Filed to story: The Chosen Saga Novel PDF Free
“Well, we can’t explain everything. Not until initiation.” River smirked. “But the gist of it is, Tal feels responsible for you. He is worried about your initiation and about after. He has developed a protectiveness over you these past few days. I say it’s unnecessary, but what do I know. Apparently, even though I saved you, at risk to myself, I am the big bad wolf.” River shrugged and pushed off the wall. He walked over and smiled down at Araiya. “Now, little lamb, it is time for the blindfold.”
Tal pushed off the wall and snatched the strip of black cloth from River, who in turn growled. Being this close to River when he growled did all sorts of things to Araiya’s body. Her face flushed, goosebumps sprang across her body, and she felt her lower body clench. She was very confused by the reaction, so she hid it by pushing against River. He snapped his head back towards her and then down to his chest, where her hand rested. His nostrils flared, and he looked back up into her eyes. She pushed forward, forcing him to fight or take a step back.
He retreated but growled again in obvious displeasure. The growl vibrated her hand, and she swore it went straight down to her lower abdomen. She clenched her thighs and looked away. She wasn’t about to give away just the effect River had on her. She took her hand off his chest and turned back to Tal. He smiled at her and motioned her to spin around so he could tie the blindfold. Once it was in place, she felt a hand on her lower back guiding her out of the hallway.
They walked for a long time in silence. Finally, Araiya couldn’t take it anymore. “We probably have a long journey, but this silence is killing me. Someone, please talk, I can’t see anything, so you two are my entertainment. You don’t want me to start to freak out because I don’t know where we are going, and a man I barely know and a man I do not know could be leading me to my untimely death, do you?”
They both laughed. River was obviously the one guiding her. His deep chuckle was closer than Tal’s. “We are actually almost there, just a few mere moments left in the blindfold, lamb. Plus, if we had wanted you dead, we could have left you by the side of the road and not battled for three days for your life.” River slid his arm to almost holding her instead of guiding her.
“I will warn you, Araiya,” Tal started, “you are about to walk through a doorway, it will be slightly uncomfortable, but it is a safety measure. It will pass as soon as we are through.” They walked a little farther. “Okay, we are here. Like I said, it will be uncomfortable, but it will be over as soon as you are through.”
“Okay.” She nodded. She was pushed gently ahead and took a few steps, and she quickly realized that Tal was a liar. A filthy, low-down dirty-ass liar. The slightly uncomfortable feeling was unbearable. The shocks started as soon as she stepped into the supposed door, seized every muscle in her body, and stopped her breath. She staggered forward, needing to get through it so the pain would stop. She stumbled to her knees as soon as she was out. She sucked deep breaths into her lungs and focused on the pain’s absence. “What the fuck was that? Slightly uncomfortable, my ass Tal. That fucking hurt.”
Tal rushed to her side. “That shouldn’t have happened. Honestly, it should have been just a slight buzzing around your skin. The doorway attacked almost like you were…” He trailed off in confusion. He helped her to her feet as River joined them. “What the hell happened, River? The doorway attacked her.”
“What do you mean it attacked her? It shouldn’t have. You know exactly how it should act. You already brought her through it. Did it attack last time?”
“No, which is why I am obviously confused. It didn’t react this way on the way in.”
“Well, I don’t know what to tell you. Araiya, are you all right? Are you hurt?” The concern in River’s voice was evident, as was a little guilt.
“Yes, I am fine. I just wasn’t expecting that. Now can I take this blindfold off?”
“Not yet. We just have to walk a little further.” River grabbed her hand and pulled her with him. They walked hand in hand.
River tugged her to a stop. “Here should be good enough.” He pulled the blindfold off, and Araiya gasped. The sun was so bright she squinted and took a look around. Her eyes adjusted, and she looked expectantly at the two men. They were in a forest with nothing around.
“Okay, I can see again, but I don’t know where we are headed. Anyone want to take the lead here?” Araiya turned full circle. “I don’t know what direction to go here, guys.”
“Ah-ha, right.” Tal started off, and eventually, they found a path. “We will follow this path a little way, and it will bring us to Chosen village.”
“Chosen village? Do only the Chosen live there? How long will we be living there? How hard is the initiation?” Araiya fired off question after question.
River shook his head. “Yes, Chosen Village. No, not just the Chosen live there. There are some bonded pairs there and singles that help train the new Chosen, perform the initiation and run training and tours. Where the rest are will be explained on the tours. How long you stay there depends first on the initiation and then on the tours. We can’t explain any more than that. Now stop with the incessant questions, we are almost there, and soon you will have all your answers.” Araiya huffed but continued walking. In a few minutes, they came to the village. Tal hurried forward to the main building leaving Araiya and River to follow.
When the two walked in, Tal and Shavon were in an embrace, and Araiya quickly turned away, not wanting to interrupt. On the other hand, River cleared his throat, which had Araiya swat him, and lifted an eyebrow when he looked over at her. River smiled and shrugged. Tal and Shavon broke apart, and Shavon looked at them sheepishly. Tal just looked happy.
