Child of Beauty (Prophecy Series)

by T. N. Hayden

Radley cut into spicy sausage and chuckled. “Well I will admit it; I am thrilled Mae left.”

  “Do not be mean.” Wilma scolded.

  Radley shrugged. “I would rather have Jerrika here any day over Mae. She never belonged with us.”

  “Anyone who wants to be friends with us can be.” Wilma stated. “We are not like Princess Viveca.”

  “I know.” Radley paused. “I am sorry. I just meant that Jerrika is a lot nicer than Mae has ever been.”

  “I will give you that.” Wilma nodded. “I am so glad to have you here with us. We are all going to be the best of friends.”

  “I have a good feeling about all of this.” Jerrika felt warm inside, safe and secure in this future. She had always known Wilma was as true a friend to Rayna as Kurtis was to her. Instead of being alone and isolated, this year would be different.

  ~ Chapter 17 ~

  When Sage had graduated from Krijar Castle, received his Wopler, and gone to Kapok for his joining year, he thought life would be dull. He met the king and was given an assignment. He was to assume a false identity, dress as a commoner, and infiltrate the rebellion in the capital. Apparently rumors had been spreading about the rebellion for seven years. Sage didn’t know what had happened seven years prior, but that wasn’t part of his job. His assignment was to find the instigators and report everything to the king.

  Unfortunately for King Navion, Sage was successful in his assignment, and he found out the cause of the rebellion, the incident which had occurred seven years prior to make Creedon Quint rebel against the king.

  That was also when Sage had met Creedon’s daughter, Sparrow.

  Sage walked into the Smithy. According to all the conjecture of the common folk, this was where he would find the instigator. He thought about the promotion he would get from the king when he ended this rebellion, the pride on his parents’ faces as he singlehandedly brought down the rebels.

  Sage walked into the Smithy.

  Creedon Quint, the blacksmith, perhaps the man who had started the rebellion, looked up. “Can I help you?”

  “Hello Sir. My name is Jonathan Litchel. I am from Waden, and I am here to help train rebels to fight the king.”

  “And so you decided to walk into my shop because I can make weapons for this fantasy of yours?”

  “No.” Sage paused. He’d assumed this man would open up and trust him. “I heard that you were the one to speak to about the rebellion.”

  “And who told you that?”

  “Just whispers around the market.” Sage looked at the man and shrugged. “If I am mistaken, I apologize.”

  Creedon leaned against the counter and watched Sage closely. “Forgive me, but I don’t know you boy. What makes you think you can just walk into my Smithy and announce to me that you want to train rebels to fight. Do you think I’m that stupid?”

  Sage took a step back. Had he truly offended this man? “I apologize again.”

  “You should.” Creedon nodded. “Let me see your left arm.”

  Sage obeyed. Before he’d left, his Soldat tattoo had been magically hidden until after his assignment was done.

  Creedon’s fist seemed to get larger and come from nowhere, and all Sage remembered was collapsing to the ground.

  Sage had a massive headache when he woke. His wrists burned from the rope holding them together behind his back. He tried to shake awareness into his mind. The room he was in was dark, the only light coming from two small candles. He squinted. Perhaps he was in a cellar of some kind?

  “You’re awake.”

  He spun, helplessly trying to find the person attached to the voice.

  “How are you feeling? I’m sorry we had to hurt you, especially if you are telling us the truth. But you have to understand that we have to take precautions.”

  The voice was female. Sage’s eyes were finally getting used to the dim light. He made out a brown skirt. He looked up, trying to see the young woman who was with him.

  “Who are you?” Sage gasped.

  “You may call me Sparrow.”

  She lit a third candle with the second, and Sage could make out her face for a brief moment. Deep blue eyes, perfect nose, curved mouth. And the moment passed.

  “Where are we Sparrow?”

  “Somewhere safe.”

  “You work with Creedon Quint?”

  “Naturally.”

