The Viking's Chosen by Quinn Loftis (4)

Only a month remained until my very soul would be sucked from my body, leaving only an empty shell. Today was simply the beginning of the end. The King of Tara would arrive today. His arrival would bring my doom. Dramatics aside, the consequences of the coming month were going to be dire. Deep down, I knew it was not the courting month or the ceremony that I dreaded but what would come after I feared most. I daydreamed about having an out-of-body experience during my wedding night so I could escape being mentally present for the consummation of our union. Just thinking about the pompous king touching me—undressing me—made me want to scrub myself with lye soap until the first layer of my skin was completely rubbed away.

It was nearing dawn as I sat at my window, wallowing in my self-pity. Sleep eluded me no matter how tired I was. My stomach felt as if I had swallowed a gallon of curdled milk which threatened to come up my throat and out of mouth at any moment. I had been strong the prior three days, holding my chin high, keeping my shoulders back, and plastering a fake smile on my face, but underneath, I was an utter mess.

The sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon, the rays reaching up and spreading out as though they were long arms, stretching after a good night’s rest. I wished I could join in nature’s enthusiasm as light rolled over the hills, through the forest, and into the streets of the kingdom. It was as though the earth was calling out. Good morning, rise, and wake with me. It is a new day. Yes, a new day had come… but not a good day, at least for me anyway.

I heard the stirrings of people beyond my door as the castle began to come to life, the staff bustling and scurrying about as the time for the king of Tara to arrive fast-approached. A light knock sounded at my door, pulling my attention from the morning sun. I sighed, resigning myself to the fact that no matter how I wished I could freeze time to prevent the inevitable, I couldn’t. My fate was sealed.

“My lady.” A soft voice said as the door was inched open and Lidia peered around. “Are you ready to dress?”

I motioned for her to come in as I stood. “I do not suppose I could say no?”

She smiled. “You could, but I have a feeling his Majesty would not appreciate presenting his eldest daughter to the king of Tara in her undergarments.”

“You are wise beyond your years, lovely Lidia,” I said wistfully. She giggled as she headed for my wardrobe to pick out the dress for the day.

I splashed my face with warm water from the wash basin and looked at myself in the mirror. As I blotted the water from my skin, I noted emptiness in my eyes and hated myself for letting my joy be robbed from my life.

I let Lidia help me dress and fix my hair. The things she could do were amazing—true works of art—but today, she opted for a simple braid that flowed down my back, a ribbon that matched my dress woven in.

When she was finished, Lidia went about tidying the room—making the bed, picking up the dirty clothes, and dumping the dirty water from the basin. I knew when I returned that evening, there would be clean water along with a clean towel to dry with. Lidia was a wonderful handmaiden. I was reluctant to ask her to come to Tara with me; I couldn’t decide if I could ask it of her. It would be a huge boon to have her with me, but for her to leave the only home she had ever known—to leave her family and friends—would be a huge sacrifice. I could force her to come, of course, but I would never do that. I knew what it meant to be forced to live a life you did not want. However, if I was going to ask her, I needed to do it soon.

I stepped out of my room to the usual sight of Clay waiting to accompany me. I had no energy for taunting him. And I was pretty sure he was still peeved at me for leaving him at the stable when I’d healed Poke.

As I walked down the castle corridors, I awed at the transformation the dreary stone structure had undergone. My mother had outdone herself. Banners heralded our family crest proudly as they hung throughout the halls. Four long strips of fabric had been woven together—two were our colors and two were Tara’s. It was fastened along the wall, rising and falling like rolling hills. At every dip, a huge bouquet of flowers, also the two kingdoms’ colors, was attached to the fabric. This continued along every corridor, on every wall throughout the castle. Every oil lamp was also adorned with flowers and a bow. The harmonization of the colors still left something to be desired, but against the grey stone of the walls, there was something striking about the green, black, yellow, and white joining in a kaleidoscope of disjointed adornment.

Once the shock of the splendor had settled, I continued my trek to snag some of Sylvia’s bacon. Even though I could’ve had breakfast brought to my room, I preferred to get it myself, mostly so I had an excuse to see Sylvia, and today I really needed her matter-of-fact air and tell-it-like-it-is ways. She would not blow smoke up my petticoat or tell me what I wanted to hear. Sylvia would tell me what she thought, regardless of how it might make me feel.

I passed through the main dining hall through a swinging door that lead to a small hallway. The hallway opened into a large kitchen where no less than ten cooks moved with practiced ease around each other. It looked like a synchronized dance. The clanking of pots, swishing of spoons, and sizzling of food was their music and Sylvia their choreographer. The head cook called out orders, pointed directions, and worked just as hard as the staff she pushed.

“Bacon, eggs, and toast, Allie?” Sylvia asked without even turning around to see I was there. She was the only person who shortened my name to Allie, but I liked the endearment.

“You know the way to my heart, Sylvia.” I grinned and took my spot on the empty stool and out of the way. I only waited a few minutes before she set a plate in my lap with a towel underneath it to keep from burning me or getting anything on my dress. I nearly drooled at the mouthwatering food; its tantalizing aromas rising to fill my nose.

“Why, hello there,” I said to the food. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“You are talking to your food, Allete,” Dayna said from behind me. “I think you have officially cracked.”

