Three Jewels

Chapter 1Keir The moonlight fractured through the window. Keir smelled smoke from the fireplace. His fingers stretched toward the flames for its unusual warmth. The fire was the only heat offered in the drab unremarkable room he was trapped within. He wondered where everyone else was. They must be waiting for them. Of course, no one would be here but those forced to guard him. He was part of the show. Everyone outside expected to be entertained. The room was lavish. Red plush seats and leather-bound books decorated the space, covered with dust. It was the kind of decoration for appeal, making the room an elaborate lesson in vanity. The candles smelled of oak. A chandelier swung above them. Keir looked outside the door to see the arrival of party guests. Each step Keir took echoed off the marble floor. He shut the door to block the noise of the growing crowd. Keir glared around him, ensuring everyone knew he was none too pleased to be here. The three “jewels” of each kingdom waited. Two others were stuck with him. The three of them were supposed to be the definition of beauty. The human was a disappointing choice, Keir thought, examining him. The human’s body was excellent, the lights caused his abs to glisten, but his face left much to be desired. He even smelled normal, like a man. The humans were lazy in their selection this year. Meanwhile, the elves had found true beauty. The elf was toned, blonde, and gentle looking. It was his face that drew attention. Keir refused to look into the elf’s eyes, not wanting to be ensnared. The human seemed not to want to talk to either of them as he scowled at both of them. The silence was fine by Keir, who returned the scowl. Keir had never interacted with humans nor wanted to. Humans could lie, though elves could also. However, humans seemed to enjoy it more so than other species. Tonight, he would have to deal with the human king and his royal court inspecting him. It would be near impossible to tell what was true as humans rarely spoke the truth. Keir sat on one of the identical three beds. The sheets were silk, and mirrors lined the walls. The room was designed to ensure those on the beds were visible from every angle. Keir inspected himself, making sure every long strand of his dark hair was in place. “Why is this considered lavish?” Keir asked, deciding his hair was in place. The elf looked kind, pleasant, and awkward, which was attractive. There were no trees or stars. Nothing natural at all about this stone and brick-enclosed prison the humans considered a luxury. The elf shrugged, smiling at Keir, as distressed at the lack of nature as Keir. “It is kind of the humans to bring us here. Though, I wish there were trees,” Cord acknowledged. His tone was timid. He seemed not to think before he spoke, which delighted Keir. The human grimaced again at both of them, finally facing them. “This is the most decorated castle in any realm. It has over three hundred rooms. Thousands of years of royalty have walked these halls. Not everyone enjoys hanging from trees or looking moonstruck up at the sky,” the human spat. “What have I done to give you the impression your opinion matters?” Keir replied with disgust. He had no desire to fake being friends with the human jewel. They were there to be admired, not liked. Keir would worry about winning favor after he knew which kingdom he would be forced to live in. “Don’t be rude. Adin, your opinion matters,” Cord consoled the human, his eyes flickering over him. The elves were smart to choose a jewel with kindness. He would survive or be considered a tragedy of loss, a martyr. The human turned to avoid him, which did not work as the mirrors forced them to see one another at every angle. Adin seemed to have decided Keir was the worst of the two as he turned on his heel to face him. “Go practice your useless magic somewhere,” Adin spat to Keir. Before Keir could offer to use some magic to kill him, an elf dressed in green opened the door. “Cord,” the elf called. The elf ushered the likable of the three to join him. Cord followed the other elf out the door smiling. “Adin,” a dull red-headed human said to the plain-faced human jewel. “Addison, tell me where King Damian is,” Adin ordered, frowning at his escort. “Waiting with everyone else. Come on now,” Addison responded, grabbing Adin by the wrist and leading him into the hall. It would not be long before he would be forced to join the other two on display for royalty and their wealthy guests. It was the most prestigious ball in any kingdom. It was not rare for royalty from the three kingdoms to meet, but it was rare when they met happily. Though lives were the gifts they would be exchanging tonight, no one outside of those traded seemed to be bothered by the tradition. “Keir,” his fairy escort called, bowing. The two looked opposite. His escort had icy white hair that contrasted with his dark skin. There was no doubt he was royalty. He was decorated in lavish jewels and ordained in fine silk that only the wealthy wore. The man grabbed Keir by the shoulder and dragged him into the halls. “Your duty is to represent your kingdom and captivate the other kings. You were all chosen for your beauty. You will be displayed on a small circular stage with the other jewels. Each king will speak to you in private. They will also talk to the other two jewels. After the kings have finished speaking to all of you, the music will stop, the dancing will halt, and the selection will begin. You will draw the name of a king at random. That king you will belong to and live with for five years,” the escort explained as they entered the crowded ballroom. Keir had heard this speech hundreds of times and was not thrilled to be hearing it again. He didn’t respond to his escort or even look at him again. Instead, he looked up. The lights were near magical chandeliers