  “So tell me, Sparrow, why did you all begin the rebellion? That has been the question I cannot understand. It is illegal for common folk to train, to know how to fight. The king’s soldiers are highly skilled. The Soldatas and Soldats have powerful weapons which can only kill common folk. Why would your family be so bold, or perhaps so stupid, to rebel against the king?”

  She moved closer, and her brown skirts knelt before him. He could see her lovely face once more. He wondered what color her hair was. If it was long or short. It was customarily covered by off-white head wraps. If their family dressed as the law ordered, why did they rebel against other laws?

  “Perhaps you should see more of the country.” Sparrow took hold of his chin and watched him closely. “The answer is right there.”

  The deep blue pools of her eyes reflected the dim candles, and they seemed to have waves of dark blue, shimmers of green, and sparkles of silver dancing among them.

  Sage was loyal to his king, to the Soldats. He couldn’t let this rebel’s beautiful eyes stray him away from his mission. Her brave stance and her soft voice couldn’t distract him. He wouldn’t allow her to change everything he believed in.

  Sage had been raised to see commoners as hideous creatures who didn’t deserve the same rights as the nobility. As Sage watched Sparrow rose to her feet once more, he wondered what she would look like dressed in a fine satin gown, her hair braided and pinned.

  ~ Chapter 18 ~

  Jerrika let out a slow breath as she entered the blacksmith shop. What would Barrett say upon seeing her? Would her mother’s wish come true? Would he reject her? Would he pity her? She didn’t know which would be worse.

  Aileen gasped. “Jer.”

  “Hi.”

  “What happened?” Aileen rushed toward her.

  Jerrika bit her lip. “My mother found out about Barrett.”

  “What?” Aileen whispered.

  “This is her punishment for loving a commoner. She does not know who Barrett is. I will not let her know he is the blacksmith’s apprentice.”

  Aileen’s gaze seemed to take in every inch of her bruised and battered appearance. “How could a mother do such a thing?”

  Jerrika shrugged. “You always wonder why I have not introduced Barrett to my family.”

  Aileen nodded. “I understand now. Stay here, and I’ll get my brother.”

  “Thanks.”

  Jerrika sat on a stool. She ignored the mirror to the left side of the store. She didn’t want to see the result of her punishment. She repositioned the bright blue scarf covering her head.

  Barrett rushed to her, the doors from the back swinging in violent motion. He embraced her fiercely and gently cupped her cheeks with his large hands. “What did she do?”

  “It does not matter anymore.” Jerrika whispered and touched his wrists. “She hoped this would stop you from loving me.”

  “She doesn’t know me.”

  “I know.” She grinned, ignoring the pain from her split lip, glad her moment of doubt was proved false.

  How strange. She felt like she’d smiled more times in the past few days than she had in her entire life.

  “I love you Jer.” He kissed the brim of her nose, one of the few places she was free from bruises and scrapes. “I hate that she abused you.”

  “Me too.” Fresh, unexpected tears welled in her eyes. He was being so kind, so gentle, and his eyes didn’t betray any pity or disgust. He truly did love her. “She broke the necklace.”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Barrett pulled her close, gentle in his movements. “It must be so hard, back at school, forced to live with your
horrid sister. She must be even worse now.”

  “Rayna and I have come to an understanding.” Jerrika slowly moved away from him. “We are actually becoming friends.”

  “Really?”

  Jerrika nodded. “She did not know Mother beat me. This,” she gestured to her face, “actually brought Rayna and me together. We are becoming true sisters, friends and confidants.”

  “Then I’m glad something good came from your mother’s evil.”

  Aileen watched her brother and Jerrika. She never imagined a high noble such as Duchess Ederra would be so malicious to her own daughter. Someone else, yes. But not her own daughter.

  It made Aileen’s stomach quench as she thought about her sister. Would Faryn be subject to such? The noble who had kidnapped her never said his reason in wanting her. Horrible images always flew into her mind when Aileen thought of his purpose. Slavery, sex, beatings, punishment, death.

