Chosen

by Shelby Hild

  Vivilyn spent more time shifting between sitting and standing than she did eating. She felt as though for every spoonful of soup or forkful of brisket or even sip of water, Malcolm would bark at her for not paying attention to the royals. Her head pounded with stress as someone set a small bowl of frozen cream in front of her.

  She didn’t even look down.

  The “Prince” looked down at the bowl and wrinkled her nose, while the “King” and “Queen” both dug into their food.

  “Why aren’t you eating?” Malcolm asked as he plopped down next to Vivilyn with a sigh.

  “I’m not eating anything until all of them are eating,” she said as she glared at Tia.

  “It’s okay to start before the prince, as long as you stop when he does,” Malcolm said, rubbing his face with both hands. “But as long as the King and Queen are both eating, you’re fine to start.” Vivilyn took a quick look down at the bowl of melting cream in front of her. “I’ve told you this already; am I going to have to write them down for you to study?”

  Blood rose to Vivilyn’s cheeks as she blushed.

  “It’s a lot of information,” she said quietly and looked back at her bowl. She picked up the spoon meant for desserts and started to pick at the food. Malcolm looked over to the three “royals” and cleared his throat.

  “Will you excuse us for a moment?” He asked the three women. They all nodded, picked up their bowls and spoons and walked out of the room. Malcolm turned his greenish-brown eyes to Vivilyn.

  “Do you want to have any chance in the Enchanted Trials?”

  “What?” she asked, shocked by his question.

  “All of the other Chosen have been raised learning the rules of etiquette around the royal family and in court in general. It is second nature to them, as natural as breathing. You are coming in from a disadvantage just by lack of knowledge. My job is to prepare you as much as possible for this. My goal is to get you as far as you want to go in this.” He took one of Vivilyn’s hands in both of his. “Do you want to have any chance in the Enchanted Trials?”

  “I…” Vivilyn began, then she hesitated. How could she tell him without giving away her ability?

  “Let’s try this a different way,” he said. “What do you want with your life? Who do you want to be? Who will the future Vivilyn Minette of Treelyn be?”

  “I want to be an artist,” she said, the first thing she’d been able to say with certainty. “I want to be able to help support my family.” She paused for a moment trying to think of how to word what she wanted. “I want to be safe and not have to worry about tomorrow.” Vivilyn knew her family had always kept her out of harm’s way and put themselves in danger by helping her hide the visions. The first time Vivilyn had ever truly been scared was when she’d seen her father so frightened after she’d been chosen.

  Malcolm nodded as Vivilyn spoke, then tapped his fingers on the table.

  “So we need to keep you in the Trials until at least Shreville. It’s the Cultural Capital of the Kingdom. There’s no way the Trials won’t be traveling there. If you’re a good artist, we will figure out a way to show off your work before then and maybe we will have some buyers before we even get there.” He pulled a pen and pad out of his pocket and began taking notes.

  “Why are you planning for that?” Vivilyn asked. “Shouldn’t your plans involve getting me to be queen? The farther I get helps you, right? It gets you more recognition?”

  “If I don’t aim for your dreams,” he said, looking back at her intensely, “then you won’t make it beyond the first week. If you don’t have a firm, realistic goal beyond ‘Get as far as possible,’ or ‘Maybe become queen,’ then you won’t have the will to get far at all.” He smiled at Vivilyn. “The Trials change people. Just by participating in them, you'll grow so much. That means getting you to at least Shreville will help us aim for a better future for you. If we don’t have that goal, then you’ll go through all of this without anything to show for it. Sure, everyone in the entire kingdom might recognize you, but everything else will be the same. You'll grow so much, but your surroundings won't have changed. That is stifling for many people who only go into this to become queen."

  “Oh,” Vivilyn said simply.

  “Let’s make a deal,” he said as he stood up and walked over to his large bag filled to the brim with stuff. “I will do everything in my power to get your artwork into the hands of people who can help you become a true artist.”

  “What do I have to do?”

  “You will need to try your hardest in the Trials. From this moment until your name is not called, you will try to woo the prince, the royal family, and the entire country.”

