Chosen

by Shelby Hild

  Ethan turned the handle and froze. The door opened from the outside.

  He stepped aside as Prince Aiden and four other men entered the room.

  Prince Aiden looked sharp in one of the same uniforms the guards wear. His collar had two dragons in flight rather than the phoenix wings. He strode into the room and immediately stood at the end of Vivilyn’s bed.

  Behind him was the same cameraman who recorded her interview after she had spoken alone with Prince Aiden. He kept his gaze downward.

  Malcolm and Prince Bryton followed him. Bringing up the rear, a very tall man, one that rivaled Vivilyn’s father in height, could only be King Warrick.

  He had the same silver eyes as all his children and the same secret-holding smile. His hair was as golden as a daffodil. His face was wide, and his angular jaw was softened by a reddish-blond stubble.

  “It seems I owe you a thank you,” King Warrick said, shocking Vivilyn when he bowed to her. “Our… medics say minus some bruising and a few cuts, you should be healing fine.”

  Malcolm grabbed a pitcher and filled an empty glass with water and traded the water for Vivilyn’s now empty teacup.

  “Thank you, your majesty,” she said, unsure how else to respond.

  “I regret that I have to ask some questions of you before you’re fully healed,” the king said. He took a step forward and sat in the chair next to Vivilyn’s bed. “Circumstances require fast action. We’ve been informed by Maxwell here that there was a strange occurrence prior to the Ceremony with one of our helpers.”

  Vivilyn looked over at the cameraman.

  “Yes, sire,” she said. She refocused on the king. “The man basically packed up everything and ran away after asking only a few questions.” She paused for a moment and took a sip of water. Her mind drifted back to all the etiquette lessons Malcolm had given her back in Treelyn. She shouldn’t be drinking when no one else had a drink. No one seemed to mind, though, so she took another sip before setting the cup beside her and continuing. “It’s like he had to get out of there after I told him I thought I saw someone in the garden.”

  “Do you remember anything about him or the person in the garden?” the king asked. Vivilyn lifted her hands to her face and pressed lightly on her closed eyes. She tried to bring up an image of the man she had talked to. “Please, it is very important.”

  “He looked like most of the others that night. Completely black outfit. He seemed to appear out of nowhere after Prince Aiden left my side. There were so many people that it was easy to just lump him with all the other workers that night.” The more Vivilyn spoke, the better her throat felt. “He had a twitch in his eye and a red line down his neck. That’s…. that’s all I can remember.”

  “And the person in the garden?” Malcolm prompted. The king coughed and Malcolm quickly apologized.

  “And the person in the garden?” The king repeated.

  “I… I wasn’t even sure I’d really seen someone. It was like a shadow in the shadows moving against the wind.”

  The king sighed.

  “I’m sorry,” Vivilyn said, trying to pull her legs up closer to herself.

  “It’s not your fault, child,” the king said. He shook his head. “No. We won’t disrupt your recovery any longer. Thank you for your help. Now, rest.” The king stood up and left the room.

  Before turning and following his father, Aiden came over to Vivilyn and grabbed her hands in his. He slipped her a small piece of paper into her hands.

  When everyone left, Vivilyn opened the paper.

  Lady Vivilyn,

  When the moon is brightest, the trees can speak. Meet me where we met?

  Aiden

  Chapter 16

  The full moon was brightest as it entered the week that danced between summer and autumn weather. Vivilyn stood beneath the same Grand Tree she’d climbed the night she first found the secret passage out of the castle.

  Her entire body remained stiff, especially her back and legs. Darissa led stretch classes for as many of the women that could fit into the study in the Chosen Wing. She said it was to help them pass time as the palace was on lockdown to try and ferret out spies. Most everyone knew it was to help Vivilyn recover sooner. Although her progress was much quicker than anyone anticipated, it wasn’t as rapid as Vivilyn hoped.

  The memory of the pain and the vision of light coming from a much-aged Maia never strayed from Vivilyn’s mind. She tried not to dwell on it much. When she did the burning sensation would start to return.

  It was difficult. She saw flashes of that night and the painful days that followed every time she closed her eyes.

  “They’re not going to find anyone,” Prince Aiden said, as he approached the tree. “Whoever set the explosives are long gone.” Vivilyn turned, slowly.

  “How can you be so sure?” Vivilyn asked. She shivered as a frigid breeze blew by. Prince Aiden wrapped her in a warm hug.

  “Because they don’t even know what they’re looking for. We haven’t had anything like this happen in centuries.” Vivilyn breathed in deeply.

  “Are you okay?” He asked, pulling his face away.

  “I’m fine,” she said with a weak smile. His arms felt nice around her, comforting, safe almost, despite what had happened.

  “I’m just… tired,” she said.

  “Would you like to go back inside?” He asked, his voice raised slightly in worry. “Is it too soon for you to be on your feet like this? I should have thought you’d need more time to recover.”

  “No!” Vivilyn said, holding him close to her as he tried to continue asking questions. She’d spent enough time trapped inside recently. “I just…” She sighed as her thoughts drifted back to home. “I guess I just wish my family was here. After everything that’s happened… they’ve always helped put me back on my feet in the past, you know?”

