Child of Beauty (Prophecy Series) Page 10

  “I see. I am glad you are getting along. It is quite a birthday present, so thank you for that.” Viktor tried to hide his smile with a small wave of his hand. “But you both know you cannot speak to any teacher, any adult, as you did to Baron Hoffman. I will discuss how he performs his lectures with him privately. I have sat in on one of his lectures before, almost put me to sleep. Never did want to return after that. All the students will learn more if he is engaging.” He paused as he looked between his daughters. “Do not tell him I said that. Each of you will write a letter of apology to him and five pages on the history of Najos for me. Make sure you include the royal family and the legacy of magic.” He let them clearly see his smile this time. “You two are in a lot of trouble.”

  “We understand Father.” Rayna stood.

  “When do we need to get those papers done?” Jerrika asked.

  “Apology letter by tomorrow, and the five page paper by the end of the week.”

  Jerrika smiled. “Thank you Father.”

  “We promise to do our best to not embarrass you again.” Rayna assured him.

  Rayna, sitting at her desk, looked across the room to where Jerrika lay on her stomach across her bed. “Is King Girdo as boring to you as he is to me?”

  Jerrika chuckled. “I think so. Did you read the part about the Bloodline family?”

  Rayna nodded. “They are far more interesting.” She read aloud. “The wizard Xavien found out about the plot against the king and queen, but he was only able to save the prince and princess. Xavien took them and disappeared into the night. No one has seen them since.” She shook her head. “At least King Girdo has some redeemable qualities.”

  “How so?”

  “His sister and her husband died in the war, so he adopted his nieces.”

  “Celeste and Montiel Wallace.” Jerrika read. “Look here. There is a prophecy about their land too.”

  “The Liberator shall destroy the evil upon the throne with her true love by her side. The Chain shall stop the bringing of peace if the Liberator allows it.”

  “Wonder what that means.”

  “We have enough prophecy here to worry about some other kingdom. I am glad neither of us is affected by the prophecy.”

  “Not until we become Soldatas and have to fight the rebels.”

  Rayna shrugged. “That will happen when it does.”

  “I do not want to kill rebels.” Jerrika whispered.

  Rayna looked at her sister. “Neither do I.”

  “Then let us make a pact to be better than we are expected.” Jerrika grinned. “You and I will be Soldatas who truly embody the words on our arm.”

  Rayna held her left arm next to Jerrika’s. “Loyal, brave, strength, honest, intelligence, kind, patience, joy, light, peace, understanding, thirst, and faithful. We will be the first Soldatas to truly and genuinely believe the words inked on our arms.”

  “I have a feeling Wilma will always be loyal to us.” Jerrika smiled. “I like her a lot.”

  “Me too. Wilma has always been the only true friend I have had.” Rayna paused. “Until now. Now I have two.”

  ~ Chapter 20 ~

  Jerrika looked out her window at the bright day. She bit her healed lip and looked at the town of Derbon. Rayna had more than proven her commitment to their friendship. She was kind and loving, something Jerrika never believed possible.

  “Hey.” Rayna entered their room. “We only have a week until we go home for break. Mother does not know we are friends yet.” She glanced. “Do you think Father will stop her from returning me?”

  “She has had you for over fourteen years. I doubt she would follow through on her threat now.”

  “She has always followed through on her threats to you.”

  “Then I know Father will protect you.” Jerrika paused. “I want to introduce you to my beau.”

  Rayna stared at her sister. “What?”

  “My beau.” Jerrika couldn’t bring herself to trust Rayna with his name yet. How would Aileen and Barrett react to meeting Rayna? They didn’t like high nobles, but Jerrika wanted to show Rayna how much her friendship meant to her.

  “He is in Derbon, and I want to introduce you to him.”

  “That would be incredible.”

  “They do not like high nobles or Soldatas.” Jerrika paused.

  “They?”

  “He lives with his sister.”

  Rayna nodded. “Well I understand why they would not like high nobles or Soldatas. Honestly, I am surprised they gave you enough time to get to know you. How did you even meet them?”