“Araiya,” Shavon rushed over, “I am so happy you are safe and well. We didn’t know what happened that morning, but Tal told me he would find you and bring you back. He said we should just get here as soon as possible, in case it wasn’t just you they were after, but any Chosen.” Shavon turned to Tal. “What exactly happened?”
Tal shrugged. “I don’t know why she was taken, but when I found her, she was in horrible shape. I took her to River so she could be healed. Araiya only woke up this morning. I haven’t even asked what happened because I knew you would be worrying. We brought her here after she took a bath to clean off the blood.”
Shavon gasped, and she turned back to Araiya. “Are you okay? What happened that morning?” She looked at Tal and then finally noticed River. “Oh my god, Enforcer, I am sorry for any insult. It shouldn’t have taken this long to notice you. I have just been worried about my charge and my mate. Please forgive me.” Shavon quickly curtsied, and Araiya turned a puzzled look toward River, who was steadily ignoring her.
“Chosen, it’s fine, I understand your worry, and the formality is unneeded and unwanted. Please just forget I am here. I only wanted to see my newest charge safely here. I might as well stay for some of the training and initiation. I have heard some interesting whispers carried on the currents.” Shavon looked to Tal, who nodded.
Everyone turned back to Araiya, who was looking around the main building. She felt eyes on her, so she turned to see everyone staring. “Ugh, guys. Why are you staring?”
“Well, lamb. I think everyone is waiting to hear what the fuck happened to you.” River leaned against a wall while Shavon and Tal sat at the table and gestured for Araiya to join. Once everyone was situated, Shavon reached over for Araiya’s hand, and she nodded at her to start.
“Well, I guess I should explain a few things to start. My father died before I was born, and my mother married a man named Jon when I was a babe. When I turned old enough to help with chores, I became a maid to the household-cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the stables. Pretty much any job he could find, I had to do. He only took care of me the bare minimum. I had a roof and food. I had to work to earn my clothing.” Shavon gasped, and Tal looked away.
Araiya glanced at River; he was the only one who could make eye contact with her. He nodded, and she went on. “School wasn’t any better as I was an outcast. With my coloring, figure, and status, my stepsister went out of her way to ensure everyone knew about my upbringing. I was a punching bag until I learned to stand up for myself. Which I learned very quickly. So, when they couldn’t beat me down any longer, the kids went out of their way to use their words. Fat, ugly and stupid were the most used.” River scoffed and rolled his eyes. Araiya raised her eyebrow. “Anyways, I wasn’t important, is my point. Not to Jon or Korine. Well, at the age of twenty last year, I got my first boyfriend, which was my downfall. Well, not much of a fall, but you know what I mean.” She took a deep breath. This was what she was most embarrassed about.
“Long story short, my stepsister wanted my boyfriend and had her father sell me to get me out of the picture. Jon made a deal with a Fire province magistrate. I was to wed the old man to secure the deal. I was to leave the morning after the ritual.”
“How could he make the deal without knowing if you were Chosen or not?” Tal pushed up from the table and walked to the wall beside River.
“When I was about ten years old, I made the mistake of telling Jon I wanted to be a Chosen. Thankfully my brother helped me plan. That day he made a rule that none of the children were allowed to participate in the ritual. That was the last year I was able to attend the Ritual. Last year when he knew Korine and I were coming of age, he reminded everyone that they couldn’t enter. So, I finished my chores the morning of my birthday, ran down, and entered.”
“Wait, your twenty-first birthday was the day of the ritual. He sold you on your birthday?” Shavon’s eyes filled with tears, and she looked away again.
“I was saved on my birthday,” Araiya smiled, “when the Goddess decided I was Chosen. Anyways, we left early because you saw Jon’s reaction. He paid that man to take me to Fire. He punched my face and apparently broke my nose to stop me from making noise. He roughed me up and threw me over the back of his horse. I knew I would rather die than become some old man’s broodmare, so I jumped. The horse clipped my shoulder, and the fall did the rest. I was surprised when the man gave up. He was there one minute and gone the next. I figure he thought I was going to die.” Araiya shrugged and trailed off. “My only hope is to pass initiation. Otherwise, I do not know what I am going to be able to do, maybe become a maid.” She didn’t even want to look at anyone once her story was done, so she kept her eyes on the table. “So, what do I do from here?”
Shavon pushed away from the table and went to Tal. She was crying softly against his chest. “Her life has been so hard,” she whispered. “If she doesn’t pass initiation, can we petition to keep her here, please?”
Araiya stayed seated and played with the grain on the table. She didn’t want to think about if she failed. She heard someone walk up behind her chair and lean over. River put his face against hers. “Do not let them win. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You have no reason to hang your head or hide from anyone’s eyes,” he whispered in her ear. “You are a fighter and survivor. You will pass initiation, and you will become Chosen. You will stand alone against the world, and the world will tremble. Do not hide, do not look away, do not back down. If, by the slimmest chance, the Goddess has changed her mind about you, you will never go back to that life. That I can promise you.” Araiya looked up at him, and he kissed her forehead. Araiya’s eyes filled as she listened to his words, but before she could say anything, he straightened and walked out of the building.