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Besai had been pacing the floor. Meladi had, to start with anyways, been amused, by her inability to settle! However she was not letting on, not at all, as to what was going through her mind or as to why she was so irritable! Finally even Meladi couldn’t take it anymore.
“B!“ She howls, her voice raised? “I’ve not seen you so hyped. What ever is the matter?!“ Going over to a storage unit, Besai pulled out a a Renais media storage unit. She passed it to Meladi.
“Look at this.“ Her finger against the little pad, activated the device. The tiny screen on it illuminated. Meladi looked at the video and listened! All the time with Besai babbling in her ears.
“I’ve never met him, never seen him, an they choose HIM as my future partner.“ Meladi knew that where she came from, it was traditional for the King, her father; to choose her partner. She also knew, refusal to obey was not an option.
If Besai disobeyed their Royal protocol, chose another male? That male would instantly be marked for death! Rogue assassins or bounty hunters as we might know them, could collect on his head!
Besai’s father was no ogre. He did not want her to end up, regardless of Royal protocol, with someone she absolutely hated or treated her badly. As most fathers do, he, wanted only the best for his Ketlet (daughter).
If he liked her choice, he might not act on sanctioning that ruling. He had until now, remained at ease with letting her make her own mind up, but she had not found anyone and others at court were onto him regarding enforcement of that rule. Particularly as she was coming of age. Thus he had given in and chosen for her.
Dilemma? Trouble was, Besai, even after being given a list of possible suitors by her mother, attempting to help her daughter, was not liking anyone! A few glances at the listing and she had dismissed the lot of them from her thoughts.
Why this could not be allowed? It was not entirely down to Royal Protocol but born out of a sense of duty and necessity.
An understandable desire on the part of those who were picked to uphold rules and regulations to keep their heads?
If they did not do their job, they could lose them!
In the galaxies, life can be short. Families choose partners for their Kets when they’re young, mainly in the hope they will remain bonded and produced more Kets to keep the family line going. “Thing is.“ Meladi added, as Maewena came into the room.
“You will soon be celebrating your coming of age. Old enough, for them, to no longer consider, but demand you, having a partner.
I will say though Bes! He is cute!”
“You might find it easier talking to him on Tmail first.“ Meladi nodded “That’s a point! I think to keep everyone happy, as soon as possible." Besai took the unit from her, switched it off, replaced it in the storage unit. “I’ll think about it.“
"I will have words with Margise to see if you can use her coms unit to hook up on Tmail."
It was two weeks, our time, later; they had gotten Besai to talk to her prospective partner. Margise had not liked the idea of allowing her what was technically, a breach of Akademy rules on using her system to allow her access to Tmail.
"I'll be in trouble and even forced to forfeit the right to it, if they find out!"
Thanks to Becci and Delise hacking the system, via a remote terminal, that they believed, showed up, as nothing at all to do with Margise, on the recorded security data storage unit/monitoring system. Besai now had the chance, to talk to and see her prospective suitor.
Brilliant as they were at their hacking of the system, they were unaware of the extra unit, that Servenia had had installed.
She was now more than aware of what had taken place. They were all in, for a telling off from her.
A warning that if they EVER, did that again, there would be serious consequences.
Some hours following their venture she had made her presence known to them. Margise although she knew of what they intended to do, she did not blame, for what they actually did do.
The fact that Margise had made it clear to them, she was not happy at them breaking the rules satisfied
Serenia that in no way was she to blame for what they had done.
It did not help Besai. Given a warning from Servenia was bad enough, she still did not like what she had seen!
Wailing her woes, when Meladi stepped into her domicile.
“He’s horrid !“ She went over to the unit, took out the Renais recorder unit and handed it to Meladi so she could watch a recording of it. “Oh.“ Was all she said afterwards. Besai took the unit off her.
“He, can have four females, as his partners, I would be number two!“ “Well that’s not so.“ Meladi stopped as Besai glared at her. “Don’t even go there Mel, it’s not happening!“
Iofnen had been sitting with Bjoi, Heliera, Ameryst, Aldrei, and a rather docile Fesh. They had been going over some information on their sheldes. “I think we will do fine. We all have unique skills.” He glanced at Fesh and grinned.
“Well some of us!“ Fesh scowled. “We’ve got one more day until we’re in our teams again. Inter team challenge, but using the Ultra Realt 7 units at the Stratorium. New software sequences, in beta testing. We score extra points for volunteering to give them a workout. They will so Corky says, put us through our paces."
Becci with Delise, came over, grabbed some drinks, joined them. .“Besai has problems.“ Becci was pretty matter of fact about it. as the others listened. “He’s got partners, she would be his second, chosen one! Something.“ She grinned.
“That hasn’t gone down too well with her.“ “I can understand her.“ It was Ameryst, she moved, to let them sit down. Iofnen moved to stand up, meaning to go and fetch some more sheldes. Blocked by Besai? Sat across from her, were Meladi and Maewena.
He shifted nervously, as their eyes met. Meladi noticed, how Besai was staring at Iofnen.
Iofnen goes to step past her, he pauses. A more than apparent awkwardness between them? Yet he did not shove her, nor, did she shift. Well not for a couple of seconds. It was, Meladi noted, their body language that had got her attention.
His hand had brushed against her’s to lay against it. Besai had not moved. Their hands, their fingers touched. Brief as it was, Meladi was left to dwell on what had just happened; seen? She shook her head. Thinking things through.
No way! Somewhat relieved to see Besai step back allowing them to part. Iofnen carried on, to move over and grab the sheldes.
If she had had Meladi's attention. Others too were starting to notice that Besai continued to stare at him. “What dynasty is Iofnen?” Mumbles Meladi. ”Jade Imperium Elect.“ It was Aldrei! Meladi was loud. Was it so Besai could hear?
“They’re quite a big Dynasty arn’t they?” “Oh yes, Iofnen comes from a very wealthy family and is next in line to the Emperor’s throne. He was very lucky to be allowed here at all! They don't usually allow the heir to leave.”
Iofnen came back towards them, to stop. about a foot away from Besai, apparently still intent on blocking him. Meladi nudges Besai only to whisper quietly to her, something that was to irritate the others, unable to make out what she had said!
Their irritation was short lived. Besai moved, to take the sheldes off Iofnen, continuing to block him. No way was he getting past her! She passes the sheldes back to Meladi, almost dropping them. She seemed impatient. Her eyes firmly fixed on Iofnen.
At that moment, Becci saw Prince Iophan and Margise headed towards them. She waved. Some of the others did likewise.
Prince Iophan was looking at Iofnen and Besai. It was the way they were stood, their posture that had him perplexed.
The two of them rarely spoke to each other and often ignored each other.
Neither were particularly sociable Kets. Preferring their own circle of friends and seldom making new ones.
Besai finally went to turn away from Iofnen. Suddenly he screeches at her! Now Iofnen was not, NOT the least bit aggressive, nor as most Kets will tell you, confrontational. All round nice guy as about right. His raised voice and stance, now caused eyes to fix on them.
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