Filed to story: The Chosen Saga Novel PDF Free
“When someone goes through the initiation, they are touched by the Goddess and anointed by her power. Once that happens, then the ones anointed stay and the ones not anointed have a memory wipe and are sent home. Then you are explained everything. After the tour, you stay and take on in-depth training, usually led by the Enforcer of the province of your bonded, or by the Chosen here.” Tal patted Araiya’s leg. “Shavon here is still learning stuff, and Zephyr is not the greatest or most punctual teacher.” Shavon laughed.
“Who is Zephyr?”
“He is like the River of Air. He is the Enforcer.” Shavon wiggled her eyebrows which caused Araiya to laugh.
“There is no way Zephyr is as good looking as River, or even Tal.”
“No, my Tal is the hottest in Air, but Fire and Earth are just as hot or even hotter than River.”
“No way.”
“Fire in particular has the tall, dark, and smoking hot going for him. He screams danger and makes women drool.”
“Seriously, Von?” Tal chuckled. “If I were any less secure in our relationship, I would feel uncomfortable you feel that way about my brothers.”
“I swear you four took all the hotness away from the rest of us. Poor Zephyr never had a chance to be the hottest, and you can tell it irks him.” Shavon and Araiya laughed.
“Okay let’s go eat before time runs out before the next set of lessons.” Tal grabbed Shavon’s hand and pulled her up.
“You guys don’t need to be here, do you?” Araiya followed them to the dining hall.
“Well, no not really. Shavon has already gone through these and I already know the history, so I never really needed to attend these lessons. Still, we don’t mind coming for you. Plus, Shavon chose the teacher path so eventually she can be picked to run these lessons, so she likes to attend random ones all the time.” Tal shrugged and bumped his shoulder into Shavon, who laughed.
“Honestly, you have given me a reason to pop into more classes than I normally would be able to. Some of the other Chosen here…well they are amazing, don’t misunderstand me, but not everyone is bonded. I will be able to explain things in more detail in a few weeks.” She laughed. “You know I never understood Amara’s frustration skirting around everything before my initiation last year, but now I understand.”
“Who is Amara?”
“She was the Chosen sent to Oak to preside over my Choosing. She has been around longer then most, but she was my mentor. She was also a teacher Chosen so she helped me grow into my role, and she still does. She was the Chosen who talked at dinner last night. I’ll be able to help with your lessons for rituals and guiding new Chosen, but with your warrior training, I will not be any help with that. I suck at my basic hand-to-hand.” Tal laughed which had Shavon elbowing him. “You don’t have to laugh that hard.”
“Sorry, Von, but your hand-to-hand is amazing to watch. Last week she told me she was getting better, so I went over to watch her practice. She spent the entire lesson of stalking laying in tall grass, napping. The teacher thought she was amazing because she never spotted Shavon, but that was because she snuck out.”
“You knew?” Shavon turned bright red which caused Araiya to lose it.
“Of course.” They grabbed and filled their plates and sat down to eat.
“How?” Shavon looked down at her plate.
“Shavon, you’re my mate. I can sniff you out of a crowd, so a field of tall grass is nothing.” He kissed her forehead and turned back to his food.
Araiya sighed. “I want that.”
“Well, if you are in a rush I can give you a kiss, but you shouldn’t hold your breath for the mate thing.”
The three jumped and turned around at the deep voice behind them. Tal jumped up with a laugh and hugged the man that had come up behind them. “Zeph, it’s been a long time. You missed the last few times we were supposed to meet.”
“Tal, yeah, it’s been too long. Sorry about missing our lessons, Shavon. I have had some things come up lately. Who’s your friend, and does she still want that kiss?” Shavon got up and hugged Zeph then she turned and touched Araiya’s shoulder.
“This is Araiya.”
“Ah the girl that River helped heal. Well River should be along soon. He was just grabbing the others if they are free.” Araiya stood up. It looked like Zephyr was trying to hug her, so she stuck out her hand and stepped back.
“They were not. There have been some attacks along the borders. Mac and Terran had some issues pop up before I arrived. You want Zeph to kiss you, Araiya?” Araiya watched as River’s face flashed with hurt before he could control it.
“I was sitting with Tal and Shavon, and they were joking with each other, Tal kissed her forehead, and I said I want that. I want that kind of bond with someone… Enforcer Zephyr offered the kiss, saying if I meant the bond, I shouldn’t hold my breath. River, I don’t…I mean if I wanted a kiss, I would want it from…Zeph wouldn’t be the Enforcer that I would want a bond… fuck my life never mind.” Zephyr laughed and Araiya couldn’t help when her face flamed red, and she sat back down at the table.
“Anyways. Why did you go see the other Enforcers?” Araiya could kiss Shavon for diverting the attention away from her.
“I figured that they could come help with the lessons today.”
“He also wanted us to come meet Araiya, more specifically to use helping with the lessons as an excuse to meet the girl who has taken up residence in his mind.”
Araiya looked up and it was River’s turn to turn red. “I feel like she’s important, not just to me but to all of us.”
“You think I am important?” Araiya was astonished to find out he felt that way, and all River could do was nod and turn even redder if it was even possible.
“What the fearsome Enforcer was trying to say before the women made him turn into a Jura fruit is that he’s going to run the healing lesson and I will help with combat. Since River can’t seem to function right this second, I will take Araiya first and see what the big deal is.” Zephyr punched River in the shoulder and walked off. “Let’s go little Chosen. Time to show your mettle. Shavon makes sure Amara splits the Chosen equally and sends some my way.” Araiya followed Zephyr to the combat rings and waited while Zeph gathered some practice swords and a few staffs and threw them onto the ground. He stood across from where she was waiting and just stared at her.