Ishira slowly walked up the road to her vast azure castle. Hulking golems of stone, lined the passage to the front doors. They sluggishly bowed their enormous heads, as she walked by, causing the sound of grinding stone echo through the steep earthen walls. Ishira paid them little mind, as they were nothing but stupid trained puppets. They resembled nothing of the people they used to be, now only serving as shambling disappointments. 

She approached the enormous granite doors leading into the castle, etched with a segmented hexagon in the center. Ishira waved her hands effortlessly through the air, beckoning the doors to swing inward. 

"Greetings Mistress, how was your trip?" bowed Nandra, Ishira's castellan. Nandra took her mistress's outstretched cloak to hand it off to one of the rock giants lining the walls.

"Uneventful, the new elementals needed breaking in."

"I apologize Mistress, but your brother awaits you in the throne chamber."

"Which one?" she questioned in annoyance, knowing that whoever it was, wouldn't be conducive to the relaxing evening she had planned tonight. 

"Lord Valas, my lady."

Ishira turned and glared at Nandra at the mere mention of his name. 

Valas, her youngest brother, was impulsive and juvenile. He easily became her least favored sibling. They were complete opposites in personality, and his constant impulsiveness and blatant disregard for her personal space annoyed her to no end.

"I'm very sorry!" Nandra cowered from the look and averted her eyes.

"He pushed his way through, saying he had important business to discuss with you," Nandra said in a solemn tone.

"I told-- him you were not here-- but, he insisted on waiting for you."

"What does he want then?"

"He wouldn't say, Ma'am," Nandra replied timidly.

Ishira made a sound of annoyed acceptance.

"Fine let's get on with this then!" she hissed storming out of the foyer to her throne room. Nandra followed closely behind her, head bowed.

They approached a door like the front door in design but smaller. Ishira raised both of her hands together outstretched in front of her face and flung them apart in a quick fluid gesture. The granite slabs whipped open with great speed and force, revealing a vast room lined with onyx pillars and a yellow diamond throne set against the back wall. Nandra closed the door behind them and moved to stand in the corner.

"Well hello, dear sister!" Valas hailed as Ishira briskly walked toward him.

A toothy grin on his face while lounging in her throne, already knowing how much it would bother her.

"What do you want Valas! I would also ask, you remove yourself from my throne." She snarled attempting to control her temper.

With a flick of her wrist, the diamonds realigned themselves and pushed Valas to his feet.

"Of course!" he exclaimed, attempting to regain his composure from being thrown from his sitting position. "I was keeping it warm for you in your absence. There is no need to be so hostile big sister," he beckoned, gesturing for her to take his place with a halfhearted bow as she passed by him. She sat down, crossed her legs, and stared at her little brother.

"So?" she demanded impatiently.

"I've noticed you have taken a special interest in one of your mortals."

"How did you notice that...?" she was becoming increasingly annoyed by this conversation.

"I have my ways," He responded, baring his pointed teeth in a sly grin.

Ishira looked over to Nandra, who was adamantly shaking her head negatively.

"You have your own mortals, why not focus on your business?" She snapped at him.

"It's not every day you of all people focus on one specific mortal, so he must be something special.

"Where are you going with this Valas? I don't have all day for your long-winded pestering."

"Patience...! I'm getting to it. I propose a little wager."

"What would you possibly possess that I would even care about Valas?"

"I'm sure it'd interest you how I knew about your mortal. If I lose, I'll tell you my source."

"And if I should lose?"

He stood silent for a few seconds pretending to be contemplating what he wanted.

"I want your tea set from mother," he stated flatly. He pressed the tips of his fingers together, as he leered waiting for her to respond to his proposal.

"And what would this wager be exactly...?" Ishira apprehensively queried. Something as valuable as her tea set was not something to gamble lightly.

"Well..." He said, pacing back and forth. "I happen to have a mortal of my own, that has shown real promise, and I wish to see who superior."

"If I'm to wager my tea set, then I want you to put up your hourglass, and your informant." 

This was her chance to both find out who was spying on her and to strike a blow to Valas's ego.

Ishira's ornate jade tea set was a profoundly sentimental gift from her mother, Mithia. That wasn't including the other powers it possessed. There was a similar gift given to all her children.

"I guess that seems fair. Do we have a deal then?" Valas challenged, extending his hand. Ishira hesitated as she stroked her hand through her hair, something she commonly did when thinking on something important. She hadn't seen a mortal like this from her people in centuries. This would be the time to put her baby brother in his place. 

"Deal!" she said shaking her brother's hand as a sinister grin spread across his face.

"Then let's discuss the rules."