  Aileen turned. Thinking of her sister was too painful. She only hoped Faryn was alright out there in the world. She closed her eyes.

  Jonathan maintained his innocence, and he didn’t have a Soldat tattoo. Aileen told her father so, but he remained unconvinced. He knew the king would send soldiers, perhaps even Soldats or Soldatas, to find those in charge of the rebellion. The king hoped that if Creedon was killed, the rest of the rebellion would die without their leader.

  While Creedon had been the first to rise against the king, he was not the only one who had been abused by one of the nobles. The others had just been too scared to rebel against the king; their fear was no longer an issue.

  “Take him for a night out in town.” Creedon looked at his daughter. “Let him see what life is like for us common folk here in Kapok. If he’s a spy for the king, you should be able to tell by his reaction. If he’s really from Waden, he should be shocked at how horrible life is here for us.”

  Aileen nodded.

  “You didn’t give him your real name, right?”

  “I told him my name is Sparrow.”

  “Good.”

  Aileen took Jonathan out into the city with her that night.

  “Remember, we’re just strolling through the market.” Aileen cut Jonathan loose. “We’re courting, walking hand-in-hand, just on a relaxing walk.”

  “You are a rebel, and you are this scared of soldiers?” Jonathan touched the misshapen hat she had given him to wear.

  “I’m not stupid.” She looked at him. “Have you ever seen our town? Did you visit other towns on the way to Kapok?”

  Jonathan shook his head, surprise filling his chocolate brown eyes.

  “Just follow my lead and don’t draw attention to us.”

  “Yes Sparrow.”

  She took his hand, finger touching the slight rope burn on his wrist. “Are you alright?”

  He looked at the faint red lines. “This is nothing. I am fine.”

  She took his hand back and led him outside. The air was cool and fresh in the dusk. He seemed to be taking in every sight of the market. She smirked. He definitely had never been here before. She had been raised in the market. She knew every shortcut, every hiding place, every inch the soldiers covered.

  “So where are we headed Sparrow?”

  “I’m going to show you around, introduce you to the people in the market. I want you to understand why we are rebelling. I don’t know what life is like in Waden or why you came here to help us, but you need to understand life in Kapok.”

  “I came here because several common folk came into our town, begging for help to fight their king. They spoke of a prophecy, a hope your people have. My parents were compassionate, wishing to help them. But my parents are not soldiers. I was forced to be trained in the king’s army. Like your land, we have a tyrant for a ruler: King Joshua Donnie. He even keeps his unwilling queen his prisoner. He kidnaps boys of all status to train in his army.”

  “Why don’t you rebel?”

  “He has powerful magic. The prophecy at home is about an heir with true magic destroying the king. We look forward to the day the prophecy is fulfilled. But when my parents heard about your plight, they sent for me so I could come here and help you all fight against your king.”

  “Wow.” Aileen stared at him. He seemed sincere, real. She hoped he was.

  “What is happening over there?” Jonathan gestured to two soldiers harassing a young couple.

  “Probably looked at them wrong.”

  Jonathan and Aileen watched as one soldier grabbed the young woman, pushing her against the side of the building they were next to. Another soldier punched the young man, kicking, jabbing, even stabbing him as they took the young woman away. She screamed, but another group of soldiers just laughed.

  Jonathan took a step toward the retreating soldiers, but Aileen stopped him. “I told you, we can’t do anything that will draw attention to us.”

  “Is that how soldiers treat common folk? They just take as they wish, beating those who cannot defend themselves?”

  “Are you surprised? Why else would it be illegal for a commoner to train to defend oneself?”

  Jonathan opened his mouth and, after a pause, shut it. He just shook his head.

  “Miss Quint.” Anne, an elderly woman with crooked teeth, smiled as she greeted them. “Who is this young man?”

  “This is Jonathan. He’s from Waden.”

  “A pleasure Sir.” Anne reached out her left hand to shake his right.

  Jonathan stared at her missing right hand. He gently shook her left.

