23 Chapter 23: Negotiations

**************************MAYA POV********************

"What exactly are you teaching this student of yours.....honey?!" Those words I said in jest, but I felt that they could hold a dangerous amount of truth. This girl was...far too attached to her husband for it to be seen as anything else! There should be little else to cause this level of obsession!

Masamune was clearly scared out of his mind, and he even began to back away from the room entirely. He simply shook his head and muttered to himself, "You know what Maya? You deal with it, clearly my ways aren't working." Yes! Finally, that little bitch is going to learn some real boundaries! To think she would try to sniff around my man! "Why of course husband, but what would you like me to do with your....student?" Masamune just did that same big sigh he always does when he has too much work to do, "Just...just don't her Arith okay?"

My eyes narrowed at his last words, "Why of course not husband. I'll just teach her some manners." I nod my head confidently and Masamune seems to latch onto the idea instantly. "Thank you so much honey!" He says that while pulling me into one of his bear hugs. I hold my body close to him, and melt slightly in his embrace. I harden myself and break the hug to look Masamune in the eyes. There is something that has been weighing on me since I met with Ravvin. Just what sort of position does Arith expect from my husband? I keep quietly contemplating this as Masamune makes his way towards that blasted garden again.

If all Arith wanted was to be a concubine, then it wouldn't really be a problem. The issue is, that Masamune never said he wanted another wife. If he ever once asked there would be no end to the line that would queu up at her door! This thought seemed to make Masamune very uncomfortable, but I simply couldn't see why. In fact seeing a bachelor like Masamune without a wife at his age? That was already quite the surprise. 'I wonder if he never met any girls before?'

I shake my head casting my thoughts to the side. This is no time to be distracted, this a time of action. I turn towards Arith as my purple eyes narrow into slits. Just seeing the little man-stealing bitch is already pissing me off. Arith seems to feel the rage in my gaze, but instead of meekly bowing her head she meets my gaze full on! "So you must be MY husbands new little student aren't you? You look awfully cute today." I say putting special emphasis on husband, and cute. 'That's right little girl. No matter what you try I already have my man firmly tied to me. Arith shakes her beautiful hair in denial. "Oh Maya, don't worry. I'll be much more than just a student here soon." Arith chuckles and her two huge mountains shake with her. "Oh really? Do tell?" I ask my words short and clipped. I can barely keep the rage out of my voice as I ask that.

Arith nods her head and stands up her twin peaks and fertile valley on full display as she makes her way towards me. I look at her strangely as she closes the distance, but I do little else. It's not wise to make a move against the young miss of noble lineage, and it doesn't get much more noble than the elves. Even the human dynasties were nothing more than a joke when you looked at the elves. Arith lowered her voice and in a barely audible whisper, "Ever since I heard of him, I've been wanting to meet him." Her voice is soft nearly sultry, "Oh, I know just how great my Masamune can be, what I don't know, is why you think that should matter to you."

She flinches slightly at my harsh choice of words, but she never seems to let up on her intent. "Please Maya!" My eyes widen slightly. This is going...differently than I expected... "Oh, see you think that my husband is already so sick of me that he needs another wife?" I attack her and I can see her flinch again. Her beautiful blue eyes started to gather moisture threatening to break over soon. This only adds to her soft beautiful charm. Even I was slightly mesmerized by the sight of her, I can only imagine how much putty Masamune must be in her hands. "If you think I'm just going to stand here, as you try and take position as first wife you are wrong!" I always knew that an existence like a druid would attract the eyes, but I had hoped. Perhaps it was a foolish hope to have, but I still did hope if ever briefly to have him alone.

Arith opens her eyes widely at my declaration and she kneels down looking up at me with eyes full of worship. "Please Maya, I'll be anything. I'll even let you label me as mistress, just...just let me rent him for a while!" My heart was pounding in my chest. To even imagine the young miss of the Ravvin house being labeled as a mere mistress it is something that few would be able to believe! Yet, her husband had, somehow, in a day managed to impress not only lord Ravvin, but even get his daughter so wrapped around his finger to think of throwing her family name into the gutter just to be with him!

I can feel a pressure building in my head. This headache was already leading to another headache! But, if her husband wanted an elf then.....

"I don't suppose you know what your dowry is...." I trailed off. She had pulled her marriage contract from...somewhere...and placed it in my hands, it was thankfully dry. I perused the document looking at the specific dowry the family would offer, her placement in the social structure everything. I was shocked not to find a single clause granting the elves dominion over my family, or even to claim more of Masamune. Very odd...."Let me have our families review this, and then if they are BOTH alright with the arrangement then..." I bit back my words, but her happy hopeful smile was far to much for me to bear. "Then I'll sit Masamune down to talk about it."