  He set a large stack of papers in front of her, almost four hands tall. “Starting with studying these rules as though your life depends on it.” He reached a hand out. “Deal?”

  Vivilyn looked down at the stack of papers to Malcolm’s hand and back. If he can help me do this, then it will be worth the risk. I’ll get my dream. With a large smile, Vivilyn nodded.

  “Deal.”

  Chapter 6

  “Are you all packed?” Suzetta asked as she walked up behind Vivilyn. She put her hands on Vivilyn’s shoulders.

  “I never knew I could pack everything in just one bag and a large suitcase,” Vivilyn said, leaning back into her mother. “And most of the suitcase is just to protect the canvas and paints.” The black suitcase wasn’t even hers. Malcolm had given it to her when she mentioned that she didn’t have a way to transport her art supplies.

  “Well, you won’t need a lot of your stuff,” Suzetta said, wrapping her arms around Vivilyn. “They’ll be providing new clothing and toiletries and everything. Plus, Malcolm said to pack lightly.”

  “I wish you could come with me,” Vivilyn said. She turned in order to return her mother’s hug. Her eyes began watering, but she wiped at them to keep tears from falling. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you and Papa and Duncan.”

  Small feet running down the hall drew Vivilyn’s gaze.

  “Even the little ones. I can’t imagine being without them either. They’ve become a part of the family in the short time they’ve been with us.”

  “She looks up to you,” Suzetta said. Vivilyn knew her mother was talking about Iza. The little girl was convinced that Vivilyn would become queen.

  “I hope they’ll still be here when I return,” Vivilyn sighed. It had gotten to the point where she couldn’t even clearly remember what life was like before Verno, Lolina, and the three children came.

  “About that…” Suzetta said as she finally released Vivilyn from the hug. “Your father and I were wondering how you would feel if we took Verno and his family on for a more permanent basis?”

  Vivilyn looked at Suzetta with a slight smile. “Really?”

  “Yes. But with that, the little ones can’t keep sharing a room. So, we were hoping you would be okay with letting Iza stay in your room, at least while you’re gone. Then depending on when you return, we will figure something else out.”

  Vivilyn pulled her mother into another hug as she said. “Of course I’m alright with Iza staying in my room and them staying longer.” Vivilyn’s smile grew when Magnar knocked on the open door to her room.

  “Do you think you’ll be able to handle her while I’m away?” Vivilyn continued. She avoided mentioning she’d likely be back sooner rather than later.

  “We handled you,” Magnar said, as he and Duncan entered her room. “You got into much more trouble than she does. And we are your actual parents. Goodness, between you and Duncan, we were always left on our toes waiting for the next time we’d have to drag you home by your ears.” Vivilyn laughed, knowing neither she nor her brother had ever been dragged home by their ears. Magnar and Suzetta had carried them home, yes, but that was the worst of it.

  Magnar picked up the small bag of Vivilyn’s stuff, leaving the large suitcase for Duncan to carry. “She just has a lot of energy,” Magnar continued. “We ha
ve plenty of things to do for someone with a lot of energy.”

  They walked together as a group down the stairs.

  “I’ll miss you!” Iza said as she jumped onto Vivilyn’s back. “But when you’re the queen, remember me, ‘kay?” The little girl circled her arms tightly around Vivilyn’s neck. She tried to wrap her short legs around Vivilyn’s waist, but they didn’t make it all the way. Instead, Iza dug her heels sharply into Vivilyn’s side.

  “I won’t,” Vivilyn said, as she grabbed Iza’s legs to lift her up slightly and relieve some of the child’s weight from her windpipe. “No matter what happens, there is no way I’ll even almost forget you.”

  “Or us!” Mo and Eso ran from the back storeroom where they had been sorting pears.

  “Of course not,” Vivilyn said, leaning forward to hug both of them. “I’d be crazy if I thought I could forget any of you.”

  Vivilyn looked around the store as she trailed behind everyone else leaving the building. Since Vivilyn was chosen, the store’s business had increased dramatically. Every bin, every box, every crate, and every bowl were filled to the brim. They’d been working diligently every day to be sure the shop remained well maintained and well stocked.

