Date: Yithi 4th through the 5th, 1590 - Before The Long Stillness
“Kathera! Come out so we can spar!” yelled Myron as he pounded on my door. Each slam made my head ache.
I didn’t get up from my bed; leaving the safety of my covers felt impossible. “Go away!” I hollered towards the door.
A soft knock sounded, followed by Roselynn’s voice, “Being Empress won’t be that bad; you get to decide everything! If you come out, we can start planning!”
I ignored her and stared at my ceiling, wishing the day would just pass, wishing that I could go back to before yesterday.
As the sun fell, I moved from my bed onto the balcony. The cold ground anchored me as I watched the sun paint the sky orange and red. The moon rose high, coating the sky in silver. The spring air flowed around me on the balcony, crisp and clean.
How could they keep this from me? Why would they tell me now? I knew I was supposed to be a warrior.
But Empress? To care for the entire Empire?
I stared out at the towering, glowing trees that helped hide the palace. They varied in color from dark green to bright orange. With the night sky, it looked like the trees were lighting a way right to Arinthe. Right to Linur. Right to the throne that awaited me.
As I tried to focus on something, anything else, the image of that throne in Linur returned. I shook my head as I looked up at the sky.
Why did the Fates hand me such a destiny?
The marble floor was cold as I walked back inside. I crawled back into bed, threw the covers over my head, and wished time would turn back.
The morning sun pushed through my windows, and I tried to cuddle deeper into my covers to avoid the light.
A rustle sounded by my door as someone slipped a paper under it.
I got up and grabbed the paper, finding a drawing from Myron.
Four stick figures rested in the middle of the page. The one on the far right had a rough drawing of a sword at its hip, with an arrow pointing to it: Me! - Your feerles gard.
The one next to him had wild, curly red hair with a crown on its head that was bigger than its entire body. An arrow pointed to her: You! - The grateseness Empriss evr!
Beside her was a stick figure holding what I could only imagine was a compass: Roselynn! - Your ruffless traker
Finally, next to Roselynn stood a figure covered almost entirely in a giant purple triangle: Amiranthia! - Your faifful Capitin of the gard.
As sweet as it was that he drew this, it felt like just another reminder of the life that was already decided for me.
I let sleep take me most of the day. Hiding under my covers like they could protect me from destiny.
By mid-afternoon, I stood, grabbed my wooden training sword, and settled into my stance.
As I stood in my room, I focused on my breathing, looked at the tip of the wooden sword, and pointed it toward a bookshelf.
I bit my lip, slipped out of my stance, and sat on the ground with the wooden sword in my lap.
Swordplay has always been easy for me, almost like breathing. I loved sparring with my Pa, but the sword now was just a reminder. A reminder that all my training would lead me to rule an Empire.
To a crown I didn’t want.
I flopped back to the ground, closed my eyes, and focused on my breathing.
Ma always says that when you feel lost or uncertain, you should ask the world what you should do.
I focused on breathing in and out and asking the world what I should do.
Slowly, my world faded into a dream.
I stood before a large waterfall, surrounded by tall trees. I peered over the edge and couldn’t see the bottom.
“Young Empress,” a woman’s voice said.
I jumped back and stared at the woman.
She sparkled like starlight. Her hair was bright white; she glowed.
She could have been a star herself.
“I am not Empress,” I told her. “Who are you?”
“Yet,” She leaned in, smiling. “Kathera, I am the Goddess Ilina. Your fate is designed because of who you are.”
“Why?” I asked, my voice cracking. “I don’t want this.”
“My dear child,” she said, kneeling to my eye level. “This is bigger than you. I know that is hard to see right now. But one day you will understand that what will be asked of you will save Celentra.”
I shook my head. “I don’t understand.”
“Look for the girl with the bandaged hands,” Ilina said slowly as she walked away. “She will help you save Celentra. She will help you understand.”
I woke up with a jolt. My head felt fuzzy as I looked around my room, trying to make sense of what happened.
A knock came to the door again. I sniffled, then got up and opened it.
Outside the door was my Ma.
“Can I come in?” she asked, standing in the corridor with a small plate of food in her hands.
I nodded and walked back to my bed, leaving the door open.
She came in and sat next to me on the bed, setting the food on my bedside table.
“Kathera, I know this is a really big destiny to face.”
I nodded, not able to look at her. “You don’t understand, Ma,” I said, wiping my nose with the back of my hand.
She chuckled and pushed my hair back.
“My dear, I do understand.” I looked up at her, and she met my gaze with a quiet sadness in her eyes. “I haven’t told you, but I have been through something similar. Through having your life change because destiny demands it.”
“How did you get through it?” I asked her.
“I found your father; I found friendship and safety,” she said simply, pulling me into her arms.
I began to cry again as she sang.
“Child born of starlight,
Dancing under moonlight,
Unable to be tamed,
Child born of starlight,
The threads of Fate are weaving,
Weaving the story of your life,
May your heart lead your choices,
May courage be your foundation,
Child born of starlight,
Dancing under moonlight,
May your thread always grow.”
As she finished her song, she wiped my tears. “I think it’s time you find a friend to walk through this with you.”
I nodded. “You’re right.”