Child of Beauty (Prophecy Series) Page 18

  Jerrika touched her sister’s shoulder. “Your family will be so proud.”

  “If you had never introduced me to Aileen, I never would have been reunited with my family.” Rayna smiled. “Thank you for giving me back myself, my family, and my destiny.”

  Princess Viveca Perso sat with the Hamilton twins. It was too bad Zenia was a year younger than them. The princess looked over to see Edric Nagel sitting by himself in the room. She rolled her eyes.

  “Well look who has finally made it here.” Mae chuckled. “We have been waiting for you girls.”

  Viveca looked the three outcasts over. Rayna Little, her long blonde hair braided in a coil around her head, an amethyst and diamond headband, bright purple shirt, and brown leather pants, jacket, and boots, walked in beside her sister. Jerrika Little wore her dark brown hair curled, held out of her face with a gold headband embedded with emeralds. Likewise, she wore brown leather pants, jacket, and boots with a deep green shirt. Wilma Reece entered with the sisters. Her brunette braid was unaccented with a headband, and she wore a deep blue shirt with her brown leather.

  Viveca and her friends wore black leather pants, jackets, and boots along with their shirts. It was a subtle way to let the audience know who belonged with whom.

  “I cannot believe we have finally made it here.” Paige sighed. “We are getting our Wopler today, and in less than a month, we will be in Kapok, representing the new Soldatas to the king, and we will get our assignments.”

  “In less than a month the rebellion will be destroyed.” Mae grinned. “I cannot wait to annihilate those who think they can defy us. We will put those common blooded filth back into their place.”

  “And then what?” Wilma asked.

  “Hm?” Viveca looked at her.

  “I mean, do you think the common folk will just stop rebelling?” Wilma shrugged.

  “If they value the lives of their children, they will.” Viveca smirked. “Rebels will be slaughtered: men, women, and children alike.”

  Rebels will be slaughtered: men, women, and children alike. Rayna shuttered thinking about the princess’ words. No matter what happened, she could not fail in her destiny. Rayna had to take the king out of power, and she had to make sure the prince became king instead of the princess becoming queen. Luckily for the rebels, the king had no idea the prophecy would be coming to pass in less than a month.

  Rayna lined up with the others. She saw Viktor in his spot at the top of the dais. In the front row, Rayna noticed Ederra dressed in her finest. Rayna knew her birth family was secretly watching the ceremony, and she wished they were sitting with Ederra.

  The seven trainees stepped in a line in front of Duke Viktor. He held out his arms. “Welcome Soldatas, Soldats, families, and trainees. Thirty-two 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 Soldat: Mae Hamilton, Paige Hamilton, Jerrika Little, Rayna Little, Edric Nagel, Viveca Perso, and Wilma Reece. Now take your Woplers.” He gestured to the long metal whip-like weapons in front of each of the warriors.

  “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.”

  Rayna bit her lip as she took hers. Viktor had said he wasn’t sure what was going to happen when her blood hit the center.

  Rayna’s blue center ring glowed bright green as the others glowed bright orange before fading into the weapon once more. She let out her breath. It was true. Her weapon was different than any other forged. She would fulfill the prophecy with her Wopler. She could kill nobility with her poison dart.

  “Flex your weapon.” Viktor continued.

  The new Soldatas and Soldat obeyed and whipped their weapons out, turning them into swords through their 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.

  “Now each of you raise your left arm.”

  The Soldata and Soldats obeyed.

  Viktor moved his Tatuar over their left hands, and an “S” appeared on their skin, finishing their tattoos.

  “Congratulations to the new Soldatas and Soldat of this year.” Viktor concluded. “You will all travel to Kapok and meet with the king for your joining year. Upon completing your assignments, you will be reassigned another position.”

  “Yes, your grace.” The Soldatas and Soldats responded.

  The crowd rose, clapping and roaring encouragement.

  ~ Chapter 40 ~

  Rayna walked onto her balcony, glad to be home for a short time before traveling to Kapok. After their Soldata ceremony, Jerrika, Rayna, Ederra, and Viktor had said their goodbyes and traveled home. Wilma promised to meet them at Kapok before the battle began.

  Rayna didn’t want to think about her destiny. As the time drew closer, those who knew the truth were pressuring her. She dreamed about her destiny almost every night. Every dream was different. Some, she had complete victory, surviving the battle to marry Kurtis, while others she died as she killed the king. The worst dreams were the ones in which she couldn’t kill the king before she died.

  Now she closed her eyes, dressed simply in her nightgown and long robe, her feet bare against the cold wood of her balcony. She felt the wind whisper through her hair. Looking up, she watched the bright moon as it shined down upon the forest.

  A hand touched her shoulder.

  Rayna shrieked as she spun, back hitting her balcony. Her heart pounded as she recognized Rosewyn behind her. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came to congratulate you.” Rosewyn whispered. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  Rayna shook her head.

  “I also came with a warning.” Rosewyn stepped next to Rayna and looked out across the moonlit forest.

  “Do not tell anyone the truth about me.” Rayna sighed. “I know.”

