Zegana

"But I don't want to go to the Azorian capital." Zegana protested to leader Groann.

"I know my child." He replied looking down on her with sad eyes. "But you know the custom, and you voted that this was the best course of action for the village."

"Yes . . . I understand. I just, I am afraid."

"As you should be. But you are fiercely more intelligent than any member of this tribe and there is just no more for you to learn here." Replied Groann.

He looked down on Zegana, he often forgot that she was still merely a child. She had come to the village of Trectas when she was still in the womb. Her mother was a Merefolk originally from Izzet tribes across the vast sea and no one in the village knew her mother. She came to the village 12 years ago on a badly damaged ship by herself and was washed upon the shores of the village in the night. She lay on the shore until morning when a young child was walking along the beach at sunrise and noticed the unconscious creature covered in sand and immediately called for help. When she was brought to the communal tent and placed on the central alter they realized that she would not survive. They also saw that she was with child. While debating whether to put this poor woman out of her misery or not, she finally awoke and in a very small quiet voice muttered, "Please…"

"What did you say?" asked a Merfolk nurse.

"Please save her, she has to live. Please save my child." Replied the wounded mystery woman in a voice so quiet and weak that even the coldest of hearts could not help but take compassion on her.

"We will do all we can." Said the nurse.

As the day passed into midmorning, the nurses of the village had done all they could to save the woman and her child. The child seemed healthy enough and was delivered on the alter at mid-day. They asked the mystery woman the child's name, to which she muttered desperately, "Zegana, may she escape the life of my past and live a full life…" Then as she muttered these words, a fierce fire erupted in her soul and in her eyes and she said with her last full breath "… away from that accursed guild and that vile human." She then collapsed in full and complete exhaustion and closed her eyes for the last time upon that table far from her home.

Groann, a newly elected elder of the village, was charged with the responsibility of this new child and chose to raise her as his one and only daughter. Groann had devoted his life entirely to the village and understood that this meant he would swear off any possible heirs. With the coming of Zegana, he was given the opportunity to raise a child as his very own.

Which he did.

Zegana studied all there was to know of Tectas, it's history, it's culture, it's rumors, myths, laws, secrets, people, and all that came with the culture of the village. However, she learned much faster than anyone of the village had ever seen. She had memorized all the laws, history and customs by the time she was 5. She was then made an advisor of the village council when she was 7 and admitted on the council when she was 9. She has been serving the village by way of the council for 3 years now and these have been some of the most profitable years ever. Though recently, merely a year after Zegana was admitted as the youngest member of the Tectas council, her intelligence was put to the test as the War of the Demon began soon after she was appointed a council member. This was a war between the demon Rakdos of the Rakdos guild and the sphinx Isperia of the Azorius guild. These two ancient creatures had hated each other since the ancient days of the plane and this was just their most recent feud. Rakdos had emerged from his home in the volcanic mountains of Exav and traveled to Azorian lands in order to coax the sphinx from his hiding place among the courthouse temples in the city of Azomiandi. Along their way they raped and pillaged villages as they pleased. Tectas seemed to be a future target of the Rakdos hoard ravaging the countryside. Therefore, Zegana suggested that the village form an alliance with the Azorius guild for protection for they knew they would not withstand the oncoming onslaught of Rakdos caklers and minotaurs. The Azorius ambassador came and agreed to protect the village, so long as they agreed to offer one member of the village to the Azorius guild as tribute. This was a common custom in Ravnica, a person would swear off all their former allegiances and then be bound to their new guild. They would then integrate themselves completely in their new guild and often become ambassadors to other lands. The Rakdos never made it to the village because of the protection they received from their allegiance and the village was again at peace. However, now a year had past since the end of the War of the Demon and the Azorius had come to collect their tribute, which the council unanimously decided should be Zegana.

Zegana stood in the council tent of the village and pondered what was in store for her in the Azorius capital. Then she looked at Groann, the only true friend and family she had ever known. Sure, she was close with the other members of the council, but none had the kind of deep understand that her and Groann had. He was her only protector, teacher, and father, and now she had to leave him. He gave her a sad smile and she replied with the same action and they both walked out of the tent.

