Filed to story: The Chosen Saga Novel PDF Free
Araiya just shook her head at the closed door of her new home and turned to unpack. She pulled open a drawer to unpack, and the front panel fell off into her hand. She looked down and just started laughing. This was ridiculous. Her life was crumbling, and now that she got away, so was her home. She put the piece of drawer down, still laughing, and laughing soon turned into more tears. She opened the next drawer, tears slowly falling down. How was this even fair? This was supposed to be her big chance at a better life. She stared down into the only drawer that didn’t break, which was full of mold and mice shit. Typical, can’t fucking catch a break. She picked up the broken drawer and threw it across the room, screaming out with frustration. This was supposed to be different, better. Why can’t anything just be better? She slowly sank to the ground, and the hope she had inside her since she was chosen, broke.
River was annoyed; he was pretty sure that Araiya wasn’t being treated fairly, but he wanted to make sure. He walked around until he found someone he could speak to. He chose an unmated as they usually bend over backward to give him anything he wanted. “Excuse me, Chosen…” He trailed off.
“Edith, Lord. I am Chosen Edith. Is there something I can help you with?” Chosen Edith turned and batted her eyelashes. She was a pretty one, with long brown hair and doe eyes. Still, only one Chosen had caught River’s attention over the millennia.
“Yes, Chosen Edith. I haven’t been here when the new Chosen come in. Can you show me around, their accommodations, and the like? I know this place is run by the Chosen, but maybe my brothers and I could help with some things around here. Clothing, or bathing essentials or stuff like that.” River gave her a fake smile and hoped for the best.
“Oh Lord, that is a kind offer, but we Chosen take care of all that. Each new recruit comes in with everything they need. Here, let me bring you to a room that is set up but not taken.” Edith walked him around to the new recruit area. “Everyone new first comes to this area of the village. Each Chosen has their own little home. All these buildings have been newly built within the last ten years. As you know, each province has two to four Chosen every ritual, so we can get up to sixteen new Chosen every year. This year we were supposed to have four Chosen from Fire, two from Earth, three from Water, and four from Air. We did have an extra from Earth Chosen, so we had fourteen Chosen this year. After initiation, that drops to about half, so only six or eight remain until the tour. When the tour happens, the ones with mates stay with them, and the others come back here or find a position elsewhere throughout the kingdoms. On average, we have one or two that come back, if any. The ones that stay help with the next year.”
“How many homes do you have at the ready?”
“Lord, at all times, we have around twenty to thirty homes ready to use. Not only do we have the recruits, but we also keep a few open to visitors. Here is one that you can use during your visit that has been set up.” Edith walked to a home, and River noticed it was twice the size of Araiya’s. Edith opened the door and walked in. He followed Edith in and looked around. A bed that was in perfect shape nestled in the corner. The bed was three times the size of Araiya’s, with bedding that looked warm and cozy. The desk was next to the door, and a nice wingback chair that looked comfortable enough to curl up in. There was a fireplace across from the desk, ready to be lit. Two doors branched off the main room; he opened the first door near the fireplace, and it opened to a walk-in dressing room. Built-in shelves and closet stood together with a little dressing table on the back wall. He turned around and went to the second door. It was the bathing chamber. Freshly cleaned and perfect tiles lined the room. The walk-in tub was surrounded by oils and soap. On the counter by the basin and latrine was a basket full of essentials: more soap, towels, hair stuff, makeup for the women, and shaving essentials for the men. He shook his head in disgust.
“How many of the homes are empty at this time Chosen Edith?” River could feel his anger rising again at Shavon.
“At this time, Lord, this was the last one open with everyone here. Although we have a Chosen who hasn’t shown up to her accommodations yet. I heard she was coming today, but no one has seen her. She is actually supposed to be right next to this one. I believe she was one of Chosen Shavon’s recruits, who goes by Araiya. I don’t know if anyone has found her yet. I hope she shows up, otherwise, Shavon will be in deep trouble.” Edith looked uncomfortable at that thought.
“Can you show me which one will be hers? If I find the girl, I can show her.” Edith nodded and walked out.
