by Shelby Hild
Sight
Book Two of The Enchanted Trials
Shelby Hild
Vivilyn is plagued by visions.
In the Kingdom of Etilidus, two things are certain:
1.) Magic is forbidden and anyone discovered with it is killed.
2.) Nothing will stop the Enchanted Trials, not even the threat of spies, magic, or civil unrest.
Despite the explosive start to Prince Aiden’s Enchanted
Trials, the Trials must continue. Between unintentionally eating a fruit that causes her visions to go haywire, signs that an ancient prophecy might be coming true, and the potential of more spies lurking around every corner, Vivilyn realizes even though the first ceremony has concluded, the dangers have just begun.
Copyright © 2020 Shelby Hild
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author and publisher.
ASIN: B089MBVS7Z
Cover design by: Enchanted Ink Studios
Printed in the United States of America
To Patty,
This book is dedicated to you because you helped me through some pretty weird times back as a teenager. You knew when to call me out for being dumb, but you also knew when to bolster up my confidence. Few have made such a lasting impression on me as you have. You've always helped me see things in a different light.
I learned so much from you within just a single year and appreciate everything you taught me. And I am sure that glitter is still in my room from that single project you specifically told us not to use glitter on.
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Next Time on the Enchanted Trials:
Acknowledgement
About the Author
Books In This Series
Chapter 1
“We’re lost,” Vivilyn calmly stated to her brother. Turning away from the three-way fork in the path ahead of them, Duncan winked at her. His mischievous grin made her laugh. It was nice to laugh so freely again, without worrying about a camera following her or what someone might think. For the first time since before the morning of her seventeenth birthday, she could breathe easily. She felt lighter, as though Duncan had taken all the weight of her stresses away. All her worries seemed to evaporate from her mind like a small, wispy cloud dispersing into the sky.
When Duncan had arrived at the Ettravil Palace that morning, they’d had a picnic breakfast on the lawn, delivered by Fiona. After breakfast they’d decided to wander a bit. When Duncan heard there was a maze on the grounds, he’d told Vivilyn they had to find it and dominate it. That was why they’d spent the last two hours wandering aimlessly through the hedges.
She didn’t care how long they remained in the maze, though. The sky was strikingly blue, the breeze was just strong enough to ruffle the leaves surrounding her, the earthy smells of autumn filled her nose, and, most importantly, her brother stood beside her. The only thing that could make the moment better would be the rest of her family surprising her by appearing at one of the dead ends they found themselves running into within the maze.
All was right with her world, if only for the time being.
“We are not lost,” Duncan said. He waved toward the left path, finally deciding. “It’s this way.”
Vivilyn had wanted to show him around the palace. It was so different from their home in Treelyn, she didn’t think her family and friends would believe how grand the place was. Although having her brother to back up her testimony of its grandeur was helpful, the guards hadn’t allowed him into the Chosen’s Wing to see her room.
I’ll only be here a bit longer, Vivilyn thought as she looked over to the large building, barely visible over the green foliage of the maze. Nell had said it wasn’t even a palace. Since every member of her team was worldlier than she, Vivilyn believed her.
As she followed her brother, he remained silent, concentrating on trying to get them both to the gazebo at the center of the maze.
“Do you think if we’re still lost when you have to leave tonight,” Vivilyn said as they went left at another fork, “they’ll have to let you stay?”
“We’re not lost,” Duncan repeated.
She smiled.
His visit was just for the day, but she hadn’t anticipated seeing any of her family before the Trials were over. From the moment she stepped into the carriage that took her away from Treelyn, from home, she knew any communication with family was against the rules. They’d made an exception for Duncan, though, so perhaps those rules weren’t as set in stone as she thought.
Her brother was with her and that felt more right than anything that had happened so far.
It was a little after noon. The sun was directly above them.
As Duncan looked as close as he could down each of the paths to the left and right, she closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sun. They were definitely lost, but she couldn’t care less. The light breeze blew her dark hair. She breathed in deeply.
It was just her and her brother. No cameraman, no members of her team, no guards. They were alone.
Peacefully alone.
For the first time since the explosion, Vivilyn could truly relax.
Everyone else was putting together the final preparations for the Hosts’ Choosing Ceremony. She wondered who Prince Ethan would select for his group, other than herself. It had been a very kind gesture of both the princes to allow her some extra time to continue healing. They probably hadn’t anticipated her spending the day in the maze.
Vivilyn lifted a hand to the silver necklace she wore as she opened her eyes again. The small jasmine charm felt warm against her fingers. For a moment she wondered how bulky the necklace would feel if she made it all the way to the end of the Trials.
Prince Aiden will never choose me, she scolded herself for her thoughts. There’s no way I can make it to the end of this.
Duncan turned left again, and the maze opened in front of them to reveal a small gazebo with two worn, wooden benches.
