by Jenn Nixon
“The first Royal Guardian?” Tiva’s eyes widened, having heard stories of the great guardian Trilo from her older cousins.
“Yes,” Kevler said as he steered the craft toward the gates of the palace. “And the same is true in the other provinces. Many of the homes were built long ago, and have withstood the ravages of war and weather over the cycles. Tradition of old is not the only thing we hold dear, Tiva.” Kevler stopped just outside the gates. He hopped out of the hovercraft to speak with Litru and Zaynus Truda, kin to the Finto Family, who were on duty at the gates.
Tiva raised her head upward, then up some more, leaning back in her seat to get the full view of the palace. Enthralled with the palace and its surroundings, she paid little attention as they spoke. When they came near the craft to wish her a happy Remembrance, she turned to them and smiled. Though twins, the Trudas did not look alike. Zaynus was taller with light hair and dark gray eyes, Litru, the more striking of the two had dark hair and light blue eyes.
“You are level three guardians?” she said, one eye on them, the other on the palace gates.
“Yes we are,” Litru said and Zaynus finished, “We have just passed the test, and are training for level two now. But alas we cannot be level one guardians.”
“You are not direct descendants of a guardian bloodline?” she said, her full attention now on the twins.
“That is correct,” Zaynus said.
Litru continued, “Our mother’s kin married a Royal Guardian which afforded us the opportunity to join.”
She smiled. “Family bonds to the guardians can be strong. How goes your training?”
“Dearest one, you will have plenty of time to ask questions later,” Kevler said.
“We don’t mind,” Litru said and Zaynus concurred, “Your daughter is the brightest child we have met in quite some time. You must be proud.”
“We are extremely proud,” D’laja said, putting her fist to her heart, and bowing her head, “but if we do not move speedily we will be extremely late.” She shooed Tiva back into the seat and yanked her husband’s arm. Kevler nodded, and then circled around the vehicle. Litru and Zaynus returned D’laja’s gesture then ran back to the palace gates to open them.
Her father started the vehicle and slipped past the gates when they opened. Tiva again fixed her eyes upon the great palace. Now in full view, she saw the long smooth edifice that towered over all the lands.
To the right side of the roadway was a large pond, to the left, a beautiful garden comprised of every flower and shrub Abennelp offered. Her gaze shifted to all the different parts of the palace grounds, her mind studying them and remembering where everything was located. Kevler maneuvered the hovercraft along the pavement and proceeded to the sleek storage deck for the guardians’ personal vehicles. Once Kevler stopped the craft, D’laja jumped out and pulled Tiva with her.
“Hurry beloved, you know I dislike being late,” her mother said and scampered toward the palace with her daughter in tow. Kevler tended to the craft and then joined them to meet with the Royals.
*
“Your Majesties, I am Tiva Boon, first daughter to Sir Kevler and Lady D’laja Boon, first family of the Royal Guardians. I kneel before you to speak of my in-intentions to become a Guardian of Abennelp. I…vow to honor the Royal Guardians, and pledge my life to protect the throne. I humbly ask to begin my studies and prepare for my induction.” Tiva put her hand to her heart and bowed her head. She remained on one knee, but raised her head to see the king and queen. The throne room was silent and empty with the exception of the two Royals, and her parents.
Kevler and D’laja stood behind her, each with a hand on her shoulder. Without meeting their eyes, Tiva knew they were pleased.
King Harer Delos rose from his chair and held his hand out to his wife, Mirta. She took it and they walked down the few steps before them and stood facing the Boon family.
“Rise, Tiva Boon.” King Delos looked directly at her.
Queen Delos knelt down and smiled. She held out her hand, and in her palm was a piece of candy. Tiva watched the queen for a moment; her amber eyes shimmered when she smiled. The wavy hair looked and moved like fire as it fell over her shoulder. She wore the traditional Abennelpian Royal robe: long white billowy fabric, the edges lined with golden ribbon. The front of the robe had a deep V neckline, and along the collar, a pattern of flower petals showered down toward the middle. Mirta was a beautiful and friendly queen.
