siren slightly bowed her head. “I desire whatever money I receive as compensation for my position.”
Okay, that was neatly worded enough that she could be referring to bribe money—which means it’s a solid no for her.
The Sylph was next. She straightened her blouse then smiled at me. “I am intrigued by humans, whom I have heard possess generous spirits. I would happily serve such a person.”
Pretty sure she thinks I’m an idiot she can sweet talk money out of. Not the worst motivation, but hopefully the brownie is better.
I smiled emptily and turned to the brownie.
As it is with all brownies, she was smaller—about waist high—and had thin, willowy limbs.
“And what made you apply for this job?” I asked.
“The offered salary,” the brownie bluntly said.
I perked up at her plain words. “Onlythe offered salary?”
The brownie peered at me with shiny brown eyes, slightly magnified by a pair of classy cat-eye glasses. “Yes?”
“What else attracted you to the position?” I asked.
“The size of the salary,” the brownie said.
“You already said that.”
“You asked them about their motivations.” The brownie nodded her head at the other candidates. “I’m telling you mine. It’s the salary, the size of the salary, and the holiday bonuses.”
Annnndd I’d found her. This wasexactlywho I wanted to hire. Someone who was money minded rather than shifty—like the sylph and siren.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Indigo, Queen Leila.” She curtsied, pulling her skirt wide with the motion.
“That’s a pretty name. Indigo, welcome to the team!”
“What?” The sylph drew back, her airy powers making her hair flutter in her disbelief.
“Sorry, that was pretty poor leadership.” I gave the sylph and siren my business look. “I am gratified that you applied for the position, but we’ll be going with someone else. Thank you for your time.”
“But she’s abrownie,” the sylph said.
Ahhh yes, the Paragon was right.
I needed to win the power game in my own Court—so people stopped questioning me about my food choices and hiring habits.
It’s fine!
I propped one fist up on my hip. “Yeah. And?”
“A companion is supposed to represent the best of us common fae. A brownie companion will make our Court a laughing stock at multi-Court socials!” the sylph said.
“Yeah, and I’m concerned about what the nobles spend their time actually doing all day since there’s apparently all this time for socials, but we’re not solving that problem today. Thanks for applying. Goodbye.” I turned my back to the sylph and smiled at my new companion/assistant.
It wasn’t that I didn’t understand what the sylph was alluding to—she was talking about the second level of this power game.
But the fact was if I didn’t get my Court under control, it didn’t matter how little the other Courts thought of us, because I’d bedead. For now, surviving my own people was the highest priority—starting with picking employees that weren’t going to betray and/or possibly harm me.
The door creaked as Skye opened it for the upset applicants.
