Realm of the Chosen

her and the rest of the council members found it suitable to constantly school her on the upcoming ceremony. She couldn't even bear to think of the name. Every time she did, a fluttering would stir inside of her stomach, like the beating of a thousand butterflies' wings. It didn't matter that her cousins and the other women who had already

lace where she could rest assured her mother, Queen Rona (who bore the ridiculous title Empress of All the Lands East of the Galacial Mountains and Queen of the Provinces South of the Compazional Sea) would never seek her out. That wasn't to say that she wouldn't send someone else to find her wayward daughter out a

as it darted between the tulips. She imagined what it might be like to have wings, to be free from the burdens of queend

cover her mouth as the beautiful bug was no more. If she had been in the butterfly's place as she was imagining, she would be fluttering about in that magpie's stomach now. She supposed the bird

uch a gent

e cedar, and his personal musk, always announced Eli's presence and instantly brought a soothing smile to her face. This time, she had failed to notice his approach. Perhaps it was the slaughter of the hapless creature in front of her

other council members confirmed it time and again-they had been there at her Birthing Ceremony, after all. And they would be there at the other ceremony, just the day after tomorrow, as well. At the thought, Kit tasted bile rising up in the back of her throat, wondering how she coul

, to notice every nuance, but Kit had had other commanders and knew Eli's gift was special. It was but one of many talents the handsome man seated next to her had been blessed with. She always felt safer, less troubled whenever he was nearby. They had

its scabbard within easy reach-but he still looked just as official. The patch at his shoulder proclaimed he had ultimate responsibility for keeping the princess safe, and she couldn't think of another man more capable of doing so. Nor could she pull her eyes away from his lips as he spoke. He hadn't shaved recently, and

ght in her mind for a moment as she stared into Eli's eyes, trying to come up with the correct words to voice her concerns without sounding like a small child. Everyone knew that in the Realm of Yewforia all noblewomen must go through the Proem Ceremony

anxious thinking about what is to come. But before the ceremony, you still have your ball tomorrow night. It'll be a splendid af

arl tiara she wore shifted slightly, and she reached with an unsteady hand to keep it in place. Finally, she

had been there for her, to comfort and guide her. Other than a three year stint in the nearby province of Eastbury, followed in quick succession by another two years spent in far off Ironton, Eliason Goedwig had served the court in some capacity or another, coming to his current position when Kit turned fifteen and was allowed to choose her own commander. She hadn't hes

and that Queen Rona in all her power and wisdom hadn't seen fi

threat to Her Majesty, however, and sometimes Kit thought he was allowed to st

fident than she would've been able to muster, should she even try. "I am certain you can. Don't worry about the Proem