Tiva glanced up to her parents unsure she should take the candy, but they both nodded their approval. She collected the candy and bowed her head as way of thanks. The queen smiled at her then stood and pulled D’laja off to the side. The king held out his hand to Tiva. She turned to her father, who nodded, so she pressed her tiny palm against the king’s hand. He covered the top of her hand with his other and looked into her eyes. Instantly, she felt warmth and kindness from him. She smiled.
“I do not intimidate you, do I Tiva Boon?”
“No, sire,” she said, and put her free hand on top of the king’s. A smiled appeared on his lips as he looked up to Kevler.
Her father chuckled.
“Most of the children I have met are quite frightened of me, even though I always offer my hand in friendship,” he said, studying her small hand on top of his.
“Your hands are warm, sire, your spirit is calming. You are a good king,” she said candidly.
The two men laughed.
Tiva looked to them confused. She pulled her hands back and took a step away from the king, her markings turning pink. Kevler noticed and immediately knelt down beside her.
The king looked to Kevler. “She is in tune with her empathic senses and her markings have begun to react already?”
“Yes, Harer, can you believe it?” he said.
“I would expect nothing less from the Boon Family.” He nodded and clasped Kevler on the shoulder. The king turned to Tiva and took her hand again. “You are a very special child. Study well and listen to your elders.”
Tiva nodded.
“As you grow, you will come to learn, young Tiva, that even I can be easy-spirited in private, but you are still confused, speak of what you feel.”
“Father called you by your birth name,” she said, studying him. She was sensing more from him than she understood. His jade eyes pierced through her in a wave of familiarity and his touch was comforting not intimidating as her cousins had told her. The king’s short black hair sparked with flecks of silver when he ran his hands over his head. The hair hid his moon markings. Tiva found this curious as she believed the crescent moon markings of her people were beautiful and something one should display with pride.
“Your father and I have been friends for many, many cycles. He is as close to me as a brother of my own blood,” he said, his complete attention on her, “you will learn when you can be informal. Guardians must always balance duty with pleasure.”
“So, am I to begin my training to prepare for the induction?” Tiva grinned at her father and the king.
“Yes, Tiva Boon, you are to begin your training.” King Delos deepened his voice sounding more official. “Five cycles from this day, should you pass all your schooling, you will be inducted into guardianship training.”
“Sire…” Tiva looked up to him once more.
“Yes, little Lady Boon?”
“I wish to be an elite guardian,” she said.
Both Kevler and the king paused for a moment.
“I have told her we could discuss that, sire. Young Tiva here needs to learn patience,” he said.
“Have you not told her?” Harer asked.
“No, actually, I have not.”
“Told me what? Speak of what you hide,” Tiva said.
Kevler knelt down in front of her. “I wanted to wait until you were older so that you may understand, but there has never been a female elite guardian before.”
“Then I will be the first,” she said forthrightly.
“It is not so simple,
dearest one.” He stroked her hand. “Tradition has always been such that women cannot hold the position of a level one guardianship.”
“Can the tradition be changed?”
“By whom?” he asked.
“Our king, he makes the rules of our land, he can change them,” she said, and looked to King Delos and stared into his eyes. Kevler turned to the king perplexed, as if looking for help to explain the reasoning.
“Traditions are hard to break, Tiva, but we shall see where your path leads you. You may be the very one to bend the rules,” Harer said, nodding to Kevler who smiled back.
The three turned to see D’laja and Mirta walking toward them. They were talking as they rejoined the others. Harer took Mirta in his arms and they exchanged a secret conversation with their eyes, Mirta nodding in the end.
“Tonight you will be our guests; we will celebrate Tiva’s Remembrance and the joyous news that Mirta and I will be having our second child.”