with thousands of candles hanging from the ceiling. Sofas of silk and leather ordained the halls while a large dining table was left abandoned by the mingling guests. At the center, Adin and Cord stood. The humans had dressed Adin in nothing but a cloth that covered his groin. It was a bold move. The outfit highlighted Adin’s body and distracted from his average face. The average human kept sneaking glances at Keir, which was aggravating. It was not their place to look at guests or one another. It was their duty to be looked at. Cord, the elven jewel, at least understood this. He was dressed in vines and leaves that made it clear he had a round and muscular ass. If Keir were stealing looks, it would be to admire Cord. However, the elves’ selection was nervous and fidgety, which sewed discomfort into Cord’s every move. It was hardly sexy, though alluring to Keir. Keir, who was dressed not of his will, had lost the furs he preferred that kept him warm at night. Instead, he was dressed in black silk wrapped around his chest to highlight his thin frame, abs, and height. The silk covered his thinner arms and accented his more muscular back and ass. His long hair had been straightened to fall above his shoulders and combed back from covering his eyes. The black made his pale translucent skin glow. Keir was not as new to this as he suspected Cord to be. He hoped the kings acted soon to get the viewing over with. The elven King Auberi was gazing at him. It was an appreciative gaze and not intrusive. His royal court was much more critical as they passed. Keir knew he would have a harder time with the elves than humans. Elves often preferred tan men who spent hours in the sun, like Cord. “Humans are glaring at us,” Cord whispered. Keir nodded. Keir was pale as ice. He came from a long line of the northernmost fairies. The humans seemed fascinated by his hair, a wave of thick purple and black. All his life was spent on ice and snow next to a large lake long ago abandoned by humans and elves. Keir was not muscular. He looked like an agile swimmer, and his hands bore no callouses. The human King Damian was intrigued by Keir. His gaze hid none of his desire and was much more intrusive than King Auberi’s. The king paced around him. Keir was used to these gazes and hated them. “You are exotic,” King Damian whispered into his ear. Keir did not bother replying. There was no need to work for the desire he had already won. Instead, he moved his gaze to the floor to avoid the king’s eyes. Perhaps, the king would think of him as uninterested, in which case he would be an exotic challenge. Alternatively, the king may believe him to be shy and in need of saving. The foreigner in need of help. Humans loved to be heroes, meaning Keir need not work to make a narrative. King Damian would make one of his own. “I believe it is our time,” King Damian said, offering Keir his hand. Keir thought the process of talking to kings was needless. The drawing was random, but it allowed the kings to make an advance in private at the other kingdoms’ beauties before they were stuck with only one of them. Keir did not utter a reply. He stepped down and waited for the king to lead the way into his private chambers. “This is my castle and my realm. It is everything a man could dream of,” the king said, waving his hand at his fortunes with no gratitude. They arrived in the king’s chambers. A large chandelier lit the red walls of the room. A bed made for many more than two sat in the middle. Black sofas sat near the fireplace. It was a house within a room. “Do you speak?” King Damian asked with a hint of aggravation. “To that worth speaking,” Keir responded. The fairies had told him to be careful of sarcasm and bluntness with humans. Keir disagreed. He had long accepted if he were to draw the human king, he would likely die due to politics, not his tongue. “I may be your king in hours. Be careful what you say. Your king told me what you did before becoming a jewel. You’re homeless, a s*x worker, and a beggar,” the king declared. The king did not appear angry but startled. It struck Keir that this king was accustomed to being pampered. No one had questioned him before. “I have no shame in doing what I must to prevent perishing. You are not offering me compensation. Why did you bring me to your chambers?” Keir asked. He was sure he knew the answer. He wanted the king to make his offer so he could reject it. “I enjoy viewing what may be mine. A trial, if you will,” King Damian whispered. King Damian was wearing a robe that was attached by nothing more than a knot that he was reaching to undo. “If you wish for that, you may pray to your gods. It would be inconsiderate of me to tempt anger by deciding my fate,” Keir answered. It was a smart response that Keir applauded himself for. The humans believed in foolish notions of fate and wrath. Keir’s kind had their gods that were powerful and not to be angered too. “Fairies are nothing if not mystic,” the king responded, shaking his head. Many fays believed in such gods. Keir did not. He could not lie. He could mislead. “It is not your place to reject me,” King Damian spat in anger. “It is not a rejection. Rather a fear of anger,” Keir responded, hoping the king would not ask any follow-up questions. It was not a god’s anger Keir feared but the guests, many of them angry with King Damian for his invasions. The king was oblivious to his tongue twisters. “I forgot how mystical the fairies are,” the king retorted, exasperated. “I hope the gods bring us together,” the king muttered, grabbing Keir and leading him out of the room. His cold grip was harsh. They returned to the ballroom. King Damian disappeared into the crowd alone, sulking. Keir was angry that he would be expected to have s*x with Damian. He wanted to have s*x with someone who either paid him or he found attractive.