Chapter 26 Ariana
ARIANA
After extinguishing Shal’s claim to the Ascension, Edda had me taken away and prepared for the ceremonial party.
I was swathed in a beautiful deep green dress with embroidered flowers and vines running the length of the skirt, along the edge of the bodice and down the sleeves.
There was something whimsical about it. Even more of the stones Edda gave me were braided into one side of my head, creating various knots before flowing into the rest of my hair.
The other side was left with soft waves that fell past my shoulders.
For a moment I was allowed to look at my reflection before being taken away for the celebration. In the mirror, I saw a woman, mature, brave, and fierce. My eyes were a reflection of my mother’s. I couldn’t help but reach out, touching the glass.
“I will never forget all that you sacrificed. I take these steps today for you,” I said to her.
A gentle knock on the door let me know it was time.
No one announced my presence when I entered the large room, but that did not stop them from noticing.
A hush spread through the space and those closest to me all turned, viewing me.
As I moved through the room, they parted to make way.
With their eyes on me, I felt the weight of responsibility for each of them. They were mine to protect and lead.
Looking over the crowd as I passed, it was easy to spot the Lysians.
Edda stood with them, likely keeping them contained.
Erik watched me. His gaze unreadable. Iver stood beside him, his teeth flashing with a bright smile when my eyes connected with his.
He nodded as a way of greeting across the sea of people between us. Kole stood scowling at Edda.
I focused my attention forward, making my way towards the dais as those who had helped me get ready instructed me to do.
I stepped up to the platform, where Edda greeted me. She managed to move incredibly fast from the Lysians’ sides to mine.
“Kneel,” she commanded, the word rolling over the crowd even though she did not raise her voice.
Without hesitation, I dropped to my knees on a small rectangular pillow.
A boy moved onto the dais, holding a bowl. His large brown eyes focused on what he held, careful not to drop the thing he carried. Once he stood beside us, he held out the bowl to Edda.
She glanced at it, giving the boy a nod of a job well done, and turned to continue addressing the room. “On this night, a new Leader Superior Ascends.” The entire room was hanging on every word. Like a crevice had opened up on the stage, and everyone was being pulled into it.
Edda stuck her thumbs into the bowl, coating them in white paint.
Her dark eyes settled on me and softened just a touch.
There was kindness in them, though I now hesitated to trust in it.
“Tonight, you will reunite with the Spirit.” Taking my face in her hands, she pressed her thumbs under my eyes.
Moving down, she painted lines underneath and over my cheeks. “May you see clearly in your journey.”
The boy provided a cloth which Edda took, wiping her hands. He then disappeared with the bowl of paint, and a girl stepped forward, taking his place, holding a golden goblet.
Accepting the goblet, Edda addressed the crowd. “May this flow through your veins, taking you from our world to the Spirit’s.” She then turned to me, holding it out.
The goblet was nearly overflowing. My stomach clenched at the sight.
“Drink the entire thing,” she instructed.
Without a second thought, I poured the concoction into my mouth. The consistency was nauseatingly thick, tasting of dirt, grass, and twigs. Despite its repulsiveness, I got it down in a few disgusting seconds.
“Good.” She took the goblet back before passing it along to the girl who then disappeared.
“In three hours, you will be taken to the temple where you will spend the night,” Edda informed me. “Until then, this ceremony is for you.” Though she only spoke to me, the entire room erupted in applause and cheers. “You may rise.” She smiled softly.
As soon as I got to my feet, silence spread once more. Hundreds of eyes viewed me, waiting to be addressed.
“On this day, I swear to you I will do everything in my power to protect you. Till my last breath, I will defend you. I will fight for you, and if need be, then I will die for you.” Murmurs went through the room.
“You all have always been a shield for your Leader Superior, but I will not hide behind it. For I, too, am a shield. I am your shield, and I will stand side by side with you as we move forward into a new day.” The room erupted into cheers once more.
It hummed with excitement. The energy was unlike anything I had felt before.
A mixture of joy and hope lifted everyone, and for at least a night, worries appeared to melt away.
