The Queen's Handmaiden
an excerpt

Loki stared down from the amber throne of the Unseelie court to the shade that had moved into his presence. It was odd for a shade to let itself be that visible, so Loki decided to hear it out.

"Speak, Shade"

The shade shimmered slightly and began.

"Oh great Loki, I am sssure you will be pleasssed to know that Nokomisssss isss now in the possssesssssion of our sssshadow sssssship."

The hair on the back of Loki's neck stood up, and he felt a warm glow halfway up his ears. This news was better than he had hoped.

"Are you sure, shade? It is most important, you know."

Again the shade shimmered, this time rearranging the wisps about itself.

"I am assss ssssure asss a ssssshade can be, your highnesssssssssss. Sssseeeee for yourssssself" The shade rearranged itself and suddenly, there in the throne room, the interior of a dark ship appeared. After a moment, the image shifted slightly, and when it refocused there was a small gray cat with a dark "M" on it's forehead and three rings on it's tail, sitting in the corner of the room, watching carefully all that was happening around her. She did not seem to be noticing the camera however.

Loki gazed at the image of his step-sister, trapped in the space between time, and smiled. This was good news indeed.

"Excellent! When can I expect her here?"

The shade moved back slightly and disapparated a bit. The vision of the cat in the room disappeared, leaving a only a cold spot in the air where the image used to be.

"That dependsssssss, your highnessssssss, on what you are willing to pay to the sssshadesssss."

"WHAT?!"

Loki's happiness evaporated as fast as the vision of Nokomis had disappeared in front of him. He could hardly believe his ears. The shades were going to try to extort something more from him! How dare they! Shades were untrustworthy independent mercenaries, but Loki had heard that the shades were mostly honorable, if sneaky, in their dealings with other creatures. Loki's yellow eyes narrowed and grew hard. He forced his voice to be calm. In any negotiation, the one with the best hand, or at least the best perceived hand, was the one that would win.

"We have a contract, Shade. We agreed on the terms. Why are you trying to change them now?"

"Becausssse now we have ssssssomething you want, (because we can)" replied the shade, simply.

It was all Loki could do to not leap from his throne and rip the shade into shreds.

"Be aware, Ssssssire, that we have alsssso contacted Queen Nokomissssssss' court, and are asssssking what they are willing to pay for the ssssssafe return of their queen."

Loki roared. The shade disappeared.

"We will talk again ssssssooon, Sssssire." said a disembodied voice, and then it was silent.

"Guards! Council! My chambers, Immediately!" Loki roared, and, ears flat, tail out, he stormed out of the throne room, his long robe floating in the whirlwind behind him. The senschel, always composed, pounded his staff to regain order and silence in the throne room.

"Court is over! Dismissed!" he called before disappearing behind the curtains and down the hallway to join the others. He was worried, he had never seen Loki so angry. He was very glad he was not the shade. They were going to regret trying to extort money from the rightful king of the Universe.