Cerano

  There had been many nights in Cerano’s life that he imagined the swamp and what it would be like. He’d image a day where he’d conquer his worries abandon the kingdom and make his way to see if he could still claim promises between children.

  This place was everything a little girl behind a cottage swore it would be. Cerano took a moment to take in the scene of a Shannocky, but he wasn’t frozen stiff like the Shon diplomats because he’d heard all of this before. In wild enthusiastic stories that made her eyes sparkle like light on water.

  With the thought of her his eyes sought her out and found her easily.

  Cerano had prepared himself for things to be different for his heart to not skip the same way it had when he’d been a child with sweet dreams of marrying the little girl who promised him the family he’d never felt he had. He’d prepared for her to not be the same for her to not value those moments the same as he did. Cerano though couldn’t fully give up unless he knew.

  Mesa was different from what he’d remembered more reserved and far more capable then she had been when she’d cut through his cousins with her words tears pushing at her eyes as she had almost seemed to cut herself as well.

  But he found the changes weren’t a bad thing and she was the same in some way too. Like how she’d played along with his attempts of convincing her but didn’t offer back the same until she was sure. Her eyes still had moments when they sparkled. She still tended to favor sweet things, and still wore her hair extremely long and trapped in three wild clips that didn’t nearly contain all of it.

  She wore a dress in a browned greed that in comparison made her hair look brighter swirling around her wrists and around her neck were greyed brown jewelry made to look like tree branches. In her hair the pink and yellow lilies that were always her favorite were clipped.

  Mesa was beautiful. She’d told him a hundred times when they were kids that she looked nothing like a flower and that she didn’t think she was beautiful. Cerano could agree she didn’t look like a flower but he’d argue till his last breath her beauty. She didn’t need to be the flowers she was so beautiful the flowers were just there to suit her.

  Cerano threaded his fingers with hers and looked at her over. Once again he could see the humoring pull of lips.

  “You look absolutely gorgeous.” He offered to her not even trying to hide his words. Her face flushed and he wanted to twirl her like he’d done when he got tired of her making him practice dancing with her. She looked him over blinking. He’d too dressed for the occasion, a embodiment of your roots was apt for this occasion, a hint at the power you held.

  On her it was a flower to signify her father, it was a flower of the swamp to signify her mother, the branches were that of willows for her easing and healing abilities. He himself dressed in shadowed greys and blues with accessories of sharp glittering silver. He didn’t think she’d notice it but he’d also wore a watched that he’d had set with intricately formed droplets of stones that matched her eyes.

  “You look amazing as well.” She complimented looking him over in a way that made him want to squirm and request more praises from her. “…You’re good.” She offered and that flicker of respect made him soar. Even if he hadn’t earned it in the way she was thinking.

  He shouldn’t he thought but he ducked down and close to her ear breathed.

  “So, this is what it looked like.” It was foolish too. It went against everything he intended.

  When they’d been kids they’d shared everyone of their insecurities, traumas, they’d cried in front of each other. Fought. Made up. And one of these occasions he’d told her about how his uncle basically owned him until he could pay off his parents debt and he’d probably have to disappear at some point.

  Mesa had shot up.

  ‘I’ll talk to my mother. I’m sure that I can find a way to pay it off and then we can be friends forever.’ She’d insisted threading their fingers her eyes bright and wonderous. The words had made his little heart thud and he’d loved the fact that she was willing to be that serious about him.

  ‘Mesa, it’s not that type of debt. It’s something I have to earn and I can’t start earning it until I’m an adult.’ He insisted. Mesa’s eyes set with a stubborn determination.

  ‘Then I’ll grow up and find a way to help you earn it.’ She’d insisted. He’d grinned.

  ‘Really?’ He asked. ‘And what will you do if my grandfather argues against you helping?’ He’d pushed. Mesa glared at him.

  ‘He won’t be able to do anything because we’d keep it a secret and then you’d come to live in the swamp and you’ll be too far away for him to argue.’ Mesa insisted. He’d pressed his forehead to hers.