“Why, dear Sister, whatever do you mean?” I said in a mock-haughty voice. “What pressure could possibly crack one such as I?”

“I do not know, but that intolerable voice just proved my point.” Dayna eyed my plate. “Going to share?”

“Did you meet a grizzly bear in full court-dress this morning ready to attend my wedding?” I asked just before taking a bite of bacon. I moaned as the rich flavor filled my mouth, and I wondered if Sylvia would want to go with me to Tara—not that Father would ever let her leave.

“Sounds like you’re practicing the sounds you will be making on your wedding night,” Thomas said as he slipped in through the side door that led to the chicken coupes.

Dayna snorted as she attempted to cover her laughter. I did not find it quite as amusing.

“And how, exactly, do you know what sounds are made on a wedding night, Thomas? Have you been a scoundrel and taken the virtue of maidens who fell for your handsome face?” I asked him and then followed it with a bite of eggs. I easily ignored any other comments my cousin or sister made, my focus keen on my meal, which had begun to feel a bit like a last meal.

“Are you planning on eating like that in front of your future husband this evening at the reception feast?” Thomas laughed as he nodded his head to my now-empty plate. Perhaps I did eat a little like a pig at a feeding trough, but Sylvia’s food could do that to a person.

“Thomas, is there a reason you are disturbing my morning with your ridiculous comments and tiring questions?” I asked as I glared up at him.

He walked over and patted my head in the patronizing manner he knew I hated. “I just wanted to spend some time with my dearest cousin while she is still innocent and unjaded by the pressures and responsibilities of a queen.”

While his statement was meant to tease, I could hear the sincerity in his words. He was going to miss me, and I would miss him just as fiercely.

I stood up and took my plate to the wash basin, but one of the cooks snatched it out of my hand before I could even begin to wash it. Turning to Thomas and Dayna, I put on my best I-can-do-this smile. “How about the fearsome trio take one last ride together?”

Thomas glanced over to Captain Clay. “I’ll take it from here. When we return, you can resume your guard.”

Clay gave a slight bow to Thomas, but shot me a look that said I had better behave.

We had been riding for a little over two hours when we heard the trumpets announcing the arrival of the Tara’s king and his entourage. I pulled my horse to a halt, looking back at the palace I’d called home for eighteen years. My chest tightened as the reality of my situation began to set in—in a month’s time. I was leaving for good. Even though I’d always hoped to leave—that was not in question—this was not the way I’d imagined. I wanted to leave without a king for a husband in tow.

“Should we go back?” Dayna asked, sounding as if she thought this was the worst idea ever.

“Why?” Thomas asked. “It is not like he is going anywhere. You have a month to endure his wooing. He will still be there when we are finished with our ride.”

“Father is going to be a right pissed boar,” Dayna said with too much delight.

“Language.” I snapped at her. “If you do not clean up your mouth, how will a young man ever want to kiss it?”

“I will not change my ways just to suit a man. He can take me as I am—dirty mouth and all—or he can find a wench in a tavern willing to do his bidding for some change.”

I shook my head as I pinched the bridge of my nose. “And Father thinks I am the unruly one? Do not speak of such women. You have no idea the hardships they face or what has led them to such a life.”

Dayna’s shoulders drooped under my scolding. It was not my intention to upset her, but she needed to learn to be considerate of others before she unleashed that loose tongue of hers.

“You are right. I do not know such things,” she said and then perked up. “You are going to make a wise and compassionate queen, sister mine. I only wish it was of our kingdom and not that pig of a king’s kingdom.”

Thomas chuckled. “I still do not see why you both assume he is an ugly beast. Just because he is older doesn’t mean he isn’t fit, charming, and handsome.”

“Are you just saying that to bolster my spirits?” I asked him, raising one of my eyebrows, as if that small action would cause the truth to spring from his lips.

He stared back at me for several seconds and, for a moment, a thoughtful look passed over his features, but it was gone just as quickly. He nodded his head. “You’re right. He is most likely a disgusting creature with a personality to match.”

“Never mind. I liked it better when you lied to me.” I jested.

“No, you do not,” Thomas said, suddenly serious. “You like a person who is straightforward and does not attempt to placate you. Its one of the many things I will miss about you.”

I quickly turned my head away from him, feigning that something in the trees had caught my attention as I fought back tears. Why does doing the right thing hurt so badly? Just cinch up your petticoat and do what you need to do.

“Are we going to finish this ride?” Dayna asked, a distinct challenge lacing her words.

I turned to look at my youngest sister and narrowed my eyes. “King be damned! Not even the gods shall stop us.”

Dayna sucked in a breath with a huge grin plastered on her face. “Language, Allete.”

After giving my horse a quick squeeze and pat on the flank, the beast took off, bolting past my shocked sister and dumbfounded cousin. I refrained from looking back to see if they had recovered—I was too busy absorbing what little freedom I had left. The wind whipped the hair that had escaped my braid and my eyes began to water as I pushed my horse faster. Perhaps with every step farther away from the castle she took, I felt my chances of outrunning my fate were growing. Somehow, I thought, every furlong galloped was leading me closer and closer to freedom.

Only later would I realize what a foolish thought that was. No matter how fast I ran, I could not escape my fate.