  “You must excuse me.” Anne flashed her smile at Aileen once more as she left.

  “What happened to her?” Jonathan whispered once she had walked past them.

  “She’s an innkeeper. Last year, her inn was completely full. Two high nobles who were courting requested a room together, but she refused. She wasn’t going to evict any of her paying customers out for them. She was punished.”

  “Paying customers? I am not saying it is right, but would the high nobles not pay too?”

  Aileen’s chuckle turned into a loud laugh before she stifled it with her spare hand. “What? Here high nobles and royals take anything and everything they want for free. They have no respect for common folk. They expect us to drop everything we care about, everything we work for, to help them, to serve them.”

  “That is not right.” Jonathan whispered.

  “Hence rebellion.”

  He smiled as he looked at her.

  She continued taking him down the street, telling him about the ash remains of a house a Soldat had set on fire, the windows soldiers had broken to punish a couple whose dog barked, the unfair taxes the king’s men continued to collect from them, the fields which were ruined whenever the king was angry at his subjects -he didn’t like them complaining about the injustice. Of course, the king had been harsher to his people, trying to squash the rebellion. Unfortunately for him, it only stoked the fire more.

  ~ Chapter 19 ~

  Atz 539

  Jerrika entered class alone and took her assigned seat by herself at the table in the back of the room. Jerrika chewed on her thumbnail as her teacher, Baron Hoffman, talked endlessly of politics and nations.

  “Jerrika Isabelle Little.”

  She straightened and folded her hands on top of the desk.

  “Well?” Baron Hoffman asked.

  “What?”

  “I am so sorry.” Baron Hoffman put her hands to her hips. “Did I interrupt? Would you like to share what amazing activity was going on in your brain?”

  “No.”

  “Please.” Baron Hoffman gestured to the room. “Obviously something is more entertaining than the reign of King Girdo of Najos. Please.”

  “I…” Jerrika paused. Every eye in the classroom burned toward her. Her throat closed, and her face burned. She wished she could disappear or fall through the floorboards.

  “Obviously you need to learn how to make your lectures more interesting.” Rayna announced from where she sat in the middle of the
classroom.

  All eyes turned to her, mouths half open with shock, faces white, and suddenly it was quiet enough to hear a quill drop.

  Baron Hoffman turned his attention to Rayna. “You are usually a model student.”

  “I just think it is cruel to pick on my sister as you always do.”

  “You have never thought it cruel before.”

  “I always did.” Rayna assured him. “I just never spoke up about it before. And I do think you are rather tedious. Honestly, I cannot remember yesterday’s lesson. What did you teach us? It never stays in my mind. I sincerely think you need to make your lessons more engaging.”

  Baron Hoffman sputtered nonsense; small droplets of spit flew from his stuttering lips. “You, Rayna Little, go to your father this instance. You are in terrible trouble.”

  She calmly collected her books.

  “Jerrika, go with your sister.”

  “Yes sir.” Jerrika stood. She was numb. Had her sister truly said that to their teacher? Was it possible?

  The sisters silently left the classroom, but as soon as they were in the hall, Jerrika threw her arms around Rayna. “Thank you.”

  Rayna slowly returned her sister’s embrace. “He has always been so rude to you. I am sorry I stoked that fire so many times. It was unfair to you. You are very smart. Your mind just works differently than others.”

  “How would you know?” Jerrika was curious.

  “I have had conversations with you.” Rayna chuckled. “I have listened to ones you have had with Kurtis and Garrik. You do not know how much I admire you. The teachers here do not give you enough credit. You are the smartest in our class.”

  “Thanks.” Jerrika never realized how much Rayna paid attention to her.

  The girls entered their father’s private study. He looked at them. “I hear you were both extremely rude to Baron Hoffman.”

  “He was rude to Jerrika first.” Rayna stated. “I just stood up for my sister.”

  “And I hear that is a first as well.” Viktor glanced at her.

  “Rayna and I are trying to be friends.” Jerrika stated.