  “I… I do.” Prince Aiden laid his head gently against the top of Vivilyn’s. “When Elissa was so sick after having Henry and we thought we’d lose her… I can’t imagine not having family nearby. That wasn’t even happening to me.”

  “She was sick?” Vivilyn pulled back slightly this time. Shaking her head, she said, “I had no idea.”

  “Yes.” He let go of Vivilyn and slid down to the ground against the trunk of the tree. As Vivilyn attempted to sit next to him, Prince Aiden reached out to help her. Sitting on the ground caused painful tension in her back, but his shoulder was comfortable to lean against. The prince continued after Vivilyn settled, “Not many did, but we thought we’d lost her for a while.”

  “Is it just you guys, your family, or…?”

  “Growing up, there were others. Children of the nobles that I could call friends, but as we’ve grown up, I’ve learned people generally think first of themselves. I had to learn confiding in people I’d grown up with wasn’t necessarily the best for my kingdom and my family. Family stands by family. Nothing is stronger than family ties.”

  “Where I come from,” Vivilyn said, thinking not just of her parents and Duncan, but of everyone she’d been close with in Treelyn, “certain friendships are just as important as family. Without Maia and Ryso,” Vivilyn looked up at the twinkling stars, remembering her surprise birthday, “or even little Iza and her brothers, life would be much… duller. I think you’d like them. They’re the most honest people I’ve ever met. Except maybe for Rissa.”

  “Lady Darissa is one of a kind,” Aiden shook his head with a laugh. “Except her father is just like her. How he is so successful a merchant is knowledge beyond anything my family can figure out.”

  They grew silent for a moment.

  “Lady Vivilyn,” the prince said hesitantly.

  “Hm?” Vivilyn’s mind relaxed. For once, she wasn’t thinking about how she was participating in the Enchanted Trials and how it was so far away from everyone she loved. Despite the twinges in her back, even the memory of the Choosing Ceremony seemed to float away. Vivilyn could almost see the cloud of anxiety and pain leaving her and flyi
ng away through the breeze.

  Clouds covered the moon, briefly dimming the light around the prince and Vivilyn. She was almost convinced that it was the physical representations of her worries floating away.

  Vivilyn shifted her head slightly to look at the prince. She could see a small amount of stubble directly under his jawline glimmer red in the moonlight.

  “You’re different,” Prince Aiden said. “You thought of me before yourself.” The prince looked down at Vivilyn through barely visible eyelashes. “You put yourself in jeopardy to be sure I was safe.”

  Vivilyn took a deep breath through her nose. The prince smelled like dust and old books making her wonder if he’d spent time in a library recently. It was a nice change from the memory of smoke.

  “I did what anyone would have done,” she said. “Besides, they say it was just a bad scratch. Nothing to be worried about.” She didn’t understand how a scratch would cause such lasting discomfort but wasn’t confident enough in medicinal issues to counter what she’d been told.

  The prince sighed so heavily, it shifted Vivilyn’s head on his shoulder.

  “I’m not so sure.”

  Vivilyn didn’t respond. Instead, she shifted her head into a more comfortable angle against Prince Aiden.

  They sat looking up at the moon together until no more clouds covered its illuminating presence. The quiet was so comfortable with him, Vivilyn’s mind silenced all thoughts and her eyes grew heavy. As Vivilyn began to doze off, Prince Aiden shifted.

  “We should go inside,” he said. Then he slowly stood up and helped Vivilyn stand, her knee creaked as she straightened up. She looked up into his eyes while their hands were still clasped.

  A flash of light blazing across the sky caused Vivilyn to jump, suddenly awake again.

  “It’s alright,” Prince Aiden said as he followed her gaze into the sky. “It’s just a shooting star.”

  “I guess…” Vivilyn said with a slight shrug. She paused for a moment to form the proper words. “I guess I’m still a little tense.”

  “It’s okay, no one will judge you for being worried. We all are. But security is tripling. There will be nowhere safer in the kingdom than here.”

  “It’s definitely a memorable way to start your Trials,” Vivilyn said, trying to laugh off the sudden discomfort.

  “I did always say I wanted my Enchanted Trials to start with a bang,” he shrugged, raising the left side of his mouth in a half smile. “I just didn’t realize it would be literal.”

  Vivilyn laughed and then immediately covered her mouth.

  “You’re right,” he said, even though she’d not said a word. He looked over into the distance, where during the day, smoke could still be seen in the sky over Ettravil. “We shouldn’t make light of the situation. Nineteen people died when the Administrations Office exploded, and 285 were injured. They’re my people.”

  They both stared over towards the city.

  “They’ll find who did it,” Vivilyn said, uncertainty wavering her voice.

  “Maybe,” he replied.

  They walked the short distance to the wall where Vivilyn could sneak back into her room.

  “I have something for you,” Aiden said. Before she could react, he continued, “It isn’t much.”

  “What is it?” Vivilyn asked, taking a step closer to him. Aiden pulled out a small necklace chain from a hidden pocket. As he held it towards Vivilyn, one charm sparkled in the moonlight like the stars overhead. It was the necklace he was supposed to give her at the ceremony before everything happened, along with the charm that would declare her part of a team in the Trials.