  “His sister is the blacksmith.” Jerrika explained.

  “Ah. So you met them when you became the Official Soldat Weapons Retainer.”

  “Yes.”

  “This will be great.” Rayna pulled her blonde hair into a high ponytail. “Should I change?”

  “Your training outfit is fine.” Jerrika shrugged. “They see me in mine all the time.”

  “Then let us go. I am excited to meet this beau of yours.” Rayna paused. “Wow. You really do trust me.”

  Jerrika nodded.

  “Thank you.” Rayna embraced her sister. “I promise to keep them secret.”

  They left the castle and were soon on the cobblestone path leading to the market of Derbon.

  Jerrika looked at her sister. “Are you sure about this?” She was nervous. What if something went wrong? What if Aileen insulted Rayna?

  “Yes. What are you afraid of?”

  Jerrika sighed. “Every time a young man sees you, I turn invisible.”

  “Are you afraid this beau of yours is going to fall for me?”

  “It would not be the first time a guy fell for you upon seeing your beautiful face.”

  Rayna rolled her eyes. “If this guy is that shallow, he does not deserve you. He has loved you for a long time. He sounds like a great man.”

  “He really is. I am also nervous because his sister does not approve of our relationship.”

  “Why not?”

  “She hates nobles, and she does not think we will ever have a future together.” Jerrika felt like they had that argument every time she saw Barrett.

  “Well hopefully she will appreciate you introducing them to me. I am so excited about meeting them. I have never met anyone in town.”

  “Here we are.”

  Rayna froze as she read the sign: A. Quint.

  Aileen opened the door. “Jer.”

  “Hi Aileen.” Jerrika pulled her sister forward. “I would like to introduce my sister: Rayna Little. Rayna, this is Aileen Quint.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.” Aileen curtsied.

  “It sure is.” Rayna glanced through the store room.

  “Please come in.” Aileen held the door. “Welcome to our shop.”

  “Must be great to have your own store.” Rayna stepped inside.

  “I wondered if Jerrika truly had any family.” Aileen stated.

  “Well we all care deeply about one another.” Rayna explained. “Us Littles will not let anyone between us.”

  “I remember what your mother did to keep her from my brother.”

  “Well now I know Mother was right.” Rayna crossed her arms. “Not in beating her, but in keeping her away from you.”

  “What?” Jerrika gasped.

  “Where is your brother?” Rayna raised a brow.

  “He’s running an errand.”

  Rayna turned to her sister. “Obviously he is just getting close to you and making you fall for him because he wants to be rich.”

  “What?” Aileen gasped.

  Jerrika’s mouth dropped. What had happened? Rayna was excited about meeting them one moment and the next criticizing and judging them.

  Rayna turned back to Aileen. “Are you pursuing a high noble as well? Is your family reaching for power or wealth? Or is it both? With the marital connection to the Littles, your brother will have plenty. It is not right to use Jerrika as he is.”

  “You don’t
know us.” Aileen glared. “I would appreciate it if you left this place. You are never welcome back.”

  “I would never dream of returning.” Rayna grabbed Jerrika’s arm. “Come on.”

  “Do you believe what your sister’s saying?” Aileen took hold of Jerrika’s other arm. “You know my brother loves you for who you are.” Who would have guessed Aileen was the one trying to keep Jerrika with Barrett and Rayna the one criticizing Aileen?

  “He has always loved you.” Rayna stated. “He has only loved you because he knows he will have a powerful future as your husband. He wants your title, not you.”

  “My brother is kind and honest.” Aileen whispered as tears clouded her eyes. “You know he has always been true to you.”

  “Trust me.” Rayna’s crystal-blue eyes begged. “I am doing this for you Sister.”

  “He loves you.”

  “He loves your title.”

  Jerrika rushed out, hands over ears.

  ~ Chapter 21 ~

  “What?” Jerrika cried as her sister caught up to her. Her head spun as she tried to process what had just happened, but she wasn’t sure she would ever be able to understand.

