4. Chapter Four
Chapter four
Our descent of the steep, winding hill leading to the Triv passes quickly and, before long, the packed dirt road opens into the town square, in the heart of the urban sprawl, where the majority of our realm's people live and work. The ones who weren't noble-born so aren't blessed with magic.
Despite taking less than an hour to get here, it feels like a different world.
One that, like most city dwellers, I never visited until three years ago, when accompanying Bri on a foraging day.
We had to stop when one of the horses developed a limp and witnessed how different living conditions are down here, sparking the idea for Giving Day.
Leaving the wagon to be unloaded by the Endurers, I nod to the royal guard standing at the entrance to a stained canopy. Four other guards are stationed around the area, increased from the two I'm usually accompanied by when I'm here, no doubt due to the Queen attending today's event.
I duck through the side door of the tavern at one corner of the square and lug my bags into their storeroom.
For a small fee, they allow us to use their folding tables and facilities for the day.
I hurry to change back into the tunic and leggings I shoved in my satchel earlier.
The idea of handing out baskets of essential supplies to people in need while wearing a dress so ostentatious makes me cringe even more than the rush of icy air enveloping me as I swap clothes.
Appropriately outfitted but cold, I head over to check on the three long benches groaning under the weight of the huge steaming dishes and platters of food being set over red hot rocks to slowly finish cooking under the watchful supervision of one of the castle's cooks.
The sight of it and knowing what it will mean to people who come for support today fills my chest with warmth.
I can't imagine how many would be lost to the cruelty of winter, with no magic and no ability to grow any food on the depleted lands outside the city. But our royals make sure none of their people go hungry, no matter where they live.
These colder months mean the need for assistance is even greater, and I refuse to turn anyone away unfed or empty-handed if I can help it.
Some travel for over a week, all the way from the foothills of the Impenetrable Mountains, for a hot meal and the supplies to keep them going when their stores get scarce.
Staff from the castle kitchens have likely been here for hours already. Between dishing out and restocking the food tables and helping with the ration baskets, I need all the help I can get to feed as many people as possible. Even though I hate asking, it's worth it for this.
I'm lost to the repetitive work of grouping tinctures and tonics when a familiar voice calls out.
"Your humble assistants have arrived, you can stop ruining that lovely face with worry lines now.
" I look up with a smile to see Felix sliding from the back of Willa's glossy brown mare, longlast mug in hand.
"Surely, nobody has ever accused you of being humble.
" I tease as they approach. With the same sky-blue eyes and striking fiery red gold hair, it's impossible to miss the Adiston twins.
But where she's the picture of muscled, athletic grace, with her tailored leathers and long braid streaked with glittering silver, the perfect match to the mane and tail of her Amplifier horse, her quick-witted genius of a brother is all lean lines, broad shoulders, and a permanent mischievous grin.
Felix hands me the sealed cup, pretending to scowl. "You wound me, Aly. Not sure you deserve this after such cruelty. But I'm too generous to withhold it, only because I know you barely function until you've had a dose or two."
"You're not wrong," I say with a grin, sliding open the small panel at the top and relishing the rich scent of coffee rising in a puff of steam before I take a sip. Despite being used to not eating until lunch, I'm a little lightheaded, so I probably should've tried for today.
If my sister Drea was here, she'd launch into one of her lectures about fueling my body and magic properly. As an Endurer, her innate knowledge of nutrition can be a blessing and a curse. "Thanks for this, and for coming to help. This morning's been crazy. I'm running behind with everything."
"So put us to work," Willa says, gently bumping my arm with her shoulder in greeting as she steps into a patch of watery sunlight, making her warm brown skin glow under the midnight blue leathers that mark her as a Shield of Zelindyr, the most elite and exclusive of the four branches of magic.
"You look pale, though. Maybe you should eat something first."
I bite back my retort, knowing she means well. Of course she noticed. She’s always taken it upon herself to look out for me, despite only being a year older.
"Too much to do. I will later," I promise.
"The kitchen staff have the food under control.
We just need to get these supplies packed up.
Do you want to do the heavy lifting, since you're so graciously sacrificing your workout time today?
" I joke, indicating the rows of baskets already half-filled with grains, nuts, and a small bag of salt from Orztralis.
"Felix, you're on fresh fruit and veggies from the crates.
" He salutes playfully, shrugging off his cloak before falling into an easy rhythm, taking baskets from his sister as she finishes and filling them with the beautiful, freshly harvested produce.
Hortica and the Remedies have outdone themselves again.
"If you bring them over once you're done, I'll add the tinctures and nutrient supplement," I finish, untying the complicated knots on the bag Hortica gave me. The solid-packed squares of dark green powder inside are our kingdom's biggest export.
Created by my great grandmother, Gigi, centuries ago, the supplement boosts energy and immunity. If needed, it can also replace proper meals and sustain a person for up to a week, as long as they have fresh water.
As a four-star Adaptor, Gigi was responsible for some of our realm's greatest inventions. When Felix chose the same branch of magic during his Ritual, she became his hero overnight.
He's always tinkering away in the Adaptor workshops or taking something and manipulating it into something entirely different.
Last week, during lunch, he turned my fork into a bracelet on a whim to make me laugh.
His latest and far more practical invention is rendering oil lanterns obsolete.
Portable cylinders of imbued light, powered by replaceable crystal discs. The man's a genius.
The familiar pungent smell of clipped grass and aniseed wafts from the bag of supplement as I unpack the supply I've been allocated for today.
I hope it tastes better than it smells. Not that people would care when they have no access to fresh produce, so meat, milk, eggs, and their byproducts are the only food sources available.
