Free Web NovelChapter 1: Chapter 1
The road to Epirus was rockier than Astrid remembered. She had gotten the letter from her parents and rode with her sisters as fast as she could. It had been a long time since she was home. A little girl who’d been so peculiar that her parents knew she was meant for a more different life than the palace had to offer.
The order had taken her in when she was 12, teaching her their ways, grooming her in strength. Those earlier years had been the toughest; fighting her sisters, trying to prove that she was worth so much. Astrid smiled at the memory.
Today, however, she was on her way to see her family. They had sent her a letter; her presence was needed urgently. After all the years of silence, this was startling news.
They’d soon reached the gates of the city, and she pulled her horse to a stop abruptly.
"Is something the matter?" Selene asked as she pulled to a stop behind her with the other girls.
There was a glint in her eyes as she devoured the sight in front of her. Her home. She had missed it more than she had Selene. "No, Selene," she replied, softly shaking her head, "it’s just been so long."
Selene smiled softly, "i understand, sister."
"You can reminisce more inside the city... Don’t you think so, Astrid?" Iris chimed, a slight grin on her face.
Astrid chuckled. They all knew. They knew how much she missed the city, her home, her family. They were with her when she cried every night because she got no letters. Nothing to prove that her family thought of her. But she’d gotten over it somehow. Buried her distress deep inside her heart and created a new family with her sisters.
When she had received the letter, they had all offered to come along. It wasn’t an offer, really; they insisted that she take them with her.
Now, in front of a city, with all 10 of her closest sisters, she would be confronting a part of her life she’d thought was behind her.
"Come on," she said, riding into the city.
People stopped to stare at them as they rode through the city. The streets bustled with life; people chattering loudly as they walked, a few others haggling with a merchant. The city hadn’t changed.
They reached the palace after a few turns and were greeted by the sight of Astrid’s mother pacing up and down the entrance. When she saw them, she stood rooted to a spot, and her eyes glistened with tears.
"Astrid, my dear," her mother called, "is that you?".
She climbed down from her horse as soon as she reached the gates, going into her mother’s arms, which were already spread open for her.
"Mother," Astrid said softly.
"By the gods," she gasped, "my baby isn’t so little any longer." Her voice hitched as the tears poured down her face.
Astrid looked up, trying to stop her own tears from coming. Why hadn’t she come to see her? Why hadn’t they written any letters? If her mother’s emotions were truly what they seemed, why did they abandon her? So many questions raced through her mind in that moment.
"It’s alright, mother," she said, almost mechanically, sounding more aloof than she’d intended. "Wipe your tears. I need to find out why you and Father called for me so urgently."
"Of course, of course. Let us go in," she said, pushing gently away from her as she tried to still her emotions.
"Come," Astrid beckoned for her sisters to follow.
They went into the great hall. Nothing had changed; it was just as Astrid remembered. The white curtains that blew with the wind, the Klines on opposite sides of the rooms, the intricate drawings on the wall, and her father’s chair. It was all the same.
Her father wasted no time coming out to greet them.
"My beloved," he said softly to Astrid as he took her face in his hands and kissed her on both cheeks. "You’ve grown so big. Your sister will hardly believe her eyes when she sees you."
Her memory of Hera was fuzzy. She’d almost forgotten she’d had a sibling. She was four when she left to join the order. She could remember her curly brown hair, her olive brown skin, and her smile whenever she did something naughty.
"Hera," she muttered.
Hera must have felt her name being called because she appeared in the great hall almost instantly.
"Astrid," she said, almost like a question.
"Hera," Astrid replied softly, "you’ve been well?"
"By the gods," Hera squealed, rushing to her, "i never thought I’d see you again. Father said you’d never come back."
"Did he now?" She asked, her tone dry as she shot her father a glance.
"Yes. But I felt it in my heart that you’d find your way back home. I’ve missed you greatly." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
"That is enough, Hera," their father scolded. "We must speak to your sister immediately."
Hera twisted her lips in a pout, but she let her go and went to stand beside their mother.
He turned and sauntered off to his chair, looking at them expectantly as he sat.
Astrid did not like the seriousness of whatever it was her father had to tell her. She could feel her insides twist in a knot as she sat down.
"Hera is to be married off... to the crown prince of the Aurelian empire," he announced abruptly. "She will need you to be by her side for a while, to navigate life at court. And when she is strong enough, you must come back to us."
The air hung with a deafening silence. Hera sat stiffly, her head hung low.
"Did she agree to this?" Astrid asked, looking from her sister to her father, "Does she want this man she is to be married to?" freewebnσvel.cøm
"It is not for her to choose who she marries," her father retorted pointedly, "her life as a princess already signifies that the well-being of our kingdom will come before her wants and needs."
"Well-being of the kingdom?" Astrid scoffed.
"Yes, my dear," her father said, ignoring the bile dripping from her voice, "they have agreed not to invade the city, on the condition that we offer Hera to them. My hands are tied on the matter."
"Look at her father," Astrid spat, "does she look like someone who would last in that godforsaken empire? They would eat her alive. "
"Which is why I need you to be there to protect her."
"The gods help us."
"That is not all," her father said wearily. "This will not be the end of their demands or the th threat they possess to us, which is why.... I have chosen you as heir."
