GRIEF : THE DRAW
Dramatis Personae
Lucan Mehnot
Morgause Mehnot
GRIEF : THE DRAW
“Let us welcome our current Bone King, a personal friend of mine and voted the Madam Grand Supreme of Caer Sidi, to announce the three tiers of qualifying. Welcome to the broadcast, King and Governess of Eskern, Lalaba Loiren!”
Bleddynia Lagona, Hithwenia Verpenwythion, and Hyxonia Andemona were three names to be announced by Lalaba Loiren that night, during the draw and broadcast for next year’s Catu Samonii. Once born and cohabiting the same court in the depths of Karkebi, they were now scattered to the winds and had been for half a decade.
“Let us start with the competitors eligible for the coveted spot of Camula,” Lalaba Loiren said.
“Magistra Elementorum Morgause Mehnot, hailing from the Heno people and the Court of Bloodstone! Oh, dear Lucan, I had no idea your mother was competing!” Her voice cracked in a high-pitched giggle that made some audience members cringe at the sudden noise. Let’s see… Morgause Mehnot, head Matriarch of the Mehnot family, scored the following:
For Talent, she scored a ten out of ten! Not surprising, Magistra Elementorum Morgause has led the charge on far-sight technology in the Caer Collen region, greatly improving our efforts on expanding into the Borealis. She also serves as director of Caedir Uffern, and one of the Headless Mountain’s best students. And of course, as a member of the Mehnot family, leading the reinvention of our leijions for wilderness territory, she also scores a ten out of ten. The only lacking category is her resources, at a mere five out of ten!”
Hithwenia sat in front of the royal court of Penwythion beside Ae-Ina, and Queen Aulana of the Forimici. She heard a lot about the Mehnots but like the forest’s darkness, these details and storyline seemed closed off to her. The subjects watching did not know what was coming.
“An unlikely entry – Drago… Hithwenia Verpenwythion, of the, um,” Lalaba’s voice cracked again, but not due to laughter. “Hailing from the Locii people, the new wife of one of Eskern’s oldest family, the Clan of Eight Heads, Cin Penwythion. She will be competing for the warband Corios Collen, also known as Team Hazel.”
Hithwenia felt all of the energy in the broadcast be sucked out in a matter of seconds. But a surprised and interested hush fell over the members of the court- particularly the Formici who hated Hithwenia.
“I’ve never heard of this Hithwenia,” Lucan said, clearly off script.Hithwenia snarled in frustration and rolled her eyes. “What Cin is she from again-”
“She’s Lou Hen’s sister,” Corotica hissed, silencing Lucan with a dangerous look. There was an awkward silence. Lalaba gave a sympathetic glance into the prism. “It will certainly be an interesting reunion gala for the Court of Brackish Waters, to which she belongs. Now, moving on…”
“Are they not going to say anything else?” Nina asked, irritated. “They gave Morgause a whole storyline!”
“Caer Sidi’s media team will be there!” Lucan said with another awkward, empty laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
“Moving on…” Lalaba repeated, more firm this time. Our next competitor vying for the spot of Camula…”
Scores of miles away, in another region, Hyxonia stared at the wall that made up the far-sight-speech-place. Hithwenia, as in, her sister? What was she doing in Cin Penwythion?
The photograph they held up for her was an official Heno government photo. Her spectacles which allows her three ocelli to work was off, her hair flat, her eyes sunken and blank. She wore standard Heno labourer’s uniform - a reminder that she was nothing but a dowry to a dying family. How had she gotten good enough at magic and combat after being selling herself into servitude, good enough to compete as a Camula? These were some of the questions which flooded Hyxonia’s mind. She couldn’t stop reckoning with the mix of feelings she had - that her sisters couldn’t be trusted with simple things on their own, or the fact they had not reached out to her for help when it went wrong.
Suddenly, she began to deeply dread that her name might be called at all.
Morgause Mehnot
Talent: 10/10
Political Influence: 10/10
Charisma: 8/10
Military Insight: 7/10
Resources: 5/10
Total Score: 40/50
Final Grade: A
Hithwenia Verpenwythion
Talent: 9/10
Political Influence: 9/10
Charisma: 8/10
Military Insight: 7/10
Resources: 7/10
Total Score: 40/50
Final Grade: A
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