I don't need to be an Endurer to know that's not a balanced way to eat, especially when their quantities are limited.
Before we started Giving Day, the supplement was the only thing people received to help them through the leaner months.
Nothing edible will grow in the depleted soil beyond the capital cities, not even herbs or most medicinal plants that need to be ingested.
Hundreds of people were lost every winter from starvation or malnutrition before the supplement was invented. Despite numerous attempts, not even the most expert magic wielders have been able to figure out how to replenish the land.
"Have you ever tasted this stuff?" I ask Willa the next time she brings me a load of full baskets. As a Shield, she has ranger permissions and is the only one of us who regularly leaves the castle grounds, going off on training camps, guard patrols, and missions, often for days or weeks on end.
The supplement is strictly forbidden to all city-dwellers, since it would be wasted on us when we have such an abundance of food.
The people living in the Triv and beyond need it to survive.
I've seen drunken idiots ignore other, more sacred rules, especially the untouchable Shields, so it wouldn't surprise me if this one got broken too.
"Never even considered it. Some of the guys dare each other to, when we're out on patrol and the boredom sets in, but the Commanders would flay them alive if they did and got caught.
" She rolls her shoulders and neck after pushing herself to carry too much at once instead of making two trips from her table to mine.
"We try to take what we need with us or rely on the taverns to resupply if we're near the road. "
I'm fascinated by Willa's stories of being out in the wilderness beyond Raviaz.
I've seen maps and read about what it was like before Atafye split off from the mainland, but like most nobles, other than going to the Grotto for my Ritual and the occasional day trip with Bri, I've never had any reason to venture out of the city.
Part of me would like to experience it, the other, more sensible part knows I am not made for sleeping on the ground.
"You should've come for drinks last night, Aly. You know the night before opening feast is always the best," Willa insists, bringing me another stacked tray of full baskets.
"By the best, you mean the messiest?" I laugh.
"Definitely messy, and the most fun." Felix agrees with a grin, running a hand through his short, permanently ruffled hair. "You're sticking around with us tonight, though, right?" The hope in his voice is hard to miss.
They're always trying to get me to drink with them when Willa's home, an incessant campaign to enjoy what's left of the decade of freedom we get while our magic settles, before our focus is supposed to switch to marriage and continuing bloodlines.
Not that these two have ever cared about rules and social conventions. It's one of the things I love about them. No bullshit hierarchies, no cliques. They either like you or they don't, status be damned.
"Depends how tired I am after today," I reply with a shrug.
He scowls, unimpressed by my lack of enthusiasm, or maybe it's the huge crate of oats and wheat flour he just hefted up onto the table.
"Oh, come on. You have to stay. I can't take another night of listening to drunk Kentiz mouthing off about–" He chokes off when his sister thumps his arm on her way past.
I narrow my eyes at her. "What exactly was he saying?"
"Who cares? The guy's a creep," she replies, flicking her long braid over her shoulder. "We'll keep him away from you tonight. And he won't be able to lie about you if you're there to shut him up."
I sigh, knowing she won't tell me whatever it was, for my own good. Clearing a space for the next lot of baskets, I survey our progress. Over two thirds of them are filled and ready to be handed out.
"Not sure I can face the hangover. Can't imagine doing all of this while nauseous." I wave my hand at the hive of activity around us now that we're in our final hour of preparation time.
"And I have a week full of planning meetings for the Trials. They're already excruciating enough without adding a sore head into the mix." I've been helping organize the closing event for the last six months, so skipping the last few sessions is out of the question.
"Ah, you do know you're a Remedy and can just whip up a tonic to make it go away, right?" Felix jokes.
Willa jumps in before I can. "Not our Aly. You know she thinks it's wasteful, using her magic on herself." She gives me a pointed look. "Seriously, though, you have to stay after all the responsible people go to bed. Maybe you'll even find someone to have a bit of fun with."
Felix coughs as I laugh at her suggestive tone. "Yeah, except I am one of those boring, responsible people, Wils. You know how crazy this week is, when I'm heading to the Grotto the day after the Renewal wraps up.”
She groans dramatically before shooting me a look of pure mischief. "Fine, I'll make you a deal. You promise to stay for a while, and I'll tell you where I woke up this morning."
I can't keep the smile off my face. "Ok, ok, I'll stay. But this better be good."
"Oh, it is. Looks like you'll have to wait to find out who I was with, though." She tilts her head toward the road, where Queen Saraina is being helped down the steps of the royal carriage by her two personal guards.
Her glossy black hair shines in the sun, topped with a delicate golden crown.
Wiping my hands, I hurry through the overflowing tables to greet her, dropping into a low curtsey and trying not to feel self-conscious about my choice of clothes in her presence, embarrassingly shabby in comparison to her long, elegant cashmere dress.
The pale green beautifully contrasts with her dark skin and white wool scarf.
"Lady Alyxia. How is it all going? Are you ready to make a start?" She has to raise her normally soft voice to be heard, and it's then I notice noise levels have significantly increased in the time we've been working.
Loads of people have filed into the square, warming the air and making it feel like an outdoor party, with excited, chattering children and the sounds of guitars being tuned and strummed.
This is why I love this day so much. No matter how hungry people are or how far they've travelled to be here, there's always a sense of joy and connection when they all come together in community like this.
As soon as the Queen opens the event with her speech, we'll serve the hot meal, and there won't be a spare place to sit on the bright woven blankets covering the grassy section of the square.
Then, we'll be handing out baskets as fast as we can, and the attendees will eventually drift off to the Triv's many pubs and taverns or make a start on their long journeys home.
With a bright smile, I dip my head to the Queen. "Yes, thank you, Your Majesty. We're ready."