Once everyone settled once more, Edda stepped forward. “For the Ascension, Ariana will need someone to stand guard while she is indisposed in the temple. This person will become her second-in-command.”
I couldn’t help but smile, for I knew who that person would be.
“I call Willis forward,” I said, and after a second, he was moving towards the front. Golden eyes found mine and softened just a touch. Once he stood before the dais, I focused on only him. “Willis, would you do me the honor of being my second?”
“The honor is all mine.” He slapped a fist across his chest, over his heart, and bowed his head.
When he looked back up there was no hiding his wide smile, nor mine.
We grinned at each other like children who had no worries in the world.
I even thought I heard the howling of wolves in the distance.
Had he shared the news with them? Were they also rejoicing?
“Well, now that that’s settled, let’s celebrate!
” Edda yelled out, and the entire room erupted in cheers once again.
Festive music played from one end of the room.
Those closest to it could not help but dance.
The sheer excitement in the air was remarkable and, in a way, sad.
Desperation tainted the happiness as if finally, they had been freed from dark oppression. But, they were still not truly free.
I made another vow, silent to all but very much real. Today the Bavadrins were liberated from the shackles of my father, a new Leader Superior born, and the next time I returned home, they would also be released from the Lysians’ command.
I stepped off the dais no sooner than someone shouted my name.
“Ariana!” a woman called out. “My, you are certainly taller than you were before.”
I spun around and met face-to-face with a ghost from my past.
Kiora. I had not seen her in many painful years.
There are some in the world whose destinies were meant to be commingled. Those friendships forged of the most powerful substance, completely unshatterable. The souls recognize one another, finding a forever home in each other’s presence. A bond so powerful that it withstands the test of time.
Kiora and I had now spent more time apart than we ever had together, yet it did not matter.
She was the same as she had been. Her eyes were bright and hazel.
Her skin kissed by the sun, and her hair bleached by the same sun from brown to a dirty blond color.
She greeted me with a warm and welcoming smile.
Tears lined my eyes.
“Kiora,” I whispered her name and instantly threw my arms around her. She hugged me back, and the two of us laughed like we were giddy children.
“I’m tall?” I exclaimed as we released one another. “Have you looked in a mirror?”
Her own eyes were lined with unshed tears.
She laughed, hugging me once more, as if unable to believe that we were here sharing the moment together.
That we were finally physically in the same room again.
“It has been ages. Yet it feels like I have known you this entire time. That nearly no time has gone by.”
“I cannot agree more.” I beamed. “How is this possible?”
“Well,” she casually glanced around the room, “some of the farmers came by and let us know you were Ascending, and that is definitely something I would not miss.” She grinned.
“I would have loved to join you when that scoundrel challenged you, but figured my presence may have been more distracting than helpful. Besides, Willis and Landin had everything under control.”
I smiled, probably wide enough to look like a lunatic. “I can’t believe this is real life.”
“You? I return to you becoming the new Leader Superior! You were just a kid when I last saw you.” Her smile was contagious. She was so full of energy that it spilled over.
I laughed. “You know what I mean. You are here, finally.”
“I am,” she said with certainty and hugged me once again. “Your guests are coming to greet us,” she whispered before releasing me.
I turned to find Erik, Kole, and Iver closing in.
My eyes locked with Erik’s sapphire ones, and my face warmed before I tore my attention away from him.
“Kiora, let me introduce you. This is Kole.” I contemplated calling him my friend, but that seemed forced, and my guard did not sound any better, so I settled for just a name. “and Iver, brother to the King. And this is Erik, King of the Lysians.”
“King?” Kiora exclaimed. “Ariana, you never told me that you ran with such an impressive crowd.” Though she smiled at them, her hazel eyes gained an edge.
I mumbled out a laugh, hoping she would be able to contain her distaste for them.
When we were young, Kiora was always honest, to the point of wearing her emotions on her sleeve.
Not that she was overly emotional, but if she did not like someone, she had no qualms about letting them know.
And if she was ever angry, Spirit help whoever that was, for the stubborn girl could hold a grudge like no other.
“Everyone,” I addressed the Lysians. “This is Kiora. She is one of my oldest friends.”