There, standing on a wooden chair, was Jem. His hands were clenched, and fury emanated from him.
My childhood flashed before my eyes.
I saw Jem and I, sitting on the shore of the lake, kicking our feet in the cool water.
I watched myself clean the nasty cut on his arm after he jumped from a tree when he was trying to show off for a village girl. I had teased him mercilessly for weeks.
Several memories bombarded me, simultaneously making me want to smile and cry.
But the one that played last was the moment more than a year ago when Jem and I had spent our first night in the town tavern. We were only supposed to have one cup of wine, but one turned into four. Before I was aware of what was happening, I was intoxicated. I remembered stumbling home with Jem’s help. He wasn’t in a much better state, but at least he could walk on his own.
We’d arrived at the path leading to my house, and we stopped before approaching. The last thing I wanted was for Lin to see me drunk. I would never hear the end of it.
I’d turned to Jem to say goodnight, but the words died on my lips as I took in his expression. A fire lit his eyes, and I barely knew what was happening before he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine.
Now, I raised my fingers to my lips, remembering the feel of his strong mouth against mine. He had apologized for it the next day, but I would never forget my first kiss.
I might not have romantic feelings for my friend, and I would deny it to anyone who asked, but I always saw myself with him. I pictured a future together, both of us working hard to make Caldiri a better place. If I couldn’t venture out into the world, at least I could have small adventures at home with him. Jem made me happy, and I would count myself blessed to have him in my life until the end of my days.
But I never told him any of that.
As I faced a future where I would never see him again, a part of me wished I had.
Even with the distance, I saw tears glistening in Jem’s eyes. It was like he relived the same moments of our life together, mourning my loss before I was even gone.
“I love you, Lissa,” he called out, disrupting the sorrowful quiet which filled the hall. “I will see you again.”
There was no longer any hope of controlling my tears. “I love you, too,” I choked out, trying to convey how much he meant to me. We weren’t lovers, but I doubted I would ever have such a strong connection to anyone else.
A second later, a draekon placed a strong hand against my back and guided me through the door. Despite Jem’s vow, I feared that was the last time I would ever lay eyes on my friend.
10
The team of agents escorted us to Lord Stanley’s manor. I wondered at the number of the procession accompanying us. I didn’t remember ever seeing so many agents present for The Census. It was like they expected trouble.
Crossing the bridge, our group veered right and walked around to the back of the home. A small wooden door with an iron handle came into view. The lead agent ducked through the door.
“Clear.”
All ten of us entered in a single line, one agent in between each of us. I hesitated when it was my turn to enter. I didn’t want to let go of Lorie, but we both wouldn’t fit at the same time.
Lorie, seeing my dilemma, solved the problem by willingly stepping out of my hold. She walked through first, followed by a draekon whose size dwarfed my younger sister. I forgot, sometimes, just how large the creatures were. Both male and female draekon averaged at least one hands-length taller than humans, and their muscle density was superior to our own.
“You’re next,” an unfamiliar agent told me, prodding my back. I stumbled and had to catch myself on the door frame. I hissed as a splinter lodged into the soft skin between my thumb and pointer finger.
Before the agent could push me again, I leaned down and crossed the threshold. Looking around, I guessed we were in the manor’s pantry. Sacks of grain, potatoes, and corn lined the walls. Dried meat suspended from beams across the ceiling. I had never seen so much food in my life. I had no idea so much food even existed in Caldiri.
The front of our line moved through the room toward an opening on the other side. It led to the kitchen with their roaring ovens.
I sniffed. Apparently, recruits were not good enough to be welcomed through the front door.
We followed a long, narrow hallway, taking a left, then a right, before we arrived at a series of rooms. Glancing inside one, I noted two stacked beds and a washbasin.
“These are your quarters for the night. Rest up. We travel to Draek tomorrow.”
A brave voice up front asked, “When do we get to speak to our families? When do we get to say goodbye?”
“Your families will be arriving in a few hours. We will retrieve you when it is time. Until then, you will stay in your quarters.” The new agent finished his speech nodding to his colleagues. The one near me reached out and grabbed my arm. He guided me into the room next to me and I panicked.
“My sister,” I said, looking at him with desperation. “Can my sister stay with me?” I glanced over his shoulder and already saw Lorie being led into the room across the hall. She was terrified.
The agent gazed down at me with a firm, no nonsense expression. Gradually, his skin smoothed. “Vince,” he barked. “Bring the girl over here.”
My legs threatened to collapse with relief. “Thank you.”
The agent huffed, but his touch was gentle as he placed me in the room. Lorie entered behind me. Then the door closed, and I heard the telling sound of a lock click into place.
Lorie stared at the door in shock. “They locked us in.”
“I guess it’s a good way to make sure we don’t escape.” No one knew what happened to the recruits after they were selected. I suspected our treatment was normal.
Retreating footsteps signaled the agents’ departure. Silence settled in the hallway.
Lorie turned and observed the small, bare room. Her eyes dimmed as reality set in.