  “There’s more.” Rosewyn looked at the young woman. “I had a vision, and it saddened me. I realized that you love and trust people who will hurt and betray you.”

  Rayna looked at her. “What are you talking about?”

  “I am bound to protect the future.” Rosewyn replied. “I cannot tell people exactly what I see, but I can warn and guide. Beware Rayna Little, for there are traitors among those you love. You must learn to see who is there to protect you, and who is there to wound you.” She touched Rayna’s cheek. “Also, your family is in the forest. I believe they want to see you and Jerrika.”

  Rayna smiled. “Thank you.” She turned to go inside her room. Pausing as she stepped inside, she whispered. “I know who I can trust.” She turned, but Rosewyn was gone.

  Jerrika sat in bed, propped up by several pillows, reading Against the Tides, a book about the legend of mermaids and humans of Ejecta.

  A soft knock caught her attention. Jerrika set her book down, walked barefooted to her door, and inched it open.

  “Hey.” Rayna whispered. “I got a surprise visit from Rosewyn right now. She mentioned that my family is in the forest and wants to see us.”

  Jerrika nodded. “That sounds great.” She wondered when she’d be able to see Barrett again. She felt like their time was soon, that they would be married one day in the bright future.

  The sisters tip-toed through the estate and into the cool night air. Using the light of the moon to guide their way, they wandered into the forest.

  “We were trying to figure out how to let you know we’re here.” Delisa s
tated.

  Rayna smiled and embraced her sister. “Rosewyn told me.”

  “I don’t trust that woman.” Creedon put a hand on his daughter’s shoulder.

  “Hello my love.” Barrett kissed Jerrika. “Congratulations on getting your Wopler.”

  “Thanks.” Jerrika watched as Creedon and Gwen spoke with their daughter. It was still odd seeing the blonde family which Rayna looked like.

  “We are traveling to Kapok in two weeks.” Rayna explained. “Viktor and Ederra are coming with us as well. Ederra is devastated that all her sons are in Kapok right now.”

  “We heard that the king moved all his troops into the capital.” Creedon smiled and sat beside his wife. “But we’ve sent messengers around to all rebel groups. We’re going to have a large strike force to attack the palace. It’s so strange to think we’re going to have several Soldats and Soldatas fighting with us.”

  “Of course we’ll have you two and Wil.” Aileen sat between her brothers. “Sage will fight will us, and Viktor too. Then there’s the other Reece siblings: Sam, Tamara, Ulric, and Virgil. Plus Ulric recruited a Soldat from last year: Radley Forney.”

  “We know Radley.” Rayna sat next to her little sister. “He and Wil are in love.”

  “He doesn’t know about Wil’s involvement.” Gwen chuckled. “Apparently she wants to surprise him.”

  “I wonder if Kurtis will join us in the fight too.” Jerrika looked to her sister as she sat beside Barrett. “Especially once he sees us fighting against the king.”

  “I think he will.” Rayna answered.

  “You should pretend to fight us.” Delisa stated. “The king won’t allow you near him if he knows you’re a rebel.”

  “She’s right.” Creedon agreed. “Put on a show for the other Soldats and Soldatas, gain their trust, and you will be able to get close enough to the king to kill him.”

  Rayna nodded. “I just hope Prince Navion is not there. I cannot face him knowing I am going to kill his father.”

  “How well do you know the prince?” Delisa asked.

  “He and I were good friends growing up.” Rayna paused, glancing at Jerrika.

  “He is in love with her.” Jerrika explained. “My mother always wanted a beautiful daughter to win the heart of the prince. Mother just did not realize that someone else would win Rayna’s heart.”

  “The more I hear about Ederra Little, the more I despise her.” Gwen put a hand on Rayna’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry she was the mother who raised you.”

  “Thank you.” Rayna smiled. “But none of this was your fault. Besides, I was six when I started training, so I have spent most of my life away from Ederra.”

  Gwen slowly moved her hand to Jerrika’s shoulder. “I’m sorry she’s the only mother you’ve had too. I will be so blessed to have you as a daughter one day soon. You are something truly special, overcoming your own mother’s hate and violence.”

  Jerrika told herself to hold back her tears. Gwen was right. Her own mother never loved her. That was nothing new, but Gwen wanted to be the kind of mother her own would never be. “Thank you.” Jerrika choked out. “Thank you so much.” She embraced Barrett’s mother.

  Barrett put his arm around Jerrika. “I can’t believe everything that’s happened. I mean, who would think that Jerrika, a high noble Soldata trainee, would fall in love with me, a common blacksmith apprentice, and that Jerrika’s adopted sister would actually be my kidnapped twin.”

  “You’re the one who brought our family back together.” Delisa looked at Jerrika. “Thank you for that.”

  “And you are now a part of our family as well.” Peyton grinned. “It doesn’t matter that you are high noble, we’ll accept you anyway.”

  Jerrika chuckled. “Thanks.” She’d never felt so loved, so accepted by any family in her life. The Quint family had always hated nobles for the pain they caused, but now she sat with them, fully accepted and loved. She couldn’t wait to be Jerrika Quint. Now she understood why Rayna wanted to be Faryn Quint once more.