“I told you we weren’t lost,” Duncan said as he walked up the three small steps. “You didn’t believe me.”
“You were right,” Vivilyn admitted. “I guess I’ll have to trust you next time we walk in circles for hours,” she said, lifting the corner of her mouth in a small smirk as she followed her brother.
When she sat next to him, he nudged her slightly.
“How did Iza learn that look from you?” Duncan shook his head. “Of all the things that she could have learned from you while you were home, that’s what she copies?”
“How has she been? Truly?” Vivilyn asked, watching a flock of birds as they flew south, fleeing the coming cold weather.
“When her parents called her a flutterbird,” Duncan said as he shook his head, “they were underestimating her energy. I swear, if someone could harness it, she’d power half the kingdom. Maybe even more.”
“I miss her,” Vivilyn said, sighing heavily. “I miss all of yo
u. Mama, Papa, Lolina, Verno, even Eso and Mo.”
“Speaking of Mo—” Duncan said. Vivilyn couldn’t help but notice that Duncan stiffened at the mention of Iza’s oldest brother.
“What’s wrong?” Vivilyn interrupted. She turned directly to him and grabbed his hands. She couldn’t help but think of the vision she’d had of Princess Elissa and her husband searching for a cure to something. Had whatever illness the vision foretold hit home? Was Mo ill?
“Nothing is wrong,” Duncan said. He wouldn’t meet Vivilyn’s eyes.
“Duncan Eloy,” Vivilyn said sternly, imitating their mother when one of them was in trouble. “What is wrong with Mo?” He winced at the use of his full name.
“I told you nothing is wrong,” He shrugged. “There’s just something a little off about him.”
“Which means…?”
“Do you remember the night you were chosen?” Her brother asked.
She lifted an eyebrow. The night that changed her life was not one she’d easily forget.
“No,” Vivilyn said blandly, looking at him with as sarcastic a glance as she could muster. “I can’t remember it at all. It’s like the whole event just vanished from my mind.”
Duncan looked at her with an exaggerated roll of his eyes. “The screen. Do you remember how he fixed it? How he said it was color coded?”
“Of course,” Vivilyn said. She waved for him to continue. Her wrist popped once as she circled it forward.
“There is no color on or around the screen.” He gave her a pointed look. “I’ve checked six times.” Vivilyn thought that was overdoing it a bit, but she kept that to herself. “It’s almost as though he sees the proper way energies flow.” The way Duncan lowered his voice as he spoke worried Vivilyn.
“He...” Vivilyn started. She lifted a hand to her face before continuing. “Does he have an ability?”
“Papa thinks so.”
Vivilyn closed her eyes. She didn’t want to hear Mo was in danger the same way she was with her visions.
“Does he know what his abilities are?” Vivilyn asked. Her voice quieted to where she could barely hear herself.
“Not entirely,” Duncan said. “All we know is he can follow the lines of energy, both collected and natural. Did you know all the trees in the orchard are connected? He says a line glows between each root of each tree.”
“That’s incredible,” Vivilyn said. “So, he controls it? He knows what he sees?” She shook her head. How could he already control his abilities, but she didn’t even get a warning before hers would flare up? It wasn’t fair. “I wish I had control over my visions.” She bent forward and set her face in her hands. Although she’d been able to pull herself out of a vision before, she’d only managed it once. And she’d never been able to summon one when she wanted it.
Sometimes she doubted there was any way to actually control them.
“He mentioned you, too,” Duncan said. She lifted her head and turned to her brother. When she furrowed her brow, he continued, “You glow.”
“What?” Vivilyn stood up and walked to the other side of the pagoda, unable to stay sitting.
“He said you glow,” Duncan repeated. “When I asked him to describe the glow, he said that it is like the glow of the sun as a cloud passes in front of it. Muffled, I think is what he said.”
“But why would I glow?” Vivilyn turned back to face him. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer.
“I think it has to do with your visions,” Duncan said, as he scratched the right side of his nose. “If he can see different energies, wouldn’t it make sense that you appear differently to him than the rest of us?”
“Has he mentioned it to anyone else?”
He shook his head. “He only told me because I specifically asked. Then I strongly suggested he not let anyone outside of family know about any of it.”
“Good,” Vivilyn said. “Hopefully, he can keep secrets better than Iza.”
“Like your club?” Duncan laughed. Vivilyn and her two best friends back home, Maia and Ryso, had told Iza she could join their club if she kept it secret. “She’s mentioned your club to me at least eight times since you’ve left.”
“She’s young,” Vivilyn said. “It isn’t the same kind of secret as having…” Vivilyn looked around them. The only living things she detected were a few butterflies near a batch of daisies. She continued, “You know… my kind of secret.”
They both were silent for a few moments. Vivilyn listened to the soft wind as it rustled in the leaves of the hedges surrounding them.