“What happened?” I wanted to ask the question the moment Lorie was led into the town hall. “How did they find you?”
She stared at the far wall. “I don’t know. I was at home when the front door opened. I thought it might’ve been Lin. Before I knew what was happening, I was surrounded by agents. They didn’t say anything, and I was too scared to ask questions. One grabbed me, and she walked me into the town hall. You know the rest.”
Sadness threatened to drown me with its heavy weight. Recruitment was the last thing I ever wanted to happen to my sister. “I’m so sorry, Lorie.”
“Someone sold us out,” she said, not addressing my apology. “Someone told them about me. Someone told them where I was.”
I shook my head. I could not think of one villager who would do such a thing.
But the reality of the situation forced me to consider someone in Caldiri must have betrayed Lorie’s existence. Why else would the agents storm my family’s home? There was no motivation. I moved and sat on the bottom bed. I leaned forward, resting my head in my hands.
This is such a mess.
I tried to think of a way to get us out of our predicament, but no solution came forward. Lorie and I were locked in a room located on Lord Stanley’s estate. More than likely, we were surrounded by guards. Tomorrow, we would be transported through the Royal Forest until we arrived at the capital.
In spite of my best efforts, I could not see a way out.
Lorie slid beside me and leaned her head against my shoulder. Neither of us said a word. We just sat, taking the small comfort of knowing at least we were in this together.
The day progressed at a slow pace. A small window faced west, allowing in sunlight. I watched shadows shift across the floor until the sun dipped in the horizon. An agent unlocked the door and entered, lighting the two sconces hanging on the walls. He stepped towards the exit.
“When will we see our families?” I knew we had already been given an answer, but it had been hours since we arrived.
Surely, family members were already at the manor, eager to see their loved ones for the last time.
The agent stopped. He turned to look at me. “The families have already come and gone.”
Buzzing filled my ears. “Th-that’s impossible. We haven’t seen our brother.” Lin would never forgo saying goodbye. Never.
“Your brother is in jail,” he replied with a flat tone. “For inciting violence and fighting agents at the Choosing. He will not be coming.”
Lorie whimpered beside me. Fury flooded my veins.
“He is our brother. We will never see him again!”
The agent shrugged. “That changes nothing.”
I jumped up and shoved the draekon with all my might. He barely moved.
Lorie gasped. It was unwise to physically assault a draekon, but I was beyond caring. Lin’s reaction during the Ceremony had been reasonable given the circumstance. He had heard both of his sisters’ names called for recruitment. Surely, if there was any justice in Caldiri, such information would be considered with regards to any punishment he received.
The agent blinked down at me, looking like he didn’t know how to react. I doubted a human had ever shoved him before. His black eyes scanned me from head to toe. A quizzical expression formed before he donned his stoic mask. Without addressing my pathetic assault, he left. He shut the door behind him and locked it again.
“Are you insane?” Lorie hissed.
I sat back down. I wasn’t used to sitting in one place for so long, and I was beginning to feel restless and agitated.
“I wasn’t thinking.”
“Obviously.”
I ignored the comment. “I can’t believe they actually arrested Lin.”
“Neither can I,” Lorie’s voice dipped. I saw tears gathering in her eyes.
“We will see him again,” I said without thinking. The words just fell out of my mouth. My first priority was always to comfort Lorie. Though, I wasn’t sure my words helped. “I know it.”
“You and I both know recruits never return home.” The depressing reality of our future was beginning to take its toll on my sister.
I strived to lessen its impact. “Lin will come see us.” The statement was made to alleviate Lorie’s sufferings but when I thought about it, I truly believed it: our brother would risk the trip to the capital if only to see that we were safe.
Lorie shook her head. “It’s too dangerous. He could be robbed, killed, or both.” The criminal activity of bandits and thieves within the forest were well known.
I didn’t continue the conversation. While I agreed that such a journey would prove risky, I knew Lin wouldn’t think twice if he thought he had the chance to see us again. With Papa Gil gone and our parents absent from our lives, the two of us were all he had. Without us, Lin was alone.
Desolation threatened to overwhelm me.
Hours later while I tried and failed to fall asleep in the comfy, stacked bed, a memory struck me.
I saw myself at the banquet, watching as Agent Stone openly admired Lin.
She’d been disappointed to learn he wasn’t a recruit, and she even offered for him to contact her should he ever visit Draek. A hard truth pressed against my chest as I wondered if our recruitment could be a plan hatched by Agent Stone.
What if the draekon wanted Lin so much, she recruited his two sisters—his only family—to the capital? Nothing less would result in Lin traveling to Draek.
Suddenly, all my hatred and anger found a target.
I pictured Agent Stone and imagined throwing toxic medicines into her pretty, malicious face. I’d revel in the sight of foxglove oil blotching her flawless, draekon complexion.
It was all speculation at the moment, but if I found out she was responsible for destroying my family, I would not hesitate to wreak havoc on her and her miserable draekon life. I didn’t care if I was nothing more than a draekon slave, I would make her pay if it was the last thing I did.