  “Jasmine,” he said with a smile. He unclasped the hook and walked behind Vivilyn. “May I?”

  “Of course,” Vivilyn said.

  “The next Ceremony is officially in eight days,” Aiden said as Vivilyn swept her hair aside. “Although it is just the one where my family officially picks who they’ll host, I had hoped you’d spend the extra time continuing to recover. Ethan already mentioned to me he chose you. I would have given you the charm at the ceremony, but I’d rather do it now.”

  Vivilyn smiled.

  “Thank you,” she said as she lifted the silver jasmine in her hand.

  “Perhaps you can finish that painting you have in your room.”

  “Perhaps.”

  He bowed to Vivilyn and kissed her knuckles as he always did when they parted.

  “Until next time,” he said.

  It took her a long time to fall asleep that night and when she finally did, she didn’t have any dreams.

  The next week continued along uneventfully. Vivilyn spent time with Darissa and the other women. She painted and did finish the painting she’d been attempting since she was given her birthday paints. It wasn’t exactly how she wanted it to turn out, the reds didn’t blend properly and gave the whole thing an eerie feel. Like the sky was bleeding or on fire.

  The morning of the eighth day began with goodbyes as the rails were officially declared safe for travel. Fifteen women loaded bags and carts full of things into carriages as they were waved off.

  Darissa invited Vivilyn to help her get ready for the ceremony.

  “Not today, Darissa,” Vivilyn said as she lifted up her sketch pad. “I think I’m going to try sketching a bit.”

  “Okay,” she said. “I’ll be in my room if you change your mind.”

  Vivilyn walked around the grounds with only a single cameraman following her. Maxwell, Vivilyn replayed his name in her mind. She’d never forget another person’s name while here.

  Ever since she appeared the morning after her meeting with Prince Aiden with her necklace already charmed, Adontus gave an order that no one was allowed alone unless she was asleep. Apparently, he'd sternly spoken to Prince Aiden about doing something as important as giving a charm without cameras. Allegedly, Prince Aiden shrugged and said “Oh, well.”

  When Vivilyn reached the Grand Tree closest to her room, she tucked the sketchpad into the front pocket of her overalls and began to climb. Her skills seemed rusty after being out of trees for what felt like an eternity, but although she was slow, she still managed to hoist herself up.

  When she was as high as she dared, with her back still prone to spasms of pain, Vivilyn turned to look at the distance.

  Smoke finally seemed to be dissipating from Ettravil. The sight caused Vivilyn to shiver. Trees blocked most of the damage, but the domed top of the Administrations Office had fallen in. Other buildings could barely be seen through the trees.

  There she sat, sketching, trying to remember what everything looked like before. It seemed like a ghost in her sketch. A ghost of what was and a ghost of what would be.

  Everything has changed, Vivilyn thought. And things are still changing. There are spies out there. Things are happening that I don’t understand. I don’t even know who I am here. Vivilyn looked back to the palace as tears began to fill her eyes. And I have never felt so alone.

  Birds cried as they flew overhead. They sounded like screams to Vivilyn. The longer she sat there, the more her sketch made her uncomfortable. She felt uneasy as she finished it.

  As she climbed back down, she sighed and wondered what her family was doing.

  “That’s a long sigh for our hero girl,” a familiar voice called out from her left. Her head snapped to where she had heard it. “Goodness, I thought you’d try to blend in with the other ladies at least a little.”

  Duncan raised his hand at her as she caught sight of his tall frame. Vivilyn slid from the lowest branch out of the tree and ran to her brother. Her mind raced. How could Duncan be in front of her? Had something happened at home?

  “What…? How…? Why…?” She couldn’t finish a question.

  “A little birdie told me you needed a distraction,” Duncan said as he flicked a tear rolling down Vivilyn’s cheek. “And since you have lasted longer in this competition than I anticipated my awkward, anxious little sister to last, I figured why not take a surp
rise day trip to visit?”

  “But…?”

  “I’m not supposed to be here? Well, you’re not supposed to go pushing princes away from falling walls.” He pulled Vivilyn into a tighter hug than she could remember him ever giving her. “I suppose even a king can grant a favor for family.”

  Vivilyn raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

  “Okay, we received a letter from the royal family requesting one of us visit,” Duncan admitted. “I left before the sun woke up and I’m to leave at sunset.” He pulled her into another hug as he continued. “Everyone says hello.”

  Vivilyn smiled as snort-filled laughter carried all the way down from the palace walls.

  No, she thought. I’m not alone. I’ve never been alone.

  She clutched onto her brother as tears rolled down her face, not caring that Maxwell stood in front of her getting a close shot of her tear-streaked face.

  I’ll never be alone.

  I am Vivilyn Minette of Treelyn, Daughter of Magnar and Suzetta, Sister of Duncan, best friend of Maia and Ryso. I have a new friend in Darissa. And no matter what changes, they are my family.

  Next Time on The Enchanted Trials:

  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.

  Acknowledgement