  “Not here.” Rayna took her sister’s hand.

  They went back to Krijar and their room before Jerrika couldn’t stand the silence anymore. “I thought you were ready to meet them.”

  “They are common.”

  “I thought you knew that.”

  “I did.” Rayna paused. “How did she get the job here? Blacksmith in Derbon is a relatively powerful position for someone of common blood. That family must desire status, riches.”

  “They are not like that at all. Why would you think they were?”

  “I am your sister.” Rayna stated. “I was sold to a woman who could have made me a slave. Luckily for me, your parents came along and adopted me. Who knows where I would have turned up?”

  “They are not like your family.”

  “Is that so?” Rayna clenched her fists. “What have they told you about their family?”

  “Their family lives in Kapok.”

  “First clue is there.” Rayna sat beside Jerrika. “Kapok is the capital of Perso’s Creek. Everyone there fights for riches, power, status. You can ask our brothers; they will agree with me.”

  “He loves me.” Jerrika closed her eyes.

  “He has never loved you.” Rayna whispered. “I am so sorry, but common folk cannot fall in love with a noble. Why would they, other to gain status? Why would he want to fall in love with someone he could never be with unless he had a different motive? It does not make sense.”

  “We did not plan on falling in love.”

  “Think back. When did you first meet him?”

  “After I became the Official Soldat Weapons Retainer.” Jerrika paused. “He did not like me when we met; neither of them did.”

  “So when did you fall in love with him?”

  Jerrika sighed. “I do not really know. It was like, just one day, we were in love.”

  “Perhaps that was when he decided to make you fall in love with him so he could gain status through you.”

  “No.” Jerrika stood.

  “My noble parents sold me for money.” Rayna stated. “Do you think a common family would not do something like that?”

  “But he…” Jerrika closed her eyes. “No. He loves me. Aileen is the one who always wanted me to tell my family about us, but he never pushed me.”

  “Because his sister was doing the job. It was always their plan. Perhaps they were hoping Mother and Father would pay them off, pay them to leave you alone. What do you think he would choose if he had a choice: stay and marry you or leave with enough money to almost live like a noble?”

  “Stop.” Jerrika stood and walked away from her sister. “He would choose me. He already chose me.”

  “By giving you a necklace?” Rayna looked at the black pearls sitting in a box. “If it truly meant so much to them, then why was not he upset that it broke? Why did he not offer to fix it?”

  Jerrika turned. “He did not want to fix it…”

  “Why not?”

  He’d been so happy, so excited to give her the pearls, sharing the bond his parents did with her. But when she’d told him her mother destroyed the necklace, he didn’t care. How could she have been so stupid? She’d always wanted to be loved, and he’d provided her with the one thing she desired more than anything. Barrett had always pretended to accept her, to love her, but what if everything she thought she knew was false? She knew he kept secrets from her. If he truly loved her, would he keep that many secrets? Couldn’t he trust her? But what if the secrets he kept were the truth about his intentions.

  “He does not really love me.” Jerrika dropped to her knees, breath coming in and out too quick. Her chest hurt, her head ached, and her insides were ripped open, broken apart by the truth she had never wanted to believe. Barrett didn’t love her. He loved her nobility, and the future it promised him.

  “I am so sorry.” Rayna knelt next to her sister and embraced her.

  Jerrika couldn’t answer. Her insides tore at each other, a war with her heart as the prize. She thought about Barrett and all the kindness he’d shown her.

  “I know you.” His crystal-blue eyes bore into hers. “I know you’re not like the one who hurt me. I love you so much Jer.”

  Her heart picked up a pace. “I love you too Barrett.”

  He pulled a necklace of black pearls from his pocket. “My father gave my mother this necklace when he realized they were meant to be together. I know we have everything against us. My sister doesn’t trust nobles. Your family would never allow you to be with me. But we belong together. You’re a warrior; I’m a blacksmith. I know we belong together.”

  But Rayna was right, if those pearls had truly meant so much to him, then why didn’t he insist on fixing them? He had just wanted her to believe every word he said. But she wouldn’t make that mistake ever again.