“Spirited blessings!” Kevler and Tiva said then bowed their heads to the queen.
“And what did you speak of in my absence, precious?” D’laja asked, kneeling down.
“I spoke of my intentions to become the first female elite guardian of Abennelp,” she said without hesitation. In her heart, Tiva knew this was where she belonged, beside her king, like her father and all other Boon guardians before her.
D’laja took one of her daughter’s braids in her palm, ran her fingers down the twists of hair, and smiled. “If anyone can break tradition, you will be the one.”
Chapter Three
Tiva sat in the grooves of her favorite tree, resting and anxiously waiting for the darkness of night to lift. Another special Remembrance came with the suns’ rise. Five whole cycles had passed. She had reached the age of induction. Tiva trained and studied harder than any other had. She felt full of honor. Her father, most trusted of all the guardians, was proud, as were her mother and all her kin. She swelled with joy. Everyone in her family had been waiting for this day. Tiva had spoken of nothing but her induction from the day she left the palace after meeting the king and queen. She was glad her family was full of guardians and indulged her incessant questions and comments about her training.
Te bowed his leaves and responded to her touch when she climbed up his trunk and asked him not to let her fall.
Today, she looked upon the suns older, wiser.
Tiva watched as the orange, yellow, and deep red hues of the morning dawn brought life to the field before her. Animals began their morning scurry for food. Birds and bugs flew through the air chasing one another. Through Te’s branches, she spotted one of her favorite birds, the Mitahi. Bright green feathers covered its back and wings. It soared high in the air, almost to the clouds, and then swooped down sharply toward her home. As she watched it move through the air, following its descent, she noticed the light in her parent’s room flickering in the distance.
“Mother is dressing to come get me, Te.” She laughed and stood on the top of his trunk between the parting branches. She pushed off, leapt into the air, tucked her legs to her chest, and flipped over. She didn’t see her mother in the doorway of her home until she kicked out her legs and landed safely on the ground. Their eyes met. Her mother chuckled and shook her head. D’laja raised her hand, motioning for Tiva to come, a smile still on her lips.
“Coming Mother!” She waved back. “Sorry Te, I have to go. I’ll see you later.” She looked over her shoulder, and kicked off into a sprint toward home. It looked like all the other houses on the land: smooth gray stone exterior with massive, colored windows. The slated roof was high and round with a communications dish attached near the rear of the house, the only obvious sign of technology on the ancient dwelling.
At top speed, she ran toward the house. The large wooden door was ajar and the sweet aroma from the kitchen wafted through the field. Tiva grinned and slowed her pace. She took a small hop and kicked off the stepping-stone near the door. She soared into the air, flipped forward, and landed in the doorway. She lifted her hands gaining her balance, then glanced at her mother.
“You are getting better at your landing. Happy Remembrance, precious.” D’laja smiled and held out her arms. Tiva ran to her mother and hugged her. D’laja kissed her forehead, then playfully patted her on the bottom. “Go wash up, change for morning meal, and after that we head to the palace; you must make haste.”
“Yes, Mother,” Tiva said. She released her mother, twirled around, and skipped through the lounge bumping into her father near the last stair. “It is a beautiful morning, Father.”
He leaned over and picked her up. “You are growing up so fast. Soon you will be as tall as your mother, and I will no longer be able to carry you.” Kevler kissed her cheek and stroked his fingers over her markings. “Happy Remembrance, dearest one.”
“Thank you, Father.” She kissed him back. “But you better not keep me, I must not dawdle, Mother said so.”
He nodded his head and set her down. “Then do not tarry, be gone!” He chuckled and waved his hand to her.
She rolled her eyes playfully before running up the stairs.
Reaching the landing, she spotted a shadow approaching. Two small figures tackled her when she turned the corner. Knowing her siblings tactics already, Tiva grabbed them both, twisted them around, and rolled over so she was lying sideways across them.
“We do just like Rae!” the girl screeched.
