The Chosen

by K. J. Nessly

  “And how would you have such firsthand information about Guardian procedure?” she asked hotly. “The Guardians guard their secrets jealously. How would you come across such information?” Her head was really beginning to pound now and her vision was turning the room into a kaleidoscope of colors.

  He laughed at her. “Is that the question of a curious woman or a frantic Guardian? A hard question to ask. A harder one to answer.”

  The world suddenly spun and Kathryn had to grip her chair. What on earth was wrong with her? She looked up and saw the smug smile on his face.

  The wine! The extra bitter taste had not simply been the flavor of the wine but a drug!

  “I see you’ve figured it out,” he said, ringing the bell for the servants. “Another point in favor of your being a Guardian.”

  “I. Am. Not. A. Guardian,” she said through clenched teeth, trying to stop her vision from going completely black.

  “Perhaps not, but hear this,” he said as he stood and walked over to her end of the table. He leaned close to her with his lips close to her ear and grasped her elbow, “If you aren’t in that room tomorrow morning,” he warned, pointing with his free hand toward the staircase, “I will announce that you are a Guardian to every nobleman and woman I meet. In the end it won’t matter whether or not you are a Guardian because they’ll put you into protective custody and you can forget about ever showing your face again.”

  The two serving maids arrived. “Help Lady Kathryn back to her room,” he commanded. “She’s fallen ill and needs to rest.”

  I should have shoved my dagger into his ribs the minute I laid eyes on him in the village, she thought miserably.

  As the two women helped her to her room, Kathryn considered her options. She couldn’t escape now. Being a Guardian was all she had. Nothing could jeopardize it. But she couldn’t stay here forever either.

  The two women tucked her into bed and closed the heavy drapes, turning the room into an unfamiliar cave with threatening shadows.

  She had no choice. She had to get a message to the rest of the Dragons. How she was going to do it she had no idea. But she didn’t have a choice.

  Lord Tanner had brought her here for a reason and she had a feeling that the reason was going to be an unpleasant one. As she drifted off into oblivion her thoughts briefly returned to Elyon. He had told her that her next test was coming and that it would be difficult. She had a feeling she had entered it; after all, there was no worse feeling to her than being helpless. And she was helpless—and would remain so until she was rescued, by someone other than herself.

  “Elyon,” she whispered as the darkness enveloped her mind. “If you’re truly here, then please help me.”

  Chapter 35

  The delicious smell and sound of sizzling slabs of pork, cooking eggs, and warm biscuits roused David from a deep sleep. Groggily he sat up and squinted out the window. Sunlight was streaming in, painting odd shaped squares and rectangles on his floor and walls. Quickly he threw back the blankets, washed, and hurried to get dressed.

  He entered the warmth of the kitchen moments later, still shaking the water out of his hair. Why couldn’t he have the power to heat the water that stood in the washbasin? Every morning it felt like melted ice, he was beginning to wonder if Kathryn froze the water during the night just to annoy him in the morning. Cass was the only one in the kitchen and she was pulling out fresh biscuits.

  “Morning, Cass.” He took a seat on the counter and poured himself a glass of water. “Breakfast smells good.”

  “You’re up early,” the cook commented as she tossed a hot biscuit in his direction.

  David caught it with ease. “Ouch!” he exclaimed as he dropped the biscuit to the counter, “I think I’ll wait a minute to eat it.”

  Cass giggled and continued to rescue the warm biscuits from the hot oven. They sat in silence for a few minutes, David enjoying the quiet of the early morning, Cass concentrating on keeping the rest of breakfast from burning.

  “Shall I wake the others?” David asked once Cass had placed the food on the table.

  “If they want a hot breakfast you probably should,” Cass called over her shoulder as she went to clean the flour out of her shirt.

  Assuming that those still remaining probably would want a hot breakfast, David quickly roused the others. Lindsey groused a bit over being woken up so early but the news of a hot breakfast quickly endeared her to the idea.