“It’ll be alright,” Vivilyn said. She wasn’t sure if she was telling herself or her brother. Having one person in the family with a magical ability was risky enough, but two?
“You’re right,” Duncan said. He stood up before exiting the gazebo. “We should get out of here before too long.”
“Yeah,” Vivilyn said. “With how long it took us to get here, I’m sure it’ll take at least a couple hours to get back out.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha.” Duncan rolled his eyes, as he placed his hands over his heart. “Your lack of faith wounds me.”
***
It took them longer to get out of the maze than it did to get to the gazebo.
“Vivilyn!” Darissa’s voice carried over to them from the side entrance of the palace, currently only one of three usable since the explosion. “Vivilyn, where are you?”
Although the maze began in clear view of the Hall of Mirrors, the exit faced a row of blackened trees. Vivilyn had seen them at a distance when she arrived at the palace. They weren’t noticeable from the windows in her room. As they drew closer to the trees, she was glad she couldn’t see them all the time. They were eerie and they made goosebumps cover her skin.
“We’re over at the end of the maze,” she yelled, hoping she was loud enough for Darissa to hear her.
Duncan stepped forward. His brow wrinkled as he set a hand on one of the trees. Vivilyn followed his lead and set her hand on the tree closest to her. Despite the color, the tree’s shape and texture reminded her of the apple trees in her family’s orchard. She could almost see fruits hanging from the barren branches.
Laughter and chatter filled the air nearby as a handful of people made their way over to Vivilyn and her brother. Darissa snorted loudly. As a small group turned a corner outside the maze into view to join her and her brother, Duncan removed his hand from the tree.
“That’s unnatural,” Duncan said, as he wiped his hand on the front of his shirt. “What could do something like this to so many trees?”
“I heard it was dragons,” Lady Jolene said, as she, Marisol, Louise, and Darissa approached. “My uncle heard it from—”
The rest of what Jolene said disappeared as Vivilyn’s mind shifted into a vision.
The bark under her hand came to life. Vivilyn had never seen a tree with a rainbow in its trunk, but that’s the only way she could describe the bark before her. The colors flowed as though they were currents in a river.
Above her, she could see what looked like blue pears hanging. She reached a hand up and grabbed one. Where her hand touched it, the colors deepened. She looked at all the fruits in the line of trees. They were all different colors, from greens and blues to reds and browns. Some even shimmered gold and silver.
Vivilyn lifted the fruit to her mouth. Part of her wanted to set it down and walk away, but she’d never seen a fruit such as this one. She’d never tried a fruit similar to it.
She took a bite with a loud crunch like an apple. Rather than juice dripping from the corners of her mouth, light escaped. With each bite, the flavor never stayed the same. One moment it was sweet, the next it was sour, and then it was salty.
As she took in her surroundings, Vivilyn noticed the maze she’d spent the day with her brother in wasn’t there. On the lawn in its place, small groups lounged on blankets.
Everyone wore outfits that Vivilyn had only seen in her father’s history books. One of the few sectors that magic had
n’t been a strong factor in was that of clothing. Vivilyn wondered how different fashion would be now if it had been magically connected. Everything else had stalled for at least a generation after magic had been banished.
The dresses the women wore didn’t seem comfortable. They were long and thick with tight corsets around the waists. Vivilyn knew she wouldn’t be able to handle the heat of the summer in anything nearly as warm as those dresses had to be. The men in long sleeves and wooly pants couldn’t be any more comfortable than the women.
One woman on the far end of the field yelled to gather everyone’s attention. She pointed to the sky as she jumped up. Everyone looked to where the woman pointed and began standing up and waving. Some of them even cheered excitedly.
Flying high above, a large winged creature came into view. With a loud roar, it turned its head behind it and breathed fire at something chasing it.
That can’t be. Vivilyn squinted, trying to see the creature better. Is that a dragon?
It didn’t make sense. The people were excited to see the creature of darkness.
“What’s following it?” someone called out. Dark clouds followed it, moving faster than was natural. They were darker than night. As the mass covered the sun, the whole world seemed to grow black. Except the trees in front of Vivilyn.
The trees and the fruit that hung on them glowed with an internal energy.
Vivilyn watched as the mass of shadows dropped down below the dragon. It was barreling straight toward Vivilyn and the row of trees. She tried to take a step back. When that didn’t work, she attempted to move even slightly. The core of the fruit fell from her hand as the shadow reached her. As it overcame her at the edge of the line of trees, she felt growing anger and anguish. Everything she had ever felt guilty about jumped to the front of her mind.
The light in the trees dimmed as the shadows weaved in and out of them. The people in the lawn behind her started yelling. They were screaming. Vivilyn couldn’t turn away from the trees as the darkness devoured their energy.