Filed to story: The Chosen Saga Novel PDF Free
“Araiya, that isn’t true. I would never lie to you!”
“Oh, is that right, mother, then why were you just with Elder Tobias?”
“What? When-“
“Just a little while ago, a secret meeting behind the temple in a little alleyway room off the back. Yeah, I saw and heard you. You’re lying just like everyone else.”
“I’m not lying. I just can’t tell you.”
“Won’t, you mean?” Araiya started walking away from her mother toward their house.
“No, Araiya, it is not won’t tell you. It’s can’t. I swore a binding oath.” The soft pleading of Sonya stopped her in her tracks. When she glanced back, tears were streaming down her face. “I wish I could, every day, I have tried, but I can’t.” She wiped the tears from her face, walked up, and pulled Araiya to face her. She patted her hair and settled her hands on her cheeks. “I have loved you from the moment you were placed in my arms. I swore to the Goddess that I would give anything to protect you from harm. I only regret that I have had to keep things from you. I have fought to tell you, but the oath is too strong.” She wiped away the single tear that slipped from Araiya’s eye.
“My strong warrior daughter. Always too held together, always too contained. Tonight, will decide your fate, and I pray to the Goddess every step of the way that tonight will release you. I hope whatever unfolds after today breaks you free, Araiya. I hope that the wall you have so skillfully constructed around yourself collapses. I pray that you find the strength to unleash because of my goddess. It will be breathtaking.” Sonya kissed her cheek. She stepped back and gave a sad smile, reached for her daughter’s hand, and started walking again.
They had just entered the gate when they noticed Jon pacing on the porch. He stopped in his tracks and stared at them.
“Husband was there something you needed?” Sonya squeezed Araiya’s hand in warning.
“No, beloved, I was just getting antsy. It’s getting late, and your walk took longer than usual.”
“Well, it is her twenty-first, so it reminded me of her first birthday with me, and I got emotional. We just got caught up talking about life and what being married is like. I am sorry I lost track of time.”
“Well, the maids are waiting to get you ready. Araiya still needs to bathe. Lincoln got the tub out back ready for you. Hopefully, it is still warm. You go and take care of that.” Jon gestured to her entire body.
“Why thank you, I will take my leave.” Araiya was already leaving around the back of the house. She reached the shed that had been built with the bathing tub. She had a quick chat with her brother and then went in and closed the door. She quickly let down her hair and was getting undressed when the door reopened. Araiya screamed and quickly closed her shirt, but she heard her mother chuckle from behind.
“Araiya, you do not have to hide from me. I am your mother. I came in here to help.” Her mother stepped closer. “Your hair has gotten so long I figured I could wash that while you tell me about your day.” Araiya just smiled and finished getting undressed. She climbed into the warm water and quickly dumped her head. As she soaked in the water with lavender oil, her mother pulled out her hair and got to work.
“So,” her mother whispered, “how did you come to see me with the Elder?”
“I was running away from Jack, and I ran down the alley. I heard your voice when I was trying to hide. I was trying to follow you from the house since I heard you say you were meeting me to go for our walk.”
“How did you hear me? I said that as I was walking out the front of the house.”
“Well, don’t be mad, but I was sneaking away to enter my name into the Choosing. Lincoln and I planned it out years ago, he was going to cover for me, and I would sneak away to enter my name. After everything, I assumed that Jon wouldn’t allow me to go free. After this morning, even if I had never thought of joining, I would have.” Araiya dunked down to rinse off her hair. She came back up, and her mother started to twist it to squeeze out the excess water.
“What do you mean, like what you heard from the Elder and me?” Her hands stilling on Araiya’s hair.
“No. What I overheard today from Korine and Jon. I heard them fighting out back and in his office before breakfast. They were talking about how Jon made the deal of my engagement. Mom, the man is an old man, a man Jon’s age, and he said he was mean. He said he made the deal because of Korine. Korine said she wanted me gone, and Jon made it happen because she said she was in love with Jack.” Araiya felt the tears in her eyes trying to escape. “Jon offered Jack money to end things with me so that he could become engaged to Korine after I left. He said this deal was crucial, and if I were not found acceptable, then Korine would have to take my spot.”
“Araiya…”
“I can’t do this, Mom; I can’t give up my life for some deal. I don’t care what kind of benefits Jon will be getting from this union. I know I should have talked to you about it, but lately, you have not stood up for me with Jon, so I figured it would be best if I just did it behind both of your backs, and that way, no one could stop me. After finishing my chores in the stables, I ran down to enter.”
“Oh honey, I never wanted to send you to the Fire province as a bargaining chip. I will not tell Jon, and I am happy that you were going after what you wanted. Hopefully, I will send out my prayers to the Goddess and her consort. I want you to be chosen to save you from that fate.” Her mother finished lathering her hair and pushed her down to rinse.
When she came out of the water, she turned toward her mother with tears. “Really?”
“My darling girl, I hoped you would know I would want what you wanted for your life. You never had to hide anything from me. I only agreed to marry Jon to ensure that you were taken care of. After your father was gone, we were struggling, and I was worried you were going to starve. You were so small.” Sonya wiped her tears. “That is enough of that. I am happy that I get to spend this last day with you. I am happy that I could help you get ready and that we will be able to sit down and chat while the ladies in waiting make you even more beautiful than you are now. Now finish up. Get into the robe on the door and come to my sitting room. I will be waiting with Korine.” With that her mother got up, “unfortunately.” Chuckling, she left the room, and closed the door.
Araiya was simply blown away. She always thought that her mother married Jon out of love for him, not for her. She could never regret her mother marrying him because she would not have Lincoln without Jon. Linc had become her best friend and closest confidant throughout her life, and she was still blown away that such a sweet little boy came from Jon. She finished up and got out of her bath. She quickly dried off and got into the robe and made her way to her mother’s sitting room.
With a light knock on the door, it opened for Araiya to see her mother and Korine waiting with three maids behind them. She recognized two of the maids as they were typical fixtures in the house. One was her mother’s lady-in-waiting, and the other was Korine’s. The third maid she had never seen before, but she was for her.
“There she is, the birthday girl. Come sit down, honey.” Her mother motioned towards the last lounge chair. Araiya quickly walked over and sat down. “Okay, ladies, we are ready to begin. Take special care of my little girl. Today is her twenty-first birthday. We have a ritual to be prepared for and-“
“We also have to be prepared for her engagement. Araiya gets to meet her new husband tonight,” Korine sneered.
“Ah yes, that,” her mother muttered.
“You should apologize to your maid now, Araiya. We have already warned her that you have never had any work done to prep you in your lifetime. Poor girl will be run ragged just to get your hands soft enough for a husband to want to hold.” Korine smirked over her maid’s back.
The maids made their way to the front of the chairs with a steaming water bowl. They placed it at the girls’ feet. Each maid lifted everyone and placed their feet into the nice warm bath to soak, then left and got two smaller bowls to be placed on the tables in between for the hands.
“Here, Miss,” Araiya’s maid whispered to her as she placed her hands in the bowl. It was a small packet filled with herbs. “This will help speed up the process. I was told you were a stable hand, so I brought these. I made them for myself, so my hand and feet stay soft.” Araiya smiled as the woman walked away to grab something else. When she returned, she had a jar on the floor with the rest of her tools.