  David didn’t bother knocking on Kathryn’s door. It was a rare morning for anyone to rise before Kathryn. He hadn’t seen her yet, but she was probably out with Destiny enjoying the early morning quiet. No doubt she would be waiting downstairs when he returned.

  “Morning, David,” Amy called softly as she exited her room. “What’s for breakfast?”

  “Bacon, eggs, and biscuits.”

  “Don’t ever tell Matt,” she whispered as she approached. “But I prefer Cass’s biscuits to his.”

  David grinned and whispered back, “My lips are sealed.” Matt was an excellent cook but when it came to pastries or bread-like substances he tended to burn them.

  “Have you seen Kathryn this morning?” Amy asked as she entered the kitchen.

  “Not yet.” Out of the corner of his eye he glimpsed Amy biting her lip and glancing back upstairs, he stopped and faced her, “Is something wrong?” It was rare to see someone worried about their self-sufficient lieutenant.

  Amy hesitated. “It’s just that…well…I didn’t see her come home last night and I usually hear Destiny’s let-me-outside call in the morning.”

  “And you didn’t hear it this morning?”

  She shook her head. “I haven’t heard anything this morning.”

  David shrugged. “Well, she has been spending all her time at the village orphanage. She probably didn’t stay for breakfast this morning and instead went straight there.”

  Amy cocked her head as she considered his words. “You’re probably right. I’m overreacting, there’s nothing to worry about.”

  Satisfied that Amy was no longer ready to organize a search party to look for her missing friend, David nodded and returned to the kitchen where he thoroughly enjoyed Cass’s airy biscuits, flavorful eggs, and the crispy strips from the boar that Tyler slew the week before. After breakfast he transitioned to the barn where he and Tyler spent the morning cleaning out the horses stables and pitching hay.

  “A far cry from a lavish suite in the palace isn’t it?” Tyler asked as they took a brief break around midday.

  David chuckled. “I prefer the hard work to lounging around all day in a palace, I think I’d go crazy.”

  Daniel, who had been honing his archery skills across the river crossed the bridge and ambled over to join them. “What was Amy anxious about this morning?” He asked taking a seat on one of the hay bales.

  David shrugged. “She was worried because Kathryn wasn’t around this morning. She isn’t even sure if she came home last night.”

  Tyler grunted. “You know, for someone as talented as Kathryn is, she doesn’t see things that are right in front of her.”

  “She knows,” Daniel said. “She just doesn’t know what to do with it.”

  “Where is Amy now?” Tyler asked.

  “I’m not sure, probably on her way to the village to make sure Kathryn’s at the orphanage,” David guessed.

  Daniel laughed. “Kathryn could take on the palace guards blindfolded and Amy’s worried because she didn’t come home last night?”

  David shrugged. “Friendship and family aren’t always rational, Daniel.”

  Neither Tyler or Daniel could refute him. After a few more minutes David declared the rest break over and returned to pitching hay and tending to the barn while Tyler and Daniel set out to cut and split firewood.

  As soon as she reached the edge of the forest, Amy coaxed her horse and broke into a run and she didn’t stop running until she reached the front of the house. She dismounted, raced up the steps to the house and burst
through the door. “Where’s David?” She demanded to a very startled Cass and Elizabeth who were in the midst of a discussion.

  “Uh,” Elizabeth began. “He’s with Tyler. They were cutting up some logs they floated down the river.” Reaching out she touched Amy’s arm before she made it out the door. “No wait, I think he’s in the barn. Why?”

  Amy didn’t stop to answer, racing out of the house before Elizabeth had even finished asking the question.

  “David!” She hollered as soon as she was inside the barn. “David!”

  Both David and Daniel came running from the back.

  “What is it?” David asked hurriedly, “What’s going on?”

  Panting, Amy sat down hard on a bale of hay. Daniel hurried off to get her some water, “I…just came…from the…village,” she gasped between lungfuls of air.

  “Easy,” David urged, pressing her head lower to keep her from passing out. “Get your wind back and then tell me what’s wrong.”