11
I dozed off sometime in the night. My anger fell to the side as my body craved sleep. Soft morning light entered the room. I turned on my side, away from the rays.
It had arrived: the day I would leave my childhood home for forever.
I blinked and observed the small white bumps covering the wall beside me. Reaching out a hand, I trailed the pads of my fingers over the smooth texture.
“Lissa? Are you awake?”
I rolled onto my back. “Yes.”
Lorie gently slid down from the elevated bed. She laid down next to me and placed her head on my pillow. I inched over to give her room. The pillow was large, much larger than any I’d ever seen.
“Did you sleep?” she asked, staring at the bottom of the bed above us.
“A little.”
Her hands fidgeted. “Me too. It was weird… I didn’t think I would be able to sleep. Not after everything that’s happened. But—”
“But the bed was too comfortable not to,” I finished for her.
Her voice dropped into a strangled whisper. “Yes.”
I reached over and grabbed her hand. “It is going to be all right.”
“How do you know?”
“Aren’t you always saying I know everything?” I aimed for a light tone. “Why doubt it now?”
I was rewarded with a weak laugh. “Of course. How silly of me.”
I exhaled and smiled to myself, but Lorie’s next words wiped all amusement from my face.
“I didn’t mean it, you know.”
I frowned as I turned to look at her. “Didn’t mean what?”
I watched her shift. “When I said I wanted to be recruited, I didn’t mean it. I was just mad.”
My chest squeezed. “I know that,” I soothed. “I never believed it.” The lie rolled off my tongue effortlessly. To be honest, Lorie’s words had frightened me into thinking she would prefer a life serving the draekon. I was relieved to hear it wasn’t true.
“I was just mad,” she repeated with a shake of her head. “I was so stupid. So stupid to say such a thing.”
“We all say things when we’re angry.”
“Not you.” She turned wide, admiring eyes towards me. “You’re always so calm, so collected.”
“Are you forgetting that I shoved an agent last night? I’d say that was stupider than saying angry, untrue words.”
Lorie chuckled, remembering the incident. It was amusing now that we knew I wasn’t in trouble. “I still can’t believe you actually did that.”
I lifted my shoulders to my ears. “It definitely wasn’t my smartest decision.”
We both laughed.
Too soon, Lorie sobered. “I hope Lin is okay.”
“He will be.”
“How do you—”
“Because I’m your big sister,” I interrupted. “And I know everything. Remember?”
A female agent arrived and escorted us to bathing chambers. I eyed the immense bathtub with longing, but we were directed to the right. There were five stalls, and three already had water running. I’d heard about the devices called showers. The few townspeople who worked at Lord Stanley’s estate shared every tiny piece of information about the expensive home. While I was fascinated by water being delivered without a pump, I balked at the waste as I heard water slap against the tile floor in the stall. No one was even in there.
The agent, seeing my expression, was quick to say, “We started the water so it would be warm when you arrived. It hasn’t been on for too long.”
Warm water?
I was too distracted by her description to wonder why she even bothered explaining the situation to me.
My tense muscles yearned to step inside and let the warmth loosen and relieve them. I still despised the waste, but I had never experienced a warm shower before. The closest I got was a warm bath—a treat I arranged for myself once per month. But even then, the water cooled much too quickly to really enjoy. The rest of the time, I was forced to risk exposure by bathing in the lake or use cool water from our home’s s
torage tank that Lin had constructed himself.
I watched clouds of fog form over the showers and eagerness overcame me, ending my hesitation.
I stepped towards the stall the agent pointed to, but a sound behind me halted my movement. Lorie and I both turned and watched as the third female recruit entered the bathing chamber.
All levity drained out of me as I identified the other young woman forced to give up her life in Caldiri.
“Bridget,” Lorie greeted the other girl with a soft kindness I rarely witnessed from her. “How did you sleep?”
Bridget Pool, the same woman I saw speaking with Lin at the banquet, offered a weak, but brave, smile. “As well as you would expect.”
My sister nodded knowingly.
“Ladies, you should shower,” the agent interrupted the brief reunion. “The men will be arriving for their turn in twenty minutes.”
All three of us heeded her instruction and approached our stalls, removing our shoes and leaving them outside before we entered.
I stepped behind the cream curtain, pulling it closed. Then I pulled my tunic over my head and folded it neatly on the short bench beside me. Reaching around my back, I unlaced the strings holding my skirt together and let it widen before lowering it to the ground and stepping out.
Turning, I noticed a second curtain separated my undressing space from the running water. I carefully stepped through, holding out my hand to assess the temperature.
I nearly groaned with pleasure.
The water was hot but not so hot it burned. My skin puckered with bumps, enjoying the amazing sensation. I stepped completely inside and let the shower rain over me, and for a moment, my worries and anxiety about what the future might hold almost faded away.
Almost.
“Lissa! Thank the gods. Are you hurt?”
Hyde took six large steps across the room until he stood in front of me. He reached out like he was going to grab me, but he thought better of it. Lowering his arms to his side, his eyes scanned me from head to toe.
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