  ‘Even a Count can demand the return of a Blood Relative.’ He’d pointed out knowing he was offering her a bit of a lie. Mesa had grinned mischievously.

  ‘You’ve never met my mother or the rest of the swamp. If my mother doesn’t want someone to leave they don’t.’ Mesa insisted. He’d argued more against though it didn’t feel like a true plan. It was a beautiful thought though running away with her. If he’d been honest with his younger self he’d imagine marrying Mesa and living happily ever after with her.

  After a bit of arguing against her plans she shot up and put her hands on her hips.

  ‘Then you’ll just have to become part of my Belungaloo.’ She told him. The word had meant nothing to him and after a bit of describing he’d felt his cheeks flush because it sounded like what he’d wanted in his little fantasies.

  He was a little bit older when he looked up exactly how you became part of a Belungaloo and found it didn’t exist. He’d been crestfallen until he heard that little retch Marinea cutting anything and everything about Mesa down.

  ‘And you’ve heard what she says. That Bugaloo nonsense she says her mother is in or whatever. It’s basically a harem of criminals.” She’d hissed out. And the other children soaked it in.

  Cerano focused in on a word that wasn’t unfamiliar to him. He’d gone home and looked it up and did find a definition. It shocked him to realize that what she offered him would include more then one person but… Truthfully, he’d always wanted her, what did it matter if there were others as long as she was his.

  He was prepared for her to not be his. For her to find someone or more then just one someone but in his heart he hoped that her offer that wrapped around his heart had meant something to her too.

  Which was the cruel reason why he couldn’t tell her until after this deal was over.

  He’d been horrified to here that his Uncle planned on sending out one of his cousins to offer a marriage. He’d volunteered that he’d been doing research into the swamp and their customs and had offered to write up the contract. The final draft wasn’t exactly how he wanted it but he’d made sure that if she did accept the croaked deal she at the very least got everything she could want out of it.

  Then he’d spent so much time tricking his cousins into not discovering the deal, making it seem he was the only one willing, coming up with an obvious payment for him to be aiming for and then of course his Uncle had to throw a wrench in his plan by pulling Mesa’s mother into the business, pissing her off right before he had everything figured out. Making him have to make an ass out of himself.

  Cerano honestly wanted Mesa to set this deal up in flames, dance on it’s embers and he’d go home find some other way to pay of his debt and then he’d reveal who he was and in his hopes accept him.

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  Yet when he looked at her, he wanted so badly for her to defy all logic seeing as his disguising spells were always impeccable and recognize him. So he almost couldn’t help dropping hints or talking familiarly with her. Even as her face twisted in confusion.

  “Tres Shorvetize.” An irritated voice called stepping into their group. Glancing at him he was dressed to the nines far exceeding even the nicest wear for the closest thing the Swamp had to a formal event.

  Someone shouted and was knocked to the ground the bore teeth growled. Mesa smiled a diplomatic smile at the man.

  “Good evening your grace.” She offered stepping back to the brawl that was getting a bit too out of hand and held a hand over them. The both slowed blinking then the one rolled off and the two men laid on the active floor looking like children ready for a nap. She released them and they both shot up to sitting up glanced at her and gave matching lopsided grins before one hopped up and help the other one.

  The well dress man looked horrified. A smaller pixie faced man looked around a bit terrified. Mesa held out a hand.

  “It’s alright Kint, I have given clear instructions that our guests are not to be brawled unless they start it. So as long as you don’t start a brawl no one will fight you.” Mesa insisted. He blinked at her shuffling from his hair twin to Mesa.

  “This place is very intense.” He slightly lisped. Mesa agreed and patted his shoulder.

  “It’s not for everyone but it suits us here.” Mesa offered.

  “Hello, Hello, Hello.” A sharp and beautiful feminine voice broke through the air and a woman with swirled black hair on the top of her head called the partial attention of the room to her.