  Daniel returned with a large skin of water, which Amy downed.

  “Okay,” David said, sitting down on an opposite bale of hay from hers. “What’s wrong? What happened in the village?”

  “I went to the village to find Kathryn,” Amy began, “When you suggested the orphanage I knew that was the first place to look—only she wasn’t there.”

  “Maybe she hadn’t planned on going today?” Daniel suggested.

  Amy shook her head. “I asked the matron and she said that Kathryn had planned on returning today, but never showed.”

  David looked at Daniel.

  “I’ve never known Kathryn to go back on her word,” the younger boy told him.

  Amy continued. “I also asked the matron when Kathryn had left the night before—sometime just before nightfall.” She looked at David, worry etching her features. “I think something’s happened to her,” she said quickly. “I don’t think she came home last night.”

  “Amy,” David said calmly. “Kathryn can take care of herself—

  “Something she tells us every day,” Daniel muttered.

  David ignored him. “I’m sure she’s fine. Maybe she spent the night in the village so she wouldn’t have to walk as far to see the children and then overslept.”

  “It’s past noon,” Amy said shaking her head. “There’s no way Kathryn would have waited this long to visit the children.”

  “Kathryn knows that she has a shift to lead tomorrow,” David replied calmly. “You know as well as I do that she doesn’t shirk responsibility.”

  Amy still didn’t look convinced. “Could you look for her please?”

  David failed to hide his surprise. “Look for her?”

  “With the wind. Surely it could tell you if she’s nearby.”

  Seeing that Amy wasn’t going to leave him alone until he did something, anything, he agreed to do a quick search of the surrounding woods and village.

  Somewhat placated, Amy returned to the house, leaving the boys alone in the barn. Daniel shifted uncomfortably a couple times before speaking. “She’s really worried David.”

  “I would never have guessed,” he replied dryly.

  “More than usual,” Daniel continued. “I’m getting the sense that this isn’t normal behavior for Kathryn.”

  “Kathryn likes to hide,” David replied shortly. “I’m certain that that’s what she’s doing now.”

  “And yet in the back of your mind you can’t ignore the fact that Amy’s panicking,” his friend said.

  “Reading my mind, Daniel?”

  Daniel shrugged. “Maybe a little.”

  Shaking his head, David left the barn and headed for Kathryn’s waterfall. He was immensely surprised to find it utterly deserted. Well, he reasoned, perhaps Kathryn feels that she can’t come here anymore because I followed her here two months ago. Sighing in disappointment that this wasn’t going to be as easy as he’d expected, he sent a handful of breezes out to search the surrounding countryside for his vexing lieutenant.

  Pound. Pound. Pound.

  David groaned and rolled over. Whoever was knocking on his door at such an absurd radian could wait until it was light out.

  Pound. Pound. Pound.

  Pound. Pound. Pound.

  Resigning himself to the knowledge that whoever was beating on his door wasn’t going to go away, David hauled himself out of his warm bed and forced himself to cross to the door and open it.

  Matt, Rachel, and Jenna were standing in the hallway. “We have a problem,” Matt said seriously.

  Kathryn woke slowly. Her head felt like it weighed forty-five kilograms, no doubt the lasting effects of the drug Lord Tanner had used last night.

  “Good morning, Milady.”

  Kathryn rolled onto her side and forced her eyes open. It was the younger maid. She was across the room opening the heavy drapes, the bright sunlight hurt Kathryn’s eyes and she turned her face away saying, “It is hardly a good morning.”

  The young woman came over to the bed. “Is Milady still feeling ill? Did you not sleep well?”

  Kathryn turned to face her and glared. “I think you know how well I slept. Tell me, does Lord Tanner often drug his guests?”

  The serving girl’s face reddened as she sought an answer.

  “Oh, never mind,” Kathryn growled as she threw the heavy blankets back and sat up. She turned and faced the nervous young woman before her. “What’s your name?”

  “My name Milady?”

  Kathryn rolled her eyes and snapped, “Yes, your name. How else am I supposed to address you?”