“Right here, Lord.” Pointing to the one to the right of his newly assigned home for his stay. He smiled, said his thanks, and walked away. As he walked back to Araiya’s hut, he tried to calm himself down again. He and Shavon would be speaking again very soon, and it wouldn’t be pleasant. He was halfway to the hut when Tal caught up with him.
“Hey, are you okay? River, you look like you are going to murder someone.” Tal chuckled, seemingly in a better mood than the last time he saw the young man.
River stopped and turned. “Do you know what your mate has done?”
Tal’s face darkened. “Yeah, I know. She put Araiya in the hut; apparently, there wasn’t any more room, and she was late because of me.” Tal looked down. “It is my fault she is there. She would have a better spot if I hadn’t taken so long. I feel terrible. I was actually going to her to say I am sorry.” River scoffed, and Tal looked up. “What, I am sorry, River. Araiya deserves much better than that hunk of junk of a house.”
“It isn’t your fault Tal not in the slightest. If that were it, I wouldn’t be so mad. No, what your mate did was much worse.” Tal was clearly confused. “Your mate is one of a kind. Call her. Now.” Tal called Shavon. Within a few minutes, Shavon came running.
“Tal, you called. Is there something you needed?” Shavon was so happy he called for her. She ran to him without seeing River at all. She knew she had made him angry, but he always forgave her. She ran into him, thinking he would open his arms, but he didn’t. He steadied her by her arms and stepped back. She was confused. Surely, he wasn’t still mad; he called.
“What did you do Shavon?” Tal looked upset, and he glanced over at River.
“Shavon, are you going to tell him the truth, or shall I?” River’s voice sounded like rocks tumbling over each other it was so deep.
Shavon looked over at him, saw how dark his eyes were, and took a step back. “I…I… I don’t know what you mean, Lord.” River’s eyes bled to a deep blue all over, vapor started to wisp out of his nose, and he took a step forward. “Lord, I don’t know what I have done to offend you so deeply.”
Tal took a step forward. “River, calm yourself. What has she done? No matter what, River, she is still my mate.”
River glanced away from Shavon. Just looking at her was almost enough to make him lose his shit. He closed his eyes and pulled his anger back. When he opened his eyes, they were back to normal. “Well, Shavon, since you refuse to explain yourself, I will.” He glanced at her pale face and shook his head. “She put Araiya in the closed hut.”
“Yes, I already told you I knew. We fought about it, but it was my fault. She said it was because we were late, and all the other homes were taken.” Tal turned to Shavon, who was staring at River, pale as a ghost, slowly shaking her head. “Shavon.” Her eyes darted to his, and he saw the panic there and dread spread throughout his body.
“She lied and made-up excuses to try to get you to forgive her. After seeing the shack, she had sent Araiya to, I stopped a Chosen to see about some things. I was just hoping to see what recruits should have in their rooms. Araiya wanted to bathe but wasn’t given any soap, oil, or clean towels. So, I was going to check out and see what she was supposed to have. Even though I know the new recruits get a full kit, I was surprised to see Araiya had nothing.” Tal’s face fell. “The Chosen brought me to a home in the new recruits’ area and was nice enough to show me around. She showed me the baskets and robes every recruit gets, the nice bed and bedding. Don’t forget the walk-in dressing room and fireplace. All were nicely decorated with furniture that was fully functional and cozy even. Nothing out of place, broken or falling apart. Then imagine my surprise that the Chosen gave me the home for my stay. Since it was empty and all. I asked how many were empty, and she said now that I had mine, none.” Tal took a breath. He liked Araiya but knew that Enforcers would get priority over a new recruit.
He felt terrible, though; Araiya would have a home if it wasn’t for him. He nodded his head in understanding and turned to tell Shavon it was okay, but River cleared his throat. “Oh, I am not done.” Tal glanced at Shavon, and she was now crying. He looked back. “The Chosen then explained that one new recruit had yet to show up and that her home stood unoccupied. It was the house next to mine, you see, and I told her if I saw the recruit, I would point her in the right direction, as long as I had a name. ‘Araiya, my Lord’ was her answer. One of Shavon’s recruits had yet to show, and she was worried that Chosen Shavon would get into trouble.”