  “No todays Shannocky is a bit last minute.” She offered with a impish sort of charm. “But don’t be set at ease we have some stiff competition tonight.” The woman shouted.

  “Competitions?” A third red haired clone appeared. Looking between them they looked even more alike then he was told he and his cousins did. They didn’t all have the same hair color and eye color just an unmistakable aura of electricity that took a lot of focus to maintain. Mesa shot a glance at the man and grinned but didn’t explain a bit.

  “But first lets introduce our glorious, maddening, dauntingly disastrous Enchantress of the Swamp Eldran Shorvetize.” The voice announced turned to look at where a woman appeared on a twisting tree of a thrown at least six individuals lounged in different area along with her. Cheers erupted, woops and claps.

  The announcer bowed a little too low for proprietary sake.

  “And tonight, we have some of our favorite people all here at once.” The announcer called. “The one the only commander of beast and no one else she doesn’t please. The one the only heiress herself Tasari.” She called and Cerano watched Mesa’s eyes light as the cheers roared. In a puff of dramatic smoke she appeared where the announcer pointed. Tasari was a tall woman with hair dark like a border of grey and black it was tightly braided back and her eyes shone a polished darkness.

  “And that’s not all folks, the infiltrator himself, the slivering snake, the benefactor of defense watch out because who knows what he’ll set off next Delrin welcome home.” She shouted and a man appeared next to the woman tossing an arm around her and she rolled her eyes in a perfect circle. “And lastly we can not forget, the easer of our souls, the child of the flowers, the one who keeps us all somewhat in line, Mesa baby get over here.” The announcer commanded and Mesa ran to her sibling crashing into them hugging them tightly. “Now folks seeing as we’ve got all of our notorious trio home and we’ve got some guest to impress. Why don’t we announce our first event.” She called.

  The woman snapped her fingers and suddenly everyone’s places in the room were altered, now the throne was raised high up. The Enchantress now looking down at them all. e

  “The first event this time around is going to be an individual challenge. The first person to find the hidden genasi gem and get it to our dearest Enchantress wins. All who wish to enter dip your hand into the pool.” The announcer commanded.

  They stated it so simply. Cerano thought grinning he knew that, this explanation was simply for guests, it was a test of their strengths and will. Those who didn’t participate didn’t necessarily loose points, and loosing didn’t loose points it was the behavior around it.

  Cerano crossed forward without any hesitation and dipped his hand in the water. His only goal wasn’t to win of Mesa. Mesa promised him a family and he wasn’t going to disappoint them. Cerano stood and made his way over to Mesa and her siblings. He received cool regard from both of them.

  “Are you going to participate?” He asked. Mesa smiled at him.

  “Not with the jewel one. It’s unfair Mother can’t resist us.” Mesa admitted. Tasari snorted and laid her head on Mesa’s shoulder.

  “Especially not Mesa. The baby.” Tasari teased.

  “Looks like one of the Shon are participating too.” Delrin offered. “Which one is he. The bug, the berry, the frog, or the rose.” Delrin listed. Cerano raised his brows at the descriptions.

  “The frog, Igov.” Mesa answered. “You can’t tell me that you can’t tell which one is the rose and which one is the Berry.” Mesa insisted motioning to the other two.

  Cerano almost laughed. Yes, one was elegant and prickly like a rose and the other was rounded and sweet like a Berry.

  “Why a frog?” Cerano asked.

  “Don’t bother I asked too, and she wouldn’t tell me.” Delrin grumbled. He offered comfortably glancing at him. “Better question would be what does she call you.” He taunted. Cerano smiled though already pretty sure.

  “The sparkler?” He guessed. Delrin blinked. Mesa looked at him sharply.

  “No. I didn’t settle on that one but it was one of my two final choices.” Mesa murmured. Cerano grinned happy that he’d known her well enough still to be close but also the fact that she wasn’t predictable for him to know the final decision.

  “May I know what you refer to me as.” He requested.

  “Flare.” She admitted.

