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"That was a close call." I say and I look myself over.
"Thank you, again, Baron, you are always a surprising pleasure to work with."
"You're welcome, Nazul.... For what?"
"For that extra treat. We Effreeti are not defenseless against dragons. I was not just stopping her breath, I was absorbing it. For a while, she will have less breath than usual, and I will be unusually happy and active. By enraging her so, you have... how do you say that... made my day! I thank you for that, human Baron."
"Who is she, anyway?"
"That is Queen Almidahl." said Effreet Nazul proudly, "Now I have seen her, conversed with her, and even tasted her breath! You are truly a serendipitous being for me, Baron."
"Tell me more about Queen Almidahl."
"When we Effreeti first came to this plane, she was First Guardian of the Red Dragons. It was she who led the dragons against us when we first sought to make a home here, the dragons wanted us to take a different home. At first the dragons hurt us grievously, and we lived as furtive beings on the edges of the realm, and many of our kind did flee to elsewhere. But, with time, those of us who stayed adapted to this realm, and became stronger. One result of that adaptation was that we not only became immune to Dragon Breath, we came to enjoy it! Ah... I may not be able to personally experience your joys of the heart, but you cannot personally experience the joys of being bathed from head-to-toe in Dragon Flame, either.
"After that change came about, we Effreeti found ourselves seeking them out. The dragons could still hurt us if we were not careful, but we would bait them and seek to get them to breathe on us, then scamper away. Those who now live in the city went one step further, they captured young Reds and trained them to be pets. There are now many Reds in the city, but they are pets.
"Queen Almidahl would have none of this, and left for the Prime Material in disgust. I suspect ending up with children who are pets is what she fears about raising her young on this plane."
I think out loud, "Who does she seek for a mate, I wonder?"
"That is easy: Qin Non-won."
Now there's serendipity for you! "How do you know that? And who is he?"
"I know because she has sought him for hundreds of years. Her tale is a part of Effreeti culture."
I start for a bit, then remember that mythology has a different meaning to near-immortals. When dealing with near-immortals, it's common that the participants of "long ago" stories are still alive.
"Qin Non-won has spurned her time and time again. Her attempts to snare him are the heart of a dozen Effreeti "long ago" stories, and, it seems, she is still trying."
"Hmm..." I say, "Would he help us to move her lair?"
"That is hard to say, and will likely remain so. The core of most Almidahl - Qin Non-won stories is the quest of Almidahl to even find him. In the stories, if she can find him, she will seduce him."
"Ah... So that's where this Essence of Femininity comes in."
"Indeed. This would seem to be the opening of yet another story. And you, my Baron, would now seem poised on the brink of becoming part of a legend. How does that make you feel?"
"Like I'm part of the wrong story!" I snort.
"How delightful. We have a contest of stories. Well, my Baron, I think I have done my part, regardless of which story this turns out to be. In your land I would say, 'I wish you luck.' at this point. But here, in the Plane of Fire, that has a different, and very tangible, meaning. Instead I will wish that the story you are in turns out to be the story you want to be in."
"And may the story teller think well of you, Effreet Nazul, in whatever stories you become part of."
"Now that is a pleasant thought, my Baron. Please do find me again if you have needs on the Plane of Fire."
"I will do that, Effreet Nazul." I say, and then return to the Prime Material Plane without incident.
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