“We want to have fun on Remembrance!” the boy said.
Tiva tickled them both. The dark-haired, gray-eyed twins squirmed and squealed underneath her, but she continued. Their laughter echoed through the hallway. Tiva knew she risked reprimand for not getting ready quickly enough and stopped, eventually. She looked both in the eyes and tickled once more before jumping to her feet.
“Remock, Bintu you are both too young to play so rough.”
“I am not too young,” Bintu grumbled pulling the dress down as she stood.
“I am not too young, too. Cousin Rae tackled you the first time when you were three. Bintu and I are four and one third.” Remock stayed on the floor and crossed his arms.
“Very well, but you should only tackle those you know you can best.” Tiva offered her hand. Remock grabbed it. Tiva jerked him to his feet. “At least until you’re a guardian like me.”
“You are not a guardian…I’m telling Mother you’re fibbing!” Bintu jested.
“I’ll be a guardian today, after I see the king and queen.” Tiva made a comical face at her sister.
“We know,” Remock said, “we can’t wait the months until we meet the king!”
“Your time comes quickly now, but I must go and ready myself.” She smiled, and hugged her siblings. “I will see you at morning meal.”
Tiva appeared in the entranceway of the kitchen. One by one, her family turned to her. Smiles lit their faces. She stood before them in her new training uniform, legs slightly apart, her stance firm and confident. The dark maroon tunic with gray patches on each shoulder fit perfectly. The color did not flatter her pale-pink skin tone, but she belonged in the uniform. It felt natural. The trousers, black and flared at the bottom, fit snug on her legs. Her sword, attached to her side, remained hidden. Both the sheath and belt already showed signs of wear from her training. One hand gripped the hilt firmly, the other hand relaxed at her side. She tried not to smile and kept her serious expression, but Remock and Bintu made silly faces at her. Tiva chuckled and stuck out her tongue.
“Intolerable! What behavior is this from an inductee?” Kevler raised his voice.
They all grew silent and gawked at him. His stern features broke into a smile. They all laughed. D’laja struck him with a towel and pulled out Tiva’s chair for her to sit.
“No swords at the table, precious one.” Then she turned her attention to Bintu who was reaching across the table to grab a piece of fruit. “Little one, don’t reach out so, you may lose your balance.”
“Why can’t we go to the palace
?” Remock said with a snort.
“Lad, we spoke of this before. You will go to the palace on your Remembrance just as tradition states,” Kevler said.
“But, Father…” he began in protest.
“Quiet your tongue, dear. Be thankful you are of the bloodline, Remock. I did not meet the king until I was a legionnaire,” D’laja said. “Besides, this is your sister’s big day. Your turn will come soon.” She pinched his cheek softly and brushed the hair from his forehead. She placed a few platters of food on the table. Kevler served the meal.
Tiva sat opposite her siblings, silently playing with a ring on her finger. The silver band was still too big for her fingers so she kept it on her thumb. She had memorized the feel of it the first day she had worn it when she was five. It was her third favorite gift she received that day. She knew the ring as soon as she looked upon it.
The ring of Garloa, one of her most beloved ancestors.
By tradition, Devler should bestow the heirloom on his child, but he wished it upon Tiva. She pulled the ring close to her stomach to look at it. A crimson flame curved around the bright orange orbs in the middle of the ring, symbolizing the suns in the sky and the fire spirit that kept them ablaze. Devler said the ring suited her, and though she was wary of keeping it, he promised he had other heirlooms for his children.
D’laja and Kevler asked her what kept her attention.
“Uncle Devler bestowed upon me the ring of Garloa.” She revealed her hand and showed it to them. They nodded and smiled, yet did not seem surprised. “He requested I not wear it until today.”
“It is a fine ring Tiva, and it belongs on your hand. You have the fire spirit within you.” Kevler smiled.
“But Father, did you not say our family’s spirit is Shial, the guardian of the people of Abennelp, the bringer of water?” she said.