“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 oneanother, 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’mtall?” 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. “Yourguestsare 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, andmy guarddid 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.”
Kiora made eye contact with Erik and dipped her head ever so slightly to show respect in the greeting.
“If you both know one another so well, why are you two so weepy?” Iver asked.
Kiora assessed him, running her gaze down the length of him before snapping back to his face. “We are not weepy. But we have not seen each other in a very long time. My family moved out of the city when I was young, and I have not returned until now.” She left out the part where her family was forced out of the city, for my father believed that the Sparrow Archers were no longer necessary. The truth was, he was jealous. They had always been in a way worshiped, and that was the real reason he sent them away,because he couldn’t bear the Bavadrin people worshiping anyone except him.
Kiora reached out, taking my hands in hers. “We have all returned here for you. I have returned for you. And my tailoring is better than ever. I can send a needle soaring, never a stitch out of place.” There was a wicked gleam in her eyes.
