Elda Evervale
Despite the warmth of the sun, I felt cold. My hands were clammy, and I had to fight to keep my nerves from showing on my face as I followed behind Willow. My Choosing was to be held on the rooftop terrace of the palace, underneath the curving branches of the alder tree planted there. It was said to have been born from the seed of the first tree that our goddess had planted, and it was one of our most sacred places.
Last night, our family had spent time decorating personally with white flowers donated from the citizens in the city. The white oak chairs were lined up together with the wreaths wrapped around the backs. The trunk of the tree also had a garland wrapped around the center, along with a simple white banner with a dark green embroidered image of a stag. The sun set behind the tree, giving the entire scene a golden glow.
The rays kissed my skin, and I forced myself to keep walking across the white stone. Alda’s High Priest stood in the center of the circle of chairs, several feet from the base of the tree. The man wore flowing robes that were tied around his waist with an intricate sage-green sash that depicted intertwining alder branches. My parents veered to stand to the left of the priest. Willow and her mate went to the right, leaving me to walk straight up to him. I removed my shoes, stepping gently onto the warm stone and looked up at the priest.
He had a kind smile, and his elegant antlers were large, framing his head like a crown. Behind him, two girls played the court linett, the instruments much larger and more unwieldy than the simple one that I favored. The music was light and gentle, reminiscent of the wind blowing through the leaves of a tree. I let the sound of the strings guide me and finished my procession through the gathered crowd.
The shade cast by the tree was a balm to the tension in my soul. This tree was ancient and it had witnessed thousands of Choosings before my own. The direct connection to the past, to my ancestors, helped to ease the remaining tension in my core. I could feel Alda’s love in the way the breeze lifted my hair and the sound of the music. I took a deep breath and turned to face the crowd.
In any other scenario, I’d have probably fainted from terror. Before me were the most powerful kin in the kingdoms of Veyra, and every single one of them was staring at me. I felt Blessed Alda’s presence, a gentle hum beneath the soles of my bare feet. I was not afraid. If anything, I felt stronger than I’d ever felt in my life. The magic of the goddess was singing to me, my family stood on either side of me, and the love of my community was evident in every single blossom decorating the terrace. I couldn’t stop the smile that stretched my cheeks even as I looked out onto the unknown possibilities of my future.
The music hummed to a gentle conclusion as the priest started to speak. His voice reverberated through me, and I closed my eyes, sending another quick prayer to Alda.
Please, guide me in making the best choice.
“This evening, we have been called by Blessed Alda to assist Princess Elda in choosing a life mate. While the ultimate choice belongs to this young kin before us, Alda calls us to place our trust in her and follow our goddess’ lead.”
He continued to speak about the history of the Choosing, and how many royal children the ceremony had served in the past. I tuned him out, having heard about it so many times before. Instead, I studied the kin, wondering which one of them Alda would choose for me. If I looked at them now, would she give me a hint?
My eyes were drawn to the dragon kin general. He was older and handsome in his own way. The blue marbling on his horns was fascinating, and I tried to imagine what it would be like to be his mate. His gray eyes were emotionless and hard. No, I didn’t think he would be a good choice.
Not far behind him was Prince Orion of the Wolf Clan. He was a friend of Willow’s, and I remember when he’d been at the palace years before, and there had been talks about her bonding to him. The wolf kin were similar to the stag kin in some ways, but they valued individuality more than the herd, and I was glad that they had decided on someone within our own kind for her to rule with. Still, as a match for myself, Prince Orion would make sense. Or it would, if I didn’t know that he was more interested in males than females. It would be a smart political match, but that’s not all Alda would consider when she chose for me, right?
The nerves tried to make a reappearance, but I was distracted by a glint in the back of the room. One of the gaudy dragon kin soldiers in the back had shifted, his golden plate armor flashing in the fading light. Behind him, wearing the subdued colors of the wolf clan’s guards, was a handsome male that, if I were picking on looks alone, would be at the top of my list. He had fair skin and dark hair. His dark horns looked like they were coated in a dull metal, and he seemed to be studying the room with an alert gaze. He wasn’t wolf kin, which surprised me considering his clothing. While kin were allowed to mingle freely, it was unusual in higher circles. Most royalty and nobles would only trust those from their same clan.
Unlike most of the males in the room, he wasn’t looking at me. As a guard, he would likely be assessing the space for threats, although he would find none. I let my attention wander elsewhere. Despite his good looks, it was extremely unlikely that a simple guard, even one attending such an exclusive ceremony, would be found as a good match by Alda.
The priest was almost done. I closed my eyes, taking a moment to center myself. This was it. This moment was going to define my future.
“Princess?” the priest asked, pulling me out of my thoughts. I looked over at him, anticipation swirling in my chest. “It is time.” He stepped back, moving closer to the alder, leaving me to stand apart.
I couldn’t help but glance over at Willow. She was holding her mate’s hand, and in that moment, I felt reassured. Alda had listened to Willow’s preference. Her bonding with Elias had been built on their mutual trust and choice. While I wouldn’t get the history, I felt certain that Alda wouldn’t have chosen Elias if he were not the perfect match for my sister. Willow grinned at me and then winked.
I chuckled, lowering my head to hide it behind my curls as they fell around my shoulders. I took a deep breath, reaching into my core where the power gifted to me from my ancestors rested. The well of magic swelled into my outstretched palms, warm and tingling with a gentle sensation. I heard the intake of breath as the crowd waited, wondering how my powers would manifest.
A small weight landed on my palm and my eyes fluttered open, surprised at the sudden appearance of a small black and gold bird. The amber thrush tilted its small head, its black eyes staring at me. As my magic continued to manifest, a single white flower appeared in my palm. It was small with four symmetrical pedals and happy, daisy yellow center. The stem wasn’t too long, and without hesitation, the thrush picked it up in its beak and flitted off my hand.
There was a collective gasp around me. It wasn’t unheard of for actual animals to become part of the Choosing, but it was rare. The last time it had happened had been over three generations ago, and the bonded pair was famous for ending the last major clan war. It was a sign of what was to come, but it was unclear whether it was a good or a bad omen.
The little golden and black bird flew up into the branches of the alder tree, pausing a moment, as though listening to Alda’s voice before diving down. Every kin in the room seemed to stretch their hand out, hoping to catch my offering in their fingers. The bird flew in a tight circle before widening its wings, the little flower petals fluttering in the breeze of its passage.
Behind me, the last of the sun slid below the mountain range, and the torches lining the space sparked to life with a white glow, their magic activating as night descended. As though that were the sign the bird was waiting for, it flew back up for a brief moment, before diving down, straight toward the back of the terrace. Without hesitation, the little bird flitted before the guard I’d noticed earlier and dropped the flower.
He was so startled he almost didn’t catch it, but the moment he did, I felt the connection snap into place. The bond, stronger than the roots of an ancient tree, connected us as though I’d never spent a moment without him. Around us, the gathered noble kin were reacting, but between us, all I could see were his amber eyes, staring back at me with the same shock that was mirrored in my own.
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