Writer Lady raises the light to the gray wall.
To Writer Lady. Greetings my friend. Apologies for the dramatic method I am using to reach out to you but The Graylands have been attacked and my means of communication are currently quite limited. My magic has become erratic due to the evil that has infiltrated my lands. I have little control over the results of its use. The enemy has taken over most of my kingdom. I find myself surrounded, only Castle Gris and the woods encircling it remain under my care. Will you please send help in battling this new enemy? As it appears he is from your world, not mine, I feel that the only way I can defeat this human is with the help of other humans. Will you help me win this battle and restore The Graylands to her prior glory? Please respond with great haste as I am not sure how much longer I can hold the castle on my own.
Tinkletoes looks at Writer Lady and grins. “You stay here.” He says. “I've got this.”
Writer Lady's eyes shift to the other adults in the room gauging their reactions.
“Stand Down Dipshit. She said she needs someone to outwit another human not spill ninja-zombie brains everywhere,” House responds. “When it's time to make a mess she'll call you.”
Tinkletoes’ upper arm muscle flexes in anticipation. “War is messy,” He says. “I make great messes.”
“He's not wrong.” Paige admits.
“Mi’lady more information has arrived.” Diomedes announces as he gestures to the top of the wall which is now glowing bright gray.
Writer Lady moves the beam of light from the base of the wall back to the top.
P.S. The enemy’s armies consist of wild ogres and ninja-zombies. If the warrior known as Tinkletoes would escort you here it would be most appreciated. His skills in defeating the ninja-zombie army is legendary here in Faerie.
The self-proclaimed mercenary does not speak a word. A quiet calm radiates from him. He looks at Writer Lady. “Legendary. I told you I had skills.” He says as a grin slowly crosses his lips.
“You have skills.” She agrees.
“That have made me legendary.” He says, finishing the sentence.
“He's going to brag about this all day long.” House comments.
“Not all day.” Tinkletoes counters. “Just long enough to make sure everyone knows I'm a legend.”
Writer Lady trains the light back on the wall.
Your assistance is most desperately needed. Castle Gris and all who reside in it await your arrival. Please make haste before it's too late.
Most Gratefully yours Lady Gray
Writer Lady watches as the words disappear from her wall and the color returns to it.
The heavy sole of a boot scrapes against the linoleum as Tinkletoes shifts his weight.
“Orders?”
Writer Lady looks at Diomedes, whose color has changed from the neon glow of earlier to a more subdued but still dramatic warm orange.
“Your orders M’lady?” He asks.
Writer Lady looks from Tinkletoes to Daemon and Diomedes to the other people in the room. “I'm working on them,” she says. “I need a little more information before I give any orders.” Writer Lady looks in the direction of the ceiling and calls “TP!”
The faerie pops into the room next to Writer Lady, he's wearing a Jester hat and is giggling. When TP sees that something important seems to be going on, the faerie’s giggling diminishes, flowing into a “Yes?”
“What's going on?” She asks.
“What?” TP responds.
“If Lady Gray is at war, if The Graylands are in trouble, why didn't you say something?”
The faerie did not speak at first. “TP's been…… busy.” He says. He looks at the bell from the hat he's wearing dangling in front of his eyes and quickly removes it.
Tinkletoes approaches shifting his gaze back and forth from the hat in the faerie’s hand and the baby dragon. The self-proclaimed mercenary stops next to Writer Lady. “Where'd you get that?”
“What?” TP asks as he hides the hat behind his back.
“The thing with the bells on it. The hat."
"I found it.”
Writer Lady studies TP closely before shifting her attention to Furnatche. The baby dragon is sniffing at the floor. His super smeller nose is working at full throttle as he slowly meanders closer and closer to the ground below TP's fluttering form. “Where was it? Where did you find it?” She asks.
TP looks at the ceiling before answering, "In the wallway.” He says.
“Wallway?” Writer Lady repeats.
“It's a walkway through House. Between her walls.”
Tinkletoes looks at Writer Lady, “Told you something was wrong.”
“How long has it been here?”
“Not long.” TP says.
“House why didn't you say something?”
“I didn't know it was there until now. Let me take a look.”
“It's Faerie magic.” TP calls.
“Clearly.” House agrees. “Just what I thought. It's very sophisticated faerie magic. More sophisticated than the rest of the magic that flows through me. Whoever did this is powerful and highly skilled.”
“Are there any remnants of the magic left from Lady Gray's message?” Writer Lady asks. “If there is please see if it's the same magic.”
“It is not.” House responds.
“Great.” Writer Lady says looking at Tinkletoes. “Now we have two problems.”
“Not necessarily.” Diomedes says as he approaches. The dragon ducks under lighting fixtures, his wings tucked safely in being careful not to damage anything in his esteemed creator’s home. “What if the correspondence on the walls was her second attempt to call for help? What if her first attempt took place before much of The Graylands had fallen? When her magic was stronger?”
“We aren't looking for an intruder.” Carp says as he approaches the group.
“We're looking for a messenger.” She says.