  ~ Chapter 41 ~

  “Oh Sparrow.” Jonathan took her hands in his. “There is something I really need to tell you.”

  “You can tell me anything.” She gently kissed his fingers.

  “You’re going to hate me.”

  “I could never hate you.”

  “You do not know that.” His chocolate brown eyes were serious.

  She took a step back from him. What was going on? What was he about to say to her? Had her father been right all along? Was he working for the king? Was he going to break her heart?

  “I am not what you think I am.” Jonathan took a deep breath. “I am not from Waden.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I love you Sparrow.” Jonathan cupped her face in his hands. “I will always love you, but I must go home and face my family. They will not accept our love, but I promise you, I will always fight for us.” He kissed her.

  “What are you saying?” Aileen repeated. Was he noble? A soldier? High noble? A Soldat?

  “I will tell you in Derbon.” Jonathan promised. “You’ll meet me there, right?”

  “Tell me the truth.”

  “I will.” He kissed her forehead. “I promise I will.”

  Aileen blinked as she watched the fire dance and slow tears seemed to seep from her cheeks. She wiped them away, hoping her family didn’t notice. He had promised to tell her the truth one day. She just didn’t think she’d have to wait so long.

  Sage Little. He was the love of her life. Without him, her heart was broken, sore and tender. He was the other half of her whole. He was everything to her, and, more than anything, she wanted to be his wife. How strange. She’d never wanted to be the wife of a high noble. All this time she’d been so critical of Jerrika and Barrett’s relationship, terrified of her brother’s involvement with a high noble, and now, she was in the exact same place as her brother: in love with one of the Littles.

  Rayna put a hand to her sister’s shoulder. “Are you alright?”

  “Yeah.” Aileen looked into her sister’s crystal-blue eyes. “I just realized how much I love Sage. I need to tell him I forgive him and love him. He needs to know.”

  “He does.” Rayna smiled. “Perhaps not exactly, but trust me. Sage knows how much you love him.”

  “How do you know? Did Sage ever talk about me?”

  “Not directly, but he loves you so much. That is how he knows exactly how much you love him too. He feels the same.”

  Aileen embraced her sister. “Thanks.”

  “Is it odd that you want to marry the older brother of the young lady Barrett wants to marry?”

  Aileen groaned. “Yes. And it’s even stranger that the adopted sister of the man I want to marry is truly my sister, and that his father is the man who kidnapped my sister so she could become the only common Soldata. I still can’t wrap my head around Viktor.”

  “Tell me about it.” Rayna sighed. “He is always been so kind to me, much more of a father than Ederra was ever a mother. Viktor treated me better than any of his children. I always thought it was because he bought me. Then I found out he was the man who kidnapped me and brutally attacked my family. I was so torn, and at the moment I found out he was that man, I also found out the truth about why he kidnapped me. Talk about head games.”

  Aileen chuckled. “If you want to talk about head games, Sage is quite a good example as well.”

  “I do not think he ever meant to be.”

  “I know. That’s something else I’ve figured out tonight.”

  “He is going to be thrilled to get you back.”

  “Everything’s going to change soon.” Aileen gazed at the flames once more. “Everything.”

  The fire continued to spin and twirl with victory.

  Gwen held her daughter as Rayna said goodbye to them. She and Jerrika had to return home.

  “We’ll see you in Kapok.” Creedon embraced Rayna. “We need to get back as soon as possible. There’s a l
ot of planning we have to do now.”

  “The first day of Ovepo is the day.” Rayna stated. “I just want to get this over with.”

  “Agreed.” Creedon replied.

  Gwen watched as her daughter walked into the forest with Jerrika. She remembered her little girl, so curious, so adventurous, even at such a young age. Faryn would be the one who would fulfill the prophecy, her destiny greater than her common status.

  “I hate watching her walk away.” Creedon stated. “I hate that he stole her. I hate that I hated her when I first met her. I just—”

  “I know.” Gwen whispered.

  “At least you recognized our lost daughter the moment you saw her. I had no idea.”

  “You never imagined our daughter would be adopted by the man who kidnapped her, let alone be a Soldata trainee.”

  “Watching her add her blood to her Wopler, I was so proud. I was so amazed that our daughter was a Soldata. I almost forgot how much I hate Viktor in that moment. I will never forgive him.”

  “Our daughter is born of common blood, but her destiny is far from that.” Gwen grabbed her husband’s arm. “We’ve spent so much time hating nobility, especially the man who ripped our child from us. It’s time for us to let go of our hate and move forward. Rayna loves Viktor like a father.”

  “I am her father, not him.” Creedon pulled his arm free. “You may find it in your heart to forgive the man, but I refuse. He wants me to say he was right to take her, to attack us, but he will never hear those words from me.”

  “Even if there is some truth in them?”

  “Never.” Creedon turned from his wife. “We must get back to Kapok and prepare the troops.”

  “Are you going to tell the rebels about Rayna?”

  “No. The fewer people who know the truth about her the better. We cannot risk our daughter’s life if the king has more spies among us. Realizing Sage was Jonathan just made me understand that the king’s men are more cunning than I thought possible.”