Filed to story: The Chosen Saga Novel PDF Free
“He wasn’t worth your time, and your life is hardly crashing around you.”
“I know, Linc. It still hurts, though. Anyways, back to the fact that I want to sleep, what did you need?”
“If you want to go back to bed, then go back to bed. If you don’t care, I’ll just leave and let mom know you’re sleeping in.” He walked out of her room and started to close the door.
Araiya flopped back onto her bed and groaned. “Linc, wait. Just tell me. What the hell is so important today?”
He came back into her room and leaned on the door frame. “Oh, so now you want to listen?” He smirked.
“Stop playing games, little boy,” Araiya grunted as she threw her pillow at him.
Linc laughed. “I may be younger than you by two cycles, but I have been taller than you for almost double that. You are the little sister now. Turning twenty-one and becoming an official citizen hasn’t given you any height. Five foot three is small for an official, don’t you think? Plus, you would think you would remember important events in your old age.” Linc continued to ramble about her height and age, but Araiya tuned him out. Her heart started to race, and her ears began to pound. She had somehow forgotten her birthday. Today she became an official. This meant tonight could be life changing. Lincoln was right; there was so much that she had to do.
Araiya leapt up from her bed, grabbed the blanket back from the floor where Linc tossed it and started unraveling her messy hair.
“Ah, I see you finally clued into what today is. Well, we have to do the chores first, or father will do something to ruin it. Just come down for breakfast, and I’ll help you.”
“I already did the stables, and I just have to feed everyone.” Linc raised his eyebrows in question. “I already told you I couldn’t sleep. I cleaned it all out right before the sun rose.”
He just smiled and shook his head. “Well, come on, sleepyhead. Let’s go get this over with.”
“Are you still okay with the plan?” She stopped her brother with a hand.
“Of course, we have planned this since you were ten. Today is the first day you get to decide for yourself, no matter what our Father says.” Araiya hugged him.
“Your father,” Araiya reminded him once again, “your father loves and dotes on you. He just uses me as a slave but thank you for helping. I have to do this.” Araiya let him go, crossed back to her dresser, and started looking for something to wear. “Goddess, all of my clothes are shit!”
“Calm down.” Linc grabbed her hands. “I know my father has never treated you properly. That was originally why I wanted to help you. Also, stop throwing your shit everywhere. You’ll have to clean it up, which will waste even more time. Stay as you are. You still have chores to do. Come have breakfast and open your gifts. Then we can decide on what we’re going to wear. You still have to sneak away to enter the Choosing and have your afternoon walk with mother.”
With that, Linc left the room and went downstairs. She needed to hurry. She needed to finish her chores to get on with her day. She quickly re-braided her hair and headed out of her room.
Araiya was walking down the stairs toward the kitchen when she heard voices coming from her stepfather’s study. Instead of continuing toward the kitchen, she decided to creep closer. As she reached the door, she could finally make out the voices of her stepfather and sister talking.
“You got what you wanted, Korine. She will be gone tomorrow, so for today, you will listen to what I say. There will be none of this crying bullshit. You asked me to send her out of the province. You wanted the boy that was with her. I made that happen, so you will do as I ask. You will endure tonight so that we can seal this deal. You must be presentable, and so does she, so suck it up.” Jon never raised his voice at his daughter.
“But Father, I don’t want to get ready with her. I just want her out of the way,” Korine whined.
“I don’t care, Korine. Now get out of my office.”
Araiya ran away from the door and continued downstairs to the kitchen. She couldn’t be seen anywhere near her stepfather’s study. She walked into the kitchen and spotted her mother cooking. She hugged her mother from behind, causing her mother to jump and laugh. This woman right here was the very best thing in her life; her and Lincoln.
“Good morning, Mom. Do you need any help?” Araiya squeezed her mom once more before stepping away.
“Araiya, baby, you scared the crap out of me. Where did you come from?” Her mom turned around and saw her face. She lifted her hand and wiped at the bags under her eyes. “Are the dreams getting worse?” Araiya just nodded. “Oh, honey, how much sleep did you get last night?”
“I got a few hours. I couldn’t go back to sleep after, so I did some of my chores.” Araiya washed her hands in the wash basin as Lincoln walked in. He quickly scooped her up into a hug. “You sure are strong for a scrawny young man of nineteen.” Araiya struggled to get out of his bear hug. “Let me down now, you big brute. I don’t know when or why you got so big but let me down.”
“No one is bigger than you are, Araiya.” Korine glided in smugly. “The kid had to get strong just to lift your ass.”
“No one asked for your fucking opinion Korine, so I suggest you shut your trap,” Linc threw back as he placed Araiya back on her feet. “Happy birthday, sister. I hope you like my gift.”
“Sonya, are you going to allow him to speak to me that way?!” Korine cried as she turned to Lincoln. “She isn’t even your real sister, and you treat her better than me.”
“She is as much my sister as you are.” Linc shivered in disgust as he sat down.
“Children, that’s enough. Korine, you know you are not supposed to call me by my name. You don’t have to call me mother, but you can’t call me Sonya. Now go sit down, you two. We have a long day today. Let’s have breakfast, and we can pretend we like each other for once, please.” Her mom wrapped her up in a hug and kissed her cheek. “Not only is it my baby’s birthday, but it’s also the Choosing.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Araiya stepped back with a smile. “Let’s eat. I want to get started on my chores so I can get clean. I smell.” She laughed as she sat down.
“What is the Choosing ceremony like?” Lincoln asked as she placed his food. “Everyone has been talking about it for forever, but no one has explained it to me. They always say I don’t have to worry about it.”
“It’s because you don’t, dweeb.” Korine started eating as soon as her food was placed down.
“Korine, you know we should wait until your father comes to the table to eat.” Sonya sat down and turned back to her son. “Each province, as you know, has five main villages.”
“Except Fire, they have six, right?”