  “One more day.” Wilma looked at Radley.

  He nodded. “Navion Festival tonight, and tomorrow I will be a Soldat.”

  “Congratulations.” Rayna stated.

  Jerrika was still surprised how nice Rayna’s group of friends turned out to be, after Mae had left. She looked across the courtyard at Viveca, Paige, Mae, and Zenia. All wore the blood red of Navion Festival, with their hair entwined with ropes.

  Wilma was the only girl in Krijar who didn’t have rope in her hair. As Jerrika was slowly getting to know her sister’s best friend, she continued to think Wilma had some kind of secret. She obviously didn’t agree with a lot of their teaching and beliefs. It made Jerrika glad to know another noble thought common folk and nobility should be equal.

  Perhaps if everyone was considered equal, it wouldn’t matter to Barrett that Jerrika was high noble, and he wouldn’t have tried to use her to gain status.

  “Are you alright?” Rayna looked at her sister.

  Jerrika sighed. “It is hard, not seeing him anymore. I love him, but I must heal and move on. I need to fall in love with someone who truly loves me.”

  “Well if Kurtis comes back to Derbon, will you leave him for me?”

  Jerrika chuckled. “You already have Kurtis.” She smiled. “It will be nice. Now that we are friends, you and Kurtis will finally be able to be seen. Perhaps you can even begin courting.”

  “Mother would never allow me to court him.”

  “Then why would you want to fall in love with someone you can never be with?”

  “Because Father will allow me to court him.” Rayna chuckled. “Here. I got you a little something for the holiday.” She handed Jerrika a small box.

  “Oh wow.” Jerrika embraced her sister. “Thanks. What is it?”

  “Open it and find out.”

  Jerrika chuckled and pulled at the red ribbon around the box. She opened it, and inside was a simple necklace with a diamond charm which said “sisters.”

  Jerrika smiled as she pulled it out and
put it on. “Thank you.”

  “Now I realize that you are far better than my sister would have turned out to be.” Rayna stated.

  ~ Chapter 22 ~

  Sake 9, 539

  Radley Forney was one of the seven trainees who stepped in a line in front of Duke Viktor. He was one of four nobles being made into a Soldata or Soldat today. He turned his head slightly to look at Wilma. His heart pounded as he thought about what he would say to her after the ceremony was over.

  Duke Viktor held out his arms. “Welcome Soldatas, Soldats, families, and trainees. Thirty-one years ago when Navion Perso the first became king, he set up a system of class, making his most loyal nobles the position of high noble and giving each of their children the opportunity to become a Soldata or Soldat. With each year, nobles have a chance to fill any voids, also receiving the honor as the high nobles do. I present to you, this year’s class of Soldatas and Soldats: Walsh Denzel, Radley Forney, Yvette Kendrick, Mallory Papke, Helen Raske, Grant Vanders, and Simon Vaughn. Now take your Woplers.” He gestured to the long metal whip-like weapons in front of each of the warriors.

  Radley took hold of his weapon.

  Remember who you are fighting for. If you become a Soldat, you will have to answer to the king. I remember what it was like before him. He is evil, and you wanting to be a Soldat is only fueling his terror. You will be a powerful weapon, but you will never be a man. A Soldat is a warrior made for one purpose: death.

  “Forged with the magic of our allies from Najos, each of you must puncture your right index finger and place your blood within the blue center ring of the Wopler.”

  Radley tried to keep his grandmother’s words from his mind as he followed the duke’s directions. The blue center ring of his Wopler glowed bright orange before fading into the weapon.

  “Flex your weapon.” Viktor continued.

  Radley obeyed, and his Wopler turned into a sword through the magic.

  “Your Wopler can be used as a whip, sword, axe, belt, or to propel a poison dart.” Viktor touched the weapon which he wore around his belt. “With your blood in the Wopler, you will be the only person who can wield your weapon. Also remember, your darts will only kill those without the magic of nobility within them. It is now your duty to wield your weapon wisely and learn every facet of its magic.