"Of course we do," the King said, remembering his bluster. "Faeries always have to bail you behemoth types out of trouble. It's just this time, we're helping our own kind too."

"Name one," the Queen asked primly.

"One what?"

"One time the faeries helped 'bail you behemoth types' out of trouble. No wonder we never have visitors. You're a pompous ass!"

"Believe it or not," Thorias whispered between the two women, "they actually really like each other."

Shamira didn't care. Her toes and pride had been effectively squashed and whatever authority she was trying to develop had been summarily undermined.

"Come back next week," Thorias said. Then, under his breath...