LIFE IN THE FAIRY KINGDOM
The lower magical ranks like the sprites can fly but they have to tap the soles of their boots so many times and then they fly off. Their distance is limited but nobody else considers this a bad idea. It stops the sprites spreading their mischieviousness and the havoc it causes too far. On those grounds, the sprites consider this a very bad idea but they know they have no hope of overcoming it. Sprites are despised also for being irresponsible over reproduction but they feel anything they say or do would give the “snobs” ammunition to use against them. This is true to an extent. Wes is the first sprite to really make something of himself and is surprising everybody by holding down his job as the Queen’s aide reasonably well.
In any village where there is a mixed population, the sprites are the lowest of the low and made to do all the menial tasks. Everyone is aware this is in an attempt to limit the amount of time the sprites have in which to cause havoc. It works to a certain extent. The sprites hate it of course so every so often they “rebel” and go on a magical prank spree. Sometimes the Queen will visit villages damaged in this way and has been known to correct things herself. Whenever this happens the offending sprites find themselves cooling in a cell for at least a month. When the fairy squad correct such damage, they, as encouraged by Eileen to do, put the offending sprites in stocks and invite the villagers to pelt rotten tomatoes and other fruit and veg at the sprites. In most villages, this is considered a good day’s entertainment (annoying the sprites as they feel they ought to get a vote of thanks for providing it!). The sprites would find stopping being mischievous as difficult as stopping breathing, though there are those who would like to see both events happen there!
The bigger settlements are beginning to have their own cafes where the more sedate members of their society can enjoy tea, coffee and cake with decent conversation. Sprites are excluded though the irony is that the pixies are the ones baking and brewing the goods that are sold! Mind, they know better than to cause trouble as the whole village would turn on them and even the most mischievious sprite knows not to bite off more than they can chew. The cafes were slow to take off, the idea of having your refreshment in public view was considered odd, but the idea of making pixies wait on you caught on (and the pixies make money out of it so they’re not that unhappy). It is rumoured it is only time before the Queen visits one of these new fangled establishments.
Eileen likes cafes. Not only is the food good (she has the enviable knowledge that nobody will dare to serve her anything remotely off, she would make them pay), but the café itself is a useful source of gossip. She has found, prior to her defection, people are willing to tell her what’s worrying them over a cup of coffee or tea. Quite often it leads to her being sent out to tackle a new monster that’s reared its ugly head but Eileen can take comfort from the fact by getting in there early to deal with the pest, she’s (a) doing her job and (b) saving many lives. Eileen loves a good chocolate cake, as does Hanacrill. The Queen prefers delicate pastries. Eileen never has trouble getting a decent seat with a good view either...
In any village where there is a mixed population, the sprites are the lowest of the low and made to do all the menial tasks. Everyone is aware this is in an attempt to limit the amount of time the sprites have in which to cause havoc. It works to a certain extent. The sprites hate it of course so every so often they “rebel” and go on a magical prank spree. Sometimes the Queen will visit villages damaged in this way and has been known to correct things herself. Whenever this happens the offending sprites find themselves cooling in a cell for at least a month. When the fairy squad correct such damage, they, as encouraged by Eileen to do, put the offending sprites in stocks and invite the villagers to pelt rotten tomatoes and other fruit and veg at the sprites. In most villages, this is considered a good day’s entertainment (annoying the sprites as they feel they ought to get a vote of thanks for providing it!). The sprites would find stopping being mischievous as difficult as stopping breathing, though there are those who would like to see both events happen there!
The bigger settlements are beginning to have their own cafes where the more sedate members of their society can enjoy tea, coffee and cake with decent conversation. Sprites are excluded though the irony is that the pixies are the ones baking and brewing the goods that are sold! Mind, they know better than to cause trouble as the whole village would turn on them and even the most mischievious sprite knows not to bite off more than they can chew. The cafes were slow to take off, the idea of having your refreshment in public view was considered odd, but the idea of making pixies wait on you caught on (and the pixies make money out of it so they’re not that unhappy). It is rumoured it is only time before the Queen visits one of these new fangled establishments.
Eileen likes cafes. Not only is the food good (she has the enviable knowledge that nobody will dare to serve her anything remotely off, she would make them pay), but the café itself is a useful source of gossip. She has found, prior to her defection, people are willing to tell her what’s worrying them over a cup of coffee or tea. Quite often it leads to her being sent out to tackle a new monster that’s reared its ugly head but Eileen can take comfort from the fact by getting in there early to deal with the pest, she’s (a) doing her job and (b) saving many lives. Eileen loves a good chocolate cake, as does Hanacrill. The Queen prefers delicate pastries. Eileen never has trouble getting a decent seat with a good view either...