  “Lea, Milady.”

  Pushing herself off the bed, Kathryn strolled to one of the great windows. “Well, Lea. What am I going to do?”

  “Do, Milady?”

  “Enough with the milady,” Kathryn barked. Her patience was running as thin as a court lady’s silk scarf. “I hate that form of address.”

  Lea looked positively lost. “Then how should I address you?”

  “I have a name as well, use it.”

  “But the master will stick his knife into me if he hears me addressing you by just your name!” The poor serving girl exclaimed.

  Kathryn sighed heavily, “Fine, you can address me as Lady Kathryn, but nothing else.” She felt her patience run even thinner as she remembered what day it was. Ambar. Which meant that by now her whole family would know something was wrong and she was positive that no one would think to look for her here—which meant that somehow she’d have to find a way to tell them.

  Movement outside her window caught her attention. Perfect. Slowly, so as not to arouse suspicion she turned to Lea. “Fetch me some cold water from the kitchens,” she ordered irritably moving away from the window. “My head is killing me.”

  If Lea suspected anything she didn’t comment as she quickly curtsied and left the room. As soon as she was gone, Kathryn raced back to the window and opened it. She let out a quick whistle, hoping it wouldn’t draw the attention of the guards below.

  Destiny, who had perched on the rooflines all night long, flew to her immediately. As glad as she was to see her friend, Kathryn didn’t waste time. Quickly she rushed to the writing table and tore a scrap of parchment from a scroll.

  Dipping the quill in the ink, she paused. What would she write? She couldn’t risk blatantly stating the truth in case Lord Tanner’s men somehow managed to shoot Destiny down. She wracked her brains, willing herself to come up with a message before Lea returned.

  Suddenly the image of a purple stag’s head painted on a shield flickered before her eyes. It would have to do. All the boys had fought against that shield at one time or another during the tournaments. Quickly she penned the phrase and then rolled up the small message.

  Crossing back to the window she gave Destiny the note, which the bird held tightly in her beak and then gave her one command. “Fly to David.”

  The magnificent bird took off just as the bedroom door swung open and Lord Tanner himself strode in.

  “What are yo
u doing?” he demanded hurrying over. Spotting the fleeing eagle he turned to face Kathryn, delivering a sound slap to her face as he did. “Playing with animals are we? That’s another talent used by the Guardians.”

  Face burning, she turned to face him, struggling to contain her irritation and the urge to throw him out the window. “I hardly think that admiring our kingdom’s emblem constitutes playing with them. That magnificent creature was perched on your rooflines when I woke this morning.”

  “What were you doing leaning out the window, looking like you had just shooed it away.”

  “I did just shoo it away,” she informed him tartly. She narrowed her eyes at him. “I saw those trophies in your halls. There was no way I was about to let you or your men kill such a beautiful bird.”

  He looked at her for a long time and Kathryn refused to back down from his gaze. Finally he shrugged. “It is no matter,” he said indifferently. “My castle is too well guarded for even the Guardians to stage a rescue.”

  “Then what do you plan to do with me?”

  “You will remain here until I am certain that you are not a Guardian, and then we’ll discuss it.”

  “And just how do you intend to determine whether or not I am a Guardian?” she demanded hotly.

  He turned his cool gaze toward her, “I know that those with gifts, as the Guardians call them, cannot go forty-eight radians without using them or they’ll severely injure or kill themselves. We’ll just wait until two days have passed and go from there.”

  “You seriously believe that Princess Jasmine will wait that long to send a rescue?” Kathryn asked, trying to bluff her way through the situation. She’d never heard of such a thing, although come to think of it the rest of the Dragons did seem to use their powers a lot…even when it wasn’t needed. If that was Lord Tanner’s test then she would pass it easily. She went years without using her gifts. Two days would be a snap.

  Lord Tanner shrugged. “If she does there’s no way anyone can reach here in time, and as I’ve said before, my castle is well guarded. Will you join me for breakfast?”