  “Why is that?” He asked.

  “Because everything you do has a flare to it.” She admitted. Cerano was taking that in when Igov came over with the berry, the rose looking burgeoningly there.

  “Tasari, Delrin. These are Cerano, Igov, Kint and Penton. These are my siblings, Tasari and Delrin.” Mesa introduced looking around. Cerano who had found a way to hold Mesa’s hand noticed the glances from the Shon representatives. The rose looked disgusted but the frog. He almost hid it well but Cerano had longed for things too long to not recognize the same in others.

  How amusing. Cerano thought turning to Mesa.

  “Will you at least wish me luck?” He asked her dipping forward a bit. She glanced at him.

  “And how would you have me do that?” Mesa asked him. Her tone and face serious but her eyes shimmered with the amusement of the environment. The crowd started booming back and forth something that almost sounded like a team anthem. Cerano was just thinking through what he would ask for when they anthem because more physical and he was bumped unceremoniously into her.

  Cerano looked down at her an wanted to kiss her but also didn’t want their first kiss to be under the guise that he was simply trying to win her over.

  “I simply want you to wish me luck. And if I do well.” He took her hand and pressed it to his cheek. “I would like you to compliment me.” He requested. Cerano did not look at anyone else. Anyone else didn’t matter to him. It was just Mesa.

  Mesa smirked and rolled her eyes.

  “Alright, then if you do well I’ll give you the benefit of telling you every way you did well.” She offered making it sound as if this was his great strategical attempt. Cerano wouldn’t correct her but he would linger under her touch. It would still result in him being complimented.

  “Would it be out of bounds if we request that as well?” Igov asked his stance eased evaluating what seemed their every move. Igov was the only one who signed up to participate but he knew that wasn’t the only facet the test took.

  “Very well.” She agreed then turned to her siblings, away from them as the competition started. The room shifted again and the area now looked nothing like it did before. Those who chose to spectate were a bit off. Some were competing in their own way, some placed bets, some began preparing for team round. It was chaotic and disastrous and it was everything Mesa had promised.

  Igov just by the fact that they’d been standing near each other was right there.

  Cerano looked him over he didn’t look out of place here and he also did fit the one thing Mesa had sworn up and down she could never be fine with. A pretty doll like person who sat on a shelf waiting for her attention to reach them. Which was exactly why Cerano had ensured that reaching Mesa was his top goal that he had other’s after.

  He wanted to be apart of the community, integrate himself fully but he also had jobs and tinkering that he’d hidden from his Uncle that he was excited to be able to work on openly. Cerano would accept any that her eyes followed, even if politics said he shouldn’t.

  Cerano looked at the man she described as a frog and knew it wasn’t some frog to prince comparison. He didn’t know what her mind had connected just that it was positive.

  To the Rose Mesa offer what he’d always thought of as her placating a friend smile. To Berry she looked at him with the gentleness that might fool some into thinking it meant something different, but he’d seen that look cross her face every time one of her little sisters ran up to her and everything else fell away. Then there was the frog who when he was distracted trying to figure out Cerano, Mesa was trying to figure out Igov.

  “I always nice to have a bit of friendly competition.” Cerano voiced letting his tone fall in a way he knew was overly friendly. The Shon representative glanced at him.

  “Has anything ever been described as friendly between Destron and Shon?” He asked dryly. Oh the question had Cerano itching to answer pointing out that before their two kings started arguing as children far before any of them were even born, you actually there was a pretty friendly relationship. What he did share was.

  “What does the relation between a Country mean when if Mesa accepts me it will no longer be mine.” He offered it softly but a juicy tidbit that the man couldn’t ignore. Igov looked him over and the competition was called.

  Some began searching, other’s scrying. Cerano took it in and the glanced at Igov who seemed to be taking everything in. Cerano ducked away not necessarily to try to find the jewel but to start getting to know aspects of the individuals here. Cerano wanted to make it fully and truly clear that his intensions was integration.