Tense Situation in Hall of Ancestors

"I, er," the Queen hedged.  "Well, the Ixies told me."

"We heard it from the Scuti as they told it to Prince Adler," the Ixie added.

"Wait, what?" Estmere interrupted.  "These things can like, lie.  Why would you believe such a totally bogus story from them?"

"The Vulpitanians confirmed it," Edessa sighed.

"So why did you go along with their plan?"

"The Empire needs a royal heir," Edessa shrugged.

"Those Vulps are Unseelie," Estmere scoffed.  "It was maybe a mistake to trust them.  But hold on.  Are you saying that my bro was talking to Scutis?  And you were having these ladybugs spy on him for you?"

"She wanted information and was seeking for a way to eliminate him," the Ixie added helpfully.

"What the Netherhells, babe?"

"There is a copy of the Red Book of Appin in the library at Persoc Tor," Edessa explained.  "And it clearly states that Adler .. well 'a white bastard' but who else could that be?  A white bastard will beseige the royal capital and the king will meet his doom."

"No way.  My little bro wouldn't hurt me."

"He has been a pawn of the Sisterhood all his life," Edessa stated.  "His very existence is due to their sinister machinations.  I have ample evidence proving their plan has always been to remove you and place Adler on the throne instead."

"No way!  That's bogus!" Estmere exclaimed.  "All of this is freaking bogus!  You must've misread your book of omens, and the bugs and the Vulps are not telling the truth.  My bro's a cool little dude, not a traitor, and dang it, I'm not a lowfolk bagelmonger's son!  I'm the freakin King of Faerie, and I can prove it!  I'll sit on the Coronation Throne, and that'll show you all how wrong and effed-up you are."

Just outside:

Angus stood on the steps of the Hall of Ancestors and brandished two bottled ships.

"NOW, HERE, THIS DAY," he bellowed.  "I SHALL WREAK MY RIGHTEOUS VENGEANCE ON MY TRAITOROUS ENEMIES, AND THEN I SHALL RE-CONQUER MY CAPITAL CITY!!!"

"Ooh baby," he added as a sudden soft rustling caught his attention.  "I may have to delay for a few minutes and conquer you first, you sweet thing."

......

As I picked myself up off the ground, I noticed (to my chagrin) that the fall had given Avogadro enough time to catch up to me.  How was I going to get a chance to change back to my proper form with this lovelorn mole following me?

Avogadro lunged at Lemmy and began throttling him.  "How dare you trip my beautiful mistress!" he shrieked.

Wait a minute .. LEMMY??  What was he doing here?  I was tempted to intervene in the throttling and talk to him, but then I remembered that he was snooping for the Duchess now.  His presence here might not bode well.  As I thought about it further, I realized with dismay that me must have followed me all the way from the Antglade.

The Relda disguise had lost its usefulness.  I quickly darted away while Avogadro and Lemmy were distracted.  I ducked around the corner and into an ant-stable, where I transmogrified back into myself.

"Sire, distressing news!" an Ixie informed me almost immediately.  "We have been searching for thee!  His Majesty, thy brother Estmere, is in the Hall of Ancestors with the fox-Scuti and the Queen, and one of our sisters who hath been hoodwinked into telling him the dreadful truth about himself!  He faces the ultimate crisis, and we knew that thou wouldst wish to intervene if possible.  Hurry!  There is little time."

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