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A KNIGHT HANDED THE wizard a piece of parchment. He read it, staring intently at the words.
“What is it?” the king asked him.
“The apprentice’s army grows in size, m’lord, and he’s already taken the Castle at Ry’uet,” the wizard explained.
“She’s the last. I like her. I think we should make her the one,” the king said, almost ignoring him.
“M’lord?”
“She figured out that she could only use one weapon at a time, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t use others.”
“She wasn’t the only one to figure it out.”
“Nay, she wasn’t, but we’ve already decided he’ll be our secret weapon. And according to Ser Erwin, he hasn’t said anything to anyone. I believe we can trust him.”
“You put too much faith in the young ones. Don’t you remember what it was like to be that age?”
“Of course I do. That’s why I have faith in them.”
“I don’t know about her, m’lord.”
“I’ve told you, when we’re alone you can call me Remi. Now, why not?”
“Her desire to join comes from a position of selfishness. It was all about her doing this or becoming that.”
“We were all like that when we were young, or have you forgotten how I was before I became a knight, old friend?”
“Aye, but selfishness has no standing in a position where she may have to give her life to protect you.”
“Make her the best. Make her believe it, so that when the time comes she will want to stand face to face with him.”
“Do you think it wise, m’lord?”
The king nodded.
“If we pick her, we must release someone else. Who shall that be?”
“We have chosen twelve boys and four girls. One of the squires can go back to his knight and add Alora to the list.”
“Aye, m’lord.”
“And stop calling me that!”
“Aye, m’lord.”
“Really Wizard?”
The wizard laughed. “We must stop him, at any cost then?”
“We must keep it secret from everyone. They mustn’t find out why we have chosen young ones.”
“I fear this is for the best.”
“We have until he crosses the kingdom of Ry’uet to get them ready. Can you do it?”
“Aye.”
“Then let it be done.”
“Aye, my king.”
— — —
ONE BY ONE SER ERWIN called out the names. Each person stood and was escorted out of the dining hall by a squire. My name hadn’t been called and it started to worry me. Had attacking the wizard cost me my chance? Or had losing to him done that? I sat waiting, looking across the table into the empty space that once held other volunteers. “Do you think we’re next?” Tessa asked.
“I have no idea,” I responded.
I turned to Lucah to see if he had any ideas. He shrugged.
Ser Erwin put down his list and didn’t call out any more names. Among the few of us left in the room waiting impatiently to find out what happens next, were me, Lucah, Tessa, the boy with the violet eyes, the girl from the courtyard and a few others I vaguely noticed. In all, there were sixteen of us—five girls and eleven boys. Ser Erwin ordered us to stand when our name was called and to remain standing.
One by one we all stood, when only one name remained. “Silas of Monteras, Kingdom of Ky’lima,” Ser Erwin announced breaking my focus. I finally knew his name. Silas was the boy with the violet eyes. Silas... Silas... I repeated again and again, making sure I remembered it.
I watched as the king and wizard entered the hall and paused to speak with Ser Erwin. The king was no longer dressed in his armor, now wearing a similar outfit to what the squires wore—a brown tunic with brown pants. His of course looked like it was hand stitched this morning. “Everyone please follow us,” the king commanded. We were led out of the rear entrance of the dining hall and up a spiral flight of stone steps.
When the stairs finally ended, we passed through a door and were greeted with the green sky I loved so much, the sun was beginning its evening routine. Standing on top of the tower, over looking the kingdom, I grabbed the closest person to me, Tessa, and froze.
We were high, very high and I didn’t want to fall. To the north was water as far as my eyes could see. To the east, water. to the west, land. To the south, land, the direction we came from. Castle Ly’vera stood almost at the end of the world.
“You have all been chosen,” the king began, “for my army. I wanted you all to see what it is we are fighting for. My kingdom is the furthest east. Ky’lima the furthest west and right in the middle lies Ry’uet. Your training will begin in two days. You do not need to bring anything with you. All that you need will be provided. You may however, bring any trinkets or personal items you wish to keep.
“Each of you will be required to have your parents send a falcon, turning you over to me. If they refuse, you will not be joining my army and your place will be given to someone else. Carriages are already waiting to take you and the others back to your villages.
“It is late. My servants have placed water, bread, potatoes, corn, and chicken in the carriages for you to enjoy on your ride home. Safe journey. Ser Erwin if you please.”
“Aye, Your Majesty. Everyone, follow me to the carriages,” Ser Erwin commanded. Everyone was excited upon hearing the good news. “Silently please,” he commanded us when we tried to talk about it.
We made it to the carriages at the front of the castle. Everyone that hadn’t been chosen was standing around talking. Ser Erwin reminded us to send falcons with our parents permission before the second day and wished us all a safe journey. He waved his hand high and the carriage drivers, standing at the rear of their carriages, started yelling out different village names and kingdoms.
Immediately, everyone began pushing and cutting each other off trying to get to their respective carriages. “Over there,” Tessa said, “he’s calling out Nightwood and Kingsley. C’mon.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me after her. “Lucah,” I called. He shifted into a run and pushed his way through the others.