An Azorius carriage was waiting for them outside. A very tall man opened the door of the carriage and walked towards Zegana and Groann. He wore a sword on his right and a dagger on his left. He was adorned with the ceremonial armor of the Azorius guild. Many blue and white dyed pieces of plate mail and clothe wrapped the gallant ambassador as he approached.

"My name is Precinct Captain Reginald of the high guard of the Azorius Guild and personal head of protection for Grand Arbiter Augustine IV. I am here to meet the one called Zegana." The captain announced and looked at the two standing outside the tent.

"My name is Zegana, Captain" said Zegana looking directly up at the captain. She was only 4 and a half feet tall and this captain was near 6'4". She was definitely dwarfed by this beast of a man, though she showed no fear. "Where is the Grand Arbiter?"

"The Grand Arbiter is still inside his carriage where he will remain until we return to the capital." Said the captain in a defiant tone.

Zegana took offense to this and spat her words up at the captain, "If the Grand Arbiter does not find it important to meet me in person then I do not find it important to go with you to the capital. "

The captain seemed taken aback at this comment. Groann grinned slightly and was proud of the spirit Zegana had developed in the past few years. He could tell she would be a great leader someday. The captain scowled and looked down and the young Merfolk and said, "You do realize that you would be breaking your vow if you chose not to come with us."

"I do not plan on breaking any vows and I will be going with you eventually. However, I did not say I would leave without questions. I did not say I would leave without a proper send off and I did not say I would come with YOU. I did however say that I would leave with the Grand Arbiter and that is who I am expecting. Not some useless lackey who controls his little minions." Zegana said up to the Precinct Captain. Her words sticking in the captain's mind like daggers.

The captain became furious and shouted, "We shall see what the Grand Arbiter thinks of this!" He then walked furiously back to the carriage and slammed the door.

Zegana and Groann walked back inside the tent where the rest of the council had gathered to say goodbye. "Do you think it was wise to anger the captain like that Zeg?" asked Groann as they walked to the center of the tent.

"Yes, I will not be taken by anyone other than whom I made the agreement with. I received word 2 weeks ago that the Grand Arbiter, not a captain, would be coming to collect their tribute and I expect them to keep their word." Zegana gave the leader of the village a smirk and continued to the other members of the council and game them each a big hug. This was most likely the last time they would see each other for many years. She would miss each and every one of them dearly, but she understood the necessity of the situation. This agreement would ensure their safety for hundreds of years to come, as long as the Azorius guild stood, so would this village, this was only home she had ever truly known.

About an hour went on and the captain emerged in the tent and announced in a very calm but frustrated voice, "The Grand Arbiter will see you now." His teeth seemed to be clenched as he spoke.

"Thank you sir, I am sure you will serve your lord diligently for many years to come, and who knows, maybe someday you and I will be friends, Reginald." Replied the young tribute with a somewhat demeaning tone.

"I am not your friend and that would be Captain Reginald to you, Merfolk" countered the captain and specifically took care to spit the name of her race.

Zegana scowled but moved on and walked out of the tent. There stood a tall man adorned with at least 80 pounds of plate armor and shield draped around his back. He was around 6'2" with a stocky build but stood taller and prouder than any man Zegana had ever seen. She would have been lying to say that she was not intimidated by this imposing hulk of a man, though her fear was subdued when she looked into his eyes. She saw in the eyes of this man a kindness and a gentleness that she had never experienced. She gazed into these crystal blue eyes and somehow felt safe. "Hello Zegana. I am Grand Arbiter Augustine IV and I have come to collect you as tribute of the Azorius guild. Will you come with me?" asked the Grand Arbiter in a tone of overbearing sterness but fairness that showed much wisdom and knowledge.

Zegana let the words hang in the air for a moment. She then looked back inside the tent past the captain behind her to see her mentor and friends one last time. She sighed and closed her eyes fighting back tears and replied, "I will." She then walked towards the Grand Arbiter, stopped, and looked up at the man. He gave her a gentle smile and ushered her into his carriage. She stepped up and walked into carriage followed by the Grand Arbiter and the Precinct Captain. The door then closed and the carriage came to life. Groann watched the carriage go north off to the city, knowing the closest thing he ever had to a child, he would never see again…