Tal whipped around and grabbed her. “You tell me this isn’t true. Tell me you didn’t lie to me and that Chosen was mistaken.” He shook her as she whimpered, and tears fell down her face. “TELL ME.” Shavon whispered so lowly that neither man caught it. “Speak up, mate,” Tal’s condescending voice rang out, “speak up with your truth, or so help me god, I will break our bonds.”
Shavon snapped her eyes to Tal in disbelief. “What? You would break our bonds for this?”
“I would break our bonds because you betrayed them. Do you not remember what we swore to each other? Not only as a bonded pair but mates, do you not remember our truths to the Goddess? We swore to never lie to each other. We swore always to have faith in our bonds, the Goddess and each other. You broke those bonds today. Now tell me the full truth, or so help me, I will end this now.” Tal had her by her arms and started to shake her. “I loved you fully. I always stayed true to our promises. You will give me the truth, so I can see if there is anything worth holding on to.” River stepped in and grabbed Tal’s arms, shaking his head. Tal let go of Shavon and took a breath.
Shavon wrapped her arms around herself. She was so cold. She had thought Tal was over his anger, but she hadn’t truly realized the depth of her actions. She took a deep breath and looked at the two men. Tears were streaming down her face, but she understood that she had turned away from her new path this day. “The night of the Choosing, when we left the province, I saw how you connected with Araiya. She fit with you so easily, and you shifted when you came back from getting water when we camped. You went from being friendly towards her to protective, and you wouldn’t explain why.” Shavon looked away.
“You know of my past, so this triggered me. You took off without a second look towards me when she was taken. Like you didn’t care about mine or the others’ well-being. It hurt, and it took you days to return. I lost my head, and you are right. I turned myself away from the right choice. Even after I found out what happened, I was angry, so I brought her to the hut. As soon as we got there, I was ashamed. The home next to the Enforcer wasn’t assigned to Araiya. Everyone assumed she wasn’t coming. After our fight, I realized I was making excuses and that you were right. I was jealous of her. I knew I was wrong and stupid. Even before River confronted me as well. I went right to the others and assigned her the home. I collected all the supplies and freshly cleaned it and stocked it myself. I even put extras in her room because I was so ashamed of how I acted. I was finishing up there when you called me. I swear I was going to make this right. See, I even left her a note explaining myself. I didn’t tell you just now when the Lord gave me a chance because I wanted to make it right to Araiya first and to be honest, you terrify me, Lord.” She wiped her face.
“Please, Tal, I love you. It has only been a year, and you are right. I don’t understand fully what our bonds mean. I know I’m not easy sometimes, but I am trying my best. I am going to mess up, but I always try to clean up my messes. Please look at Araiya’s home. Please give me a chance to prove I am not lying, and don’t break our bonds. Don’t give up on us, don’t give up on me.” Tal was staring at his mate, crying her eyes out. He glanced at River, who gave a slight nod.
“Okay, let’s go look at the house.” Tal grabbed Shavon and wrapped her tiny hand in his. She sobbed a little and nodded her head, turning and pulling him towards the recruit area. River followed them to the house that was pointed out earlier. They walked in to find it thoroughly cleaned; the basket in the bathing chamber was overfilled with all the essentials for women. A second basket was on the desk filled with sweets, and a note addressed to Araiya. The bed was turned down with purple bedding, and the room was nicely arranged.
“It looks beautiful mate.” Tal turned back to Shavon. “Just stop being so foolish. Araiya is an amazing young girl I feel protective of, like a friend. You are the girl that I love. You are the one who is my mate. My soul chose yours. That’s how it works. Now let’s go, we need to have a conversation alone about our next steps, and River needs to go get his girl.” Shavon gasped and looked at River, who just shook his head. They headed out while he went and got Araiya.
River walked back in to find Araiya on the floor, huddled
over what looked like pieces of the dresser. She stilled, wiped her face, and turned towards him with a sad little smile. “It broke.” She lifted up the handle of the drawer and tossed it back to the floor. She looked down again before he could see any more tears sliding down her face.