This time there was a different driver and a much smaller carriage. I guess this time they knew how many people were going to be in it, so there was no need for the roomier, bigger ones. While Tessa, Lucah and the two annoying brothers climbed on board, I stood off to the side looking back at the castle. I wanted this. Mother better send her permission. If she doesn’t, I’ll never forgive her. My step father will probably give his permission. I’m sure he would like nothing more than to have one less mouth to feed. And then they can have the whole cottage to themselves and do whatever they want.
On the ride up this morning, I had peered out at the steep drop, but standing at the side of the carriage — with my foot on the step and holding onto the rail — I glanced out past the bridge gate and froze. My view to the sides was blocked by the gate and the walls, but straight past the gate all I could see was the road to the castle slowly disappearing as it was swallowed by the night. I sure hoped this driver was good at his job because I didn’t feel like plummeting to my death.
Although, it might just be better than facing my mother. She didn’t yell at me much. After all, I’m a pretty good kid, if I do say so myself. But when she did, I wished I was anyone else besides me. Her shrill screams would cause my head to retreat into my neck like a human turtle and when she was done, she would stand at attention, her body rigid as a board, and point to my room. That was her signal for me to vanish.
“How will you be able to see where you’re going?” I asked the driver.
“My lady, the wizard has given us a potion that increases our ability to see in the dark. Don’t worry, you’re in good hands.”
“Thank you,” I said, and then climbed into the carriage.
The boys had taken the seats at the rear and Lucah sat by one window, Tessa by his side in the middle. I could either sit next to the blonde boys or I could sit next to Tessa and have the window. I would rather sit facing the direction of travel instead of having my back to it, but the choice was clear. I sat by Tessa. There was the sound of the reins snapping and then the carriage lurched forward.
The ride home was uneventful, just like the ride in the morning. Tessa was no doubt excited about the days to come.
“What do you think we’re going to be doing when we get back?” Tessa asked.
“Learning how to fight, obviously,” Yargi said sarcastically.
“Shut it,” Tessa answered, waving her fist at him. “You’re just mad because you didn’t get chosen.”
“Maybe if they didn’t let girls in we would have,” Kylar added.
Tessa stayed silent. So did Lucah. Normally he wouldn’t let something like that slide. Whenever the boys in the village would say something like that he would always defend me. Now he just sat there staring out the window into the darkness.
I, however, couldn’t let his comment slide. “Since neither of you were chosen and us girls were, what does that say about you two?”
“It says... well... um...”
“It says that you two must be really bad at fighting or really stupid and we aren’t,” Tessa said.
They looked at each other and had no response. I turned to Tessa and I could make out a huge smile on her face in the soft candlelit space.
I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with Lucah. Ever since I came back from fighting the wizard he was acting... different. The carriage stopped and Tessa stood. “I’ll see you in a few days Alora. I can’t wait. We’re going to have so much fun.”
“See you soon, Tessa.” I waved goodbye.
“Bye Lucah,” Tessa said. When he didn’t respond she slammed the back of her hand into his shoulder. “I said BYE!”
“Bye Tessa,” Lucah answered, obviously bothered by the fact that he had to speak.
Tessa rolled her eyes, waved bye to me and left the carriage. It leaned with the weight of the driver making his way back to his seat and with a crack of the reins we were off again. Lucah just sat there, still staring off into space. I decided not to wait until we were alone. “Lucah?”
He didn’t answer me.
“Lucah!”
I was ignored again.
I stood up half way and reached to steady myself. I moved to sit on the opposite side of him. I hated him for making me sit next to Yargi. Now face to face, I leaned forward and placed my hand on his knee. “Lucah, why are you ignoring me? Did I do something wrong?”
Finally, he looked at me. The candlelight caused shadows to dance across his face. I was confused by the look his blue eyes sent my way. Was it hatred?
He finally spoke. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Then why’ve you been ignoring me?”
“I haven’t.”
“Nay? You haven’t? Then what do you call it when someone calls your name and you don’t answer?”
He didn’t say anything.
I pushed off his knee and slid back into my seat. Peeking at him from the corner of my eye, I could see he was still looking at me.
I leaned my head back and spoke into the ceiling. “We were friends this morning. What happened?” I wasn’t letting this go.
“Nothing.”
“I’m not going to leave you alone until you tell me. So tell me.”
Lucah mimicked my sitting position and closed his eyes. “Leave me alone.”
“But—”
“Leave me alone. I’m tired.”
I watched him for the rest of the trip and he never looked at me again until we arrived at Caskars Bridge.
The carriage came to a stop and the driver jumped off his seat. The door swung open. “This is as far as I can go. I’m sorry I cannot take you directly to your homes.”
“Thank you Ser. We’ll be fine. We know these woods,” I said.
Lucah was up and out the door before I could say anything else. I rushed to catch up to him, but he was walking as fast as he could, forcing me to skip just to keep up. When we reached the fork in the road he went right. He didn’t wave or say goodbye or anything. I stood there with my mouth hanging open and I couldn’t believe the way he was treating me. I slumped my shoulders and walked home.
The king told us to have our parents send a falcon with their permission and I was worried. What would Mother say? Not only would she most likely be upset that I went to audition without her permission, but now how was I going to convince her to say I could join the king’s army. As I got closer to home, butterflies began to swarm in my stomach.