Mesa

  The night unfolded in ways she hadn’t guessed. It wasn’t often a new contestant won one of the games. It wasn’t often that she saw someone who was considered an enemy, pass a prize over. Mesa held the genasi gem. It wasn’t known to many but these sought after gems, that were often bartered and sold were genasi eggs. Rare and beautiful items to most, fundamental and cherished by the water genasi. The little thing had magical protections around it to protect it but it was a factor in her mother’s judgement how someone cared for something so obviously living if you took a moment to think.

  In trials like the genasi gem, even long-standing allies have been casted out for treating something with thoughtlessness or cruelty. The subject of the trials were always something that was weak and in need of protection but was often looked at as nothing more then something that could be used.

  It was a test based deeply in her mother’s past of being a used child. People often talked about her mother came out of no where building herself up to an influential power. But it didn’t come from nowhere it came from fighting rings she’d been kept in. That she exceled in for the sake of survival.

  She’d rescued herself and a few kept with her. She’d left the rings soaked in wealthy and well to do blood before running for her life with other children some older then her trailing after. Her mother never asked anyone to join her but her group continued to grow. Her power continued to grow and act as protection for herself and those who followed her.

  That out of nowhere appearance came after she’d leveled the noble house trying to track her and hers down to silence the stories their lives told. The group raided the possessions of the noble and they’d took over the swamp lands he’d dumped magics he didn’t want to deal with creating large and horrifying monsters.

  Which was why at least one challenge was a group challenge of dealing with a native beast. Agron’s group won that challenge. They often did. Agron was someone who’d been hiding in the swamp since before her mother settled here. He’d sworn himself to her just for the company of a community again.

  The third and final competition this time around was a one on one brawls. It was the one challenge neither. Cerano or Igov signed in for. Cerano finding a group to mingle in and Igov making his way over to her.

  “When you have a moment I have something that I need to discuss with you.” He’d breathed looking around like he expected spies or guards to be listening in. Mesa over taken by the good move of the evening offered her hands. Igov blinked and took them she used his hold to help her stand.

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  “Right now is as good as ever.” She offered.

  “Should I bring the others?” Igov asked glancing around for Kint and Penton. That had been another surprised Kint had joined a few individuals in a quieter box hung above. It was for those who needed breaks from the loud and boisterous atmosphere but still wanted to participate. Penton had gotten into a war of snobbery with Tasari that had led them to disappear together.

  “Are they needed?” Mesa asked. Igov sighed.

  “I guess not.” He offered.

  She led him over to what Kelison her mother’s main political advocate called the subtle meeting.

  “So, what did you need to discuss?” She asked him.

  “The King is willing to accept the deal of helping Aleste in exchange for the standard commission.” He told her presenting a contract. Reading through it, it was very cut and dry and reasonable. She looked for any tricks and found none. So she signed it right there handing it back to him. She frowned at the unenthused look on his face. Then he offered a official sealed envelope.

  Mesa opened the seal and read through it feeling her heart sink at every word. An official request to join her fucking harem again. This time there was a list of potential suitor.

  “Why.” She hissed out glaring at him.

  “Shon can not accept Destron having anything without attempting to get it themselves.” He admitted to her. Mesa huffed at that response.

  “So this is a request made from petty arguments between Kings.” Mesa asked leaning against a ledge reading through what Shon could possibly think to offer her.

  As she read through she saw that different candidates offered different amount of things but the King himself offered a rather large dowery and a set amount of a trust for any and all children she produced with the arranged partner.

  Mesa paged through the detailed profiles of ten options. She found Kint and let his drop to the floor, along with Penton’s seeing as she’d witnessed how little they’d be happy here. Then she paged through a few that she recognized from stories and let them drop holding six pages including Igov’s seeing as she truly could see him integrating.

  Mesa stood with the pages.

  “I will consider these and get back to you. But I warn you I have little intention of agreeing.” She assured him.

  “Make notes of what it would take you to agree.” He insisted. “My King has assured his insistence about this.” Igov explained. Mesa nodded.

  On her way back to the crowd a hand took hers and she looked at Cerano who smiled warmly at her then his eyes dropped to the pages.

  “May I ask?” He requested.

  “It seems Shan insisted Destron and then Destorn insighted Shan.” Mesa murmured. Cerano raised his brows.

  “Who did they offer you?” He asked sounding interested. Mesa hugged the papers close.

  “Now, sharing that wouldn’t be very proper of me.” Mesa reminded him and he grinned nodding.

  “Very well.” He breathed and leaned down brushing his lips against her cheek. “I look forward to seeing what and how you decide things.” He offered his tone low and sparking.

  Mesa went back to her room to find and apt way to get herself out of this situation.