  For the past three weeks, Vivilyn sketched in her limited free time and hung her sketches around the store. Of the sixteen hung, seven of them already sold.

  What will this place be like if I return? Vivilyn sighed at the thought and then shook her head. When I return, not if. The store had been her home. The orchard, the town, everyone around her. The farthest she had even been from home was a three-minute walk when Duncan said she wouldn’t dare to walk out of the town’s border. She did.

  She pulled the door closed behind her and turned to see everyone watching her. Quickly, she wiped the tears that had fallen to her cheeks.

  “It’ll be fine,” Duncan said as he reached to grab Iza off Vivilyn’s back. The little girl giggled as he threw her onto his shoulders. She dug her small hands into his hair to keep balanced.

  Mo led the group down the street with Verno and Lolina a few steps behind, swinging Eso between them. The entire street was vacant, more than it should have been that early in the day. The sun had barely started her journey across the sky.

  I don’t want the change. Vivilyn thought. He should have picked someone else. I can’t do this. Everyone else is more suited for this than me. I’m going to fail miserably and the whole town will be so disappointed. Vivilyn felt her breathing speed up with each step closer to the station she took. Or my visions will be found out. Do they execute people who have helped another person hide her abilities too?

  The thought that she was possibly putting her family in danger, not just herself, pushed its way to the forefront of her mind.

  Vivilyn grabbed her mother’s hand briefly as they walked. As though Suzetta could read her mind, she pulled Vivilyn to a stop. It halted the entire group, one-by-one, as they noticed.

  “You’re going to be fine,” Suzetta said, turning Vivilyn to face her. “I know you think this is the worst thing that could happen. Just remember: no matter what happens, we love you. You will always have a home to return to.” Suzetta pulled Vivilyn into a tight embrace. “If anything bad does happen, we’ll send Duncan in as the distraction.”

  “I wanna be the distraction,” Eso called from ahead of them.

  “You can be,” Duncan said. “I’ve had that job before. I don’t need it again. You be the distraction and I’ll be the carriage driver to help with the escape.”

  “But I wanna be the driver,” Eso replied.

  “You can’t be both,” Lolina released Eso’s hand to ruffle his hair as she spoke. “What don’t you want to be?”

  Eso scrunched his entire face in concentration as he thought about the question.

  “I don’t want to be a worm,” Eso said slowly. “They’re gross.” He nodded twice before he started walking on his own.

  “I’m sure we can avoid you becoming a worm,” Magnar laughed.

  Vivilyn appreciated her family trying to get her mind off traveling to Ettravil, off of leaving them, off of the thought this might be her last time to see them.

  She smiled at them as they turned the last corner before the station.

  As soon as they appeared, loud cheers started.

  Everyone in town lined the road as the group walked to the station on the northern side of town. Vivilyn had never seen so many people at one time. In fact, all of the people she’d ever met in her life stood there with the newcomers interspersed throughout. Vivilyn felt as though walls were closing in on her. She wanted to run all the way through Treelyn until she reached the orchard where she could hide. Instead, she clung to her mother’s hand like it was a lifeline.

  Everyone waved and yelled as they passed. One little boy gave her a shy smile and a dandelion, roots and all.

  After they left the boy’s sight, Vivilyn gave the plant to Suzetta.

  “Maybe you can try and save it,” Vivilyn said. “Dandelion is supposed to soothe upset stomachs, right?”

  “Sounds like a wonderful idea,” Suzetta said. Her mother looked around to figure out where to put it so dirt wouldn’t get on her dress before any potential farewell stills were taken. As Suzetta handed the plant to Magnar, people moved so the platform to the station came into view.

  “Vivilyn! Vivilyn! Vivilyn!” They chanted as she moved forward. Vivilyn smiled timidly and waved. With deep breaths, Vivilyn attempted to calm her stomach. It felt as though it was trying to tumble and roll all the way up her throat and escape into the crowds.

  “Those are cheers for you,” Duncan said as he let go of one of Iza’s legs to wrap his arm around Vivilyn’s shoulders.

