By Bolgerjc
“No,” Lady Samantha stated before setting her horse back into motion.
Noellene stared blankly at the word as if it were spoken in a foreign tongue. She was not a being who was used to being told no and it was an unacceptable answer as she had need of their assistance if she was to get what she wanted. Perhaps she could make some sort of bargain with the humans for treasure, humans were greedy simple creatures that had an endless interest in the metal called gold.
Albert was just as stunned by the behavior of his knight, he had never known her to be so rude, especially to a creature in need of their assistance. Did Lady Samantha carry some sort of grudge against the Fae? He coaxed his horse to catch up so he could ask why they weren’t going to a place that wasn’t far from off of where their journey was taking them.
“I have access to gold that I can give you in exchange for your services human,” Noellene fluttered over and land on Thunder’s head in front of the paladin. “I suggest you take my most generous offer before you earn my ire.”
“I have access to gold,” Samantha leaned in close to the fairy. “You will have to offer me something more substantial than gold in order for me to assist you.”
A red aura filled the air around the small creature as she was overwhelmed by anger. Noellene stomped her foot but the horse seemed to take no note of the angry gesture. She glared hard at the paladin who met the gaze with a rather bored look.
“You have done wrong by injuring me,” Noellene snapped. “You owe a debt to me for what you have done.”
“You are the one who fell into a trap design for a dumb animal,” the fairy’s cheeks grew red with embarrassment instead of anger. “I wonder what your brethren would have to say about that. We protected you from any danger while you were knocked out and have carried you much closer to your destination so if there was any debt it has been more than repaid.”
The magical creature opened her mouth to argue with Samantha but found the human’s logic frustratingly correct. This human had even made a threat of telling others of her foolishness, something she could never live down if it was spread in the royal could. She would have to bargain with this ruthless human. The thought drew a smile to her face at meeting a human who knew some of the ways of her and her ilk.
“You have vexed me human with the truth of your words,” Noellene met the watchful gaze of the paladin carefully. “Since gold is not of an interest to you perhaps I could offer you some of the wonders available to a princess of the Winter Court.”
“You might be able to interest me,” Lady Samantha said softly. “What do you have to offer?”