  Vivilyn blushed. She knew her brother was trying to comfort her, but instead, it made her feel like a fraud. Besides, just because they were cheering for her didn’t mean anything. She would be back home before anyone even really missed her. The fanfare was really all for nothing. And when everyone realizes I am so unqualified they’ll be angry that I am the one representing them.

  Before her group reached the station, a little girl, the youngest child of the Butchers’ four, handed her a flower crown.

  “For our future queen,” the little girl whispered as Vivilyn bent down to receive the crown. She looked so excited. Vivilyn didn’t have the heart to tell her there was no way she could be queen.

  The group walked up the stairs to the open station where Malcolm waited with a large rolling luggage carrier with at least ten bags hanging from it and a large bag at the bottom.

  “Our carriage should be here soon,” Malcolm said, glancing nervously back at the crowd. He continually fidgeted with his hands.

  “Are you okay?” Vivilyn asked, as Magnar and Duncan set Vivilyn’s bags down next to the rolling carrier.

  “Yes,” Malcolm said quickly, still looking into the crowd.

  “VIVILYN,” Maia and Ryso yelled from the crowd as they pushed through attempting to reach her. Vivilyn tried to go back down the stairs. She made it three steps before Malcolm grabbed her wrist. The rattling of the carriage became audible.

  “MAIA! RYSO!” She shouted back as Malcolm pulled her more fully back into the station.

  “I’m sorry,” Malcolm said. “I know you want to say goodbye, but we can’t risk losing you in the crowd.”

  “WE LOVE YOU! YOU’LL DO GREAT!” They waved wildly at her as the carriage pulled up, led by four horses and a coachman. Before Vivilyn knew what happened, all the stuff had been loaded onto the carriage and she was hugging and kissing everyone on the platform goodbye.

  “Bye Mama, Papa,” she said quickly as she slid into the carriage. Malcolm slid in beside her and closed the door with a slam.

  “We need to get out of here, now,” Malcolm said through the window facing the driver. With a jerk, the carriage started moving forward.

  “What’s wrong?” Vivilyn asked again. She tried to peer out the window at her family, but Malcolm made her sit
back down.

  “Nothing,” he said, shaking his head back and forth rapidly. “Absolutely nothing.” He looked out the window, eyes flicking from side to side.

  “Obviously, something is wrong,” Vivilyn said as she leaned back into the cushions of her seat. It was so soft and lush that she wondered how it came to be in a carriage rather than on a bed.

  As Vivilyn sat on the softest cushion she’d ever felt in her life, Malcolm did not relax.

  How could someone not unwind sitting on this? She thought as she looked inside of the carriage. On the seat across from her, Vivilyn noticed a wide, flat package. She picked it up nonchalantly and gauged its weight. It didn't shake or shift like anything breakable.

  Vivilyn looked over at Malcolm and rolled her eyes as he continued to look around nervously. When she dropped the package on the ground in front of her, it landed loudly. Through her feet, Vivilyn could feel the sound reverberate across the bottom of the carriage. Malcolm jumped at the sound and reached over as if to shield Vivilyn from something.

  “Oh, um,” Malcolm’s face reddened. When Vivilyn lifted her right eyebrow, Malcolm sighed. “We’ve received word to bring each of the Chosen to the capital as quickly as possible. There’s been some… unrest in some of the border towns.”

  “And?” Vivilyn picked up the heavy package she’d dropped and set it back down across from her.

  “What?”

  “There has to be more,” she said as she crossed her legs and leaned back. “If it’s on the border, then why are you so worried? We are closest to Ettravil, so if the unrest is on the border, we should be fine.”

  “I…” Malcolm shook his head. “I’m just being overly cautious. There is generally some unrest, but normally as the Trials get underway it calms down. But as far as I know, no other Trials have started with a group destroying one of the rails.”

  “What?” Vivilyn covered her mouth.

  “Yeah…” Malcolm said. “Thankfully no one was injured.”

  “Why would anyone destroy a rail?” Vivilyn asked. She’d never seen a rail in real life, but Magnar had told her all about them and shown her pictures of them from books. They were useful in transporting people and things across the kingdom in less time than it would take for the carriages. Although they used energy and all energy was valuable, the benefits of the rails outweighed the cost.