To Kill a Wizard: Rose's Story (The Protectors of Tarak Book 1) (3 page)

Sirena either ignored the anger in his voice, or was too excited to notice. “Yes, and how old is Yara? She should be thirteen soon, right?”

“No, of course not!” Gager looked furious for one shocking second, before his arms dropped to his sides. An expression of defeat marred his strong features, and I longed to ask him why.

No, perhaps I already knew.

The last Choosing had been fifteen years ago, when I’d been only three years old. I remembered nothing of that day, or anything of the year I’d lost my mother. Not even a distant memory of a sound or scent. But what I did know, another Choosing hadn’t happened since.

Year after year girls had waited, hoping in vain, for The Protectors to return. Many nineteenth birthdays had been met with tears, as girls mourned the loss of such a potential life of wealth and power. But most fathers, and even a few mothers, met such tears with barely concealed delight. They could rest easy, knowing their daughters would never be taken from them.

Such selfish parents.

I tilted my head, wishing I could read Gager’s thoughts. His love for his daughter had been something I’d envied. Could he be so selfish as to hope his daughter never had a chance at such a life?

The pace of the drums suddenly increased, breaking through my thoughts.

“We best get to the village square. Sirena wants to dance with all the boys before the ceremony.”

He nodded, suddenly looking very old.

I started to turn away, but he caught me in an unexpected hug.

“Run.” He whispered the word, his breath heavy and hot in my ear. “Now. Just run. They might never find you.”

I tried to pull away, but he held me tighter.

“Your father already lost your mother. Don’t make him endure losing you… not to them. Not again.”

I jerked my head back. “Wait, was my mother—“

“Shush.”

I followed his gaze to the tavern across the street. One of the Queen’s Men, in his obnoxious shimmering blue and lavender uniform, watched us.

“But why should they care if—?”

His mouth moved to my ear again. “We’re forbidden from talking about her, on penalty of death. And they hear all.” His words held me enthralled. “I risk a lot in warning you.” Another pause. “I’m only surprised your father didn’t…”

He released me. “May the goddesses be with you.”

Sirena frowned, stepping in front of me, “and you.” Then, in an unexpected display of protectiveness, she took my hand and led me away. All the while, regarding Gager with open suspicion.

My thoughts swirled. What could have caused him to say such a thing to me? My mother couldn’t have been Chosen by The Protectors. If she had been, people would simply say so. Not avoid the topic as if…

I felt as if cold water stung my face. Maybe people never spoke of her because they were forbidden from doing so. Maybe even my father.

Without wanting to, I looked back. Gager’s young daughter Yara stood in the doorway of the blacksmith shop, watching him approach. Pride filled her gaze. When he reached her, he rubbed the top of her head.

My chest ached in a familiar empty spot.

That couldn’t be the reason for the wide bridge between my father and myself. Words weren’t the only way a father showed his love. Whatever reason Gager had for his warning, I needed to ignore it. His false belief that my father would miss me was not enough to give up on my dream.

“You all right?” Sirena asked.

I turned to find her watching me, a hint of anger crinkling the edges of her eyes.

Any other day, I’d tell her how it hurt. To be without a mother. And to have an unexplainable distance between my father and myself, but not today. Not on the day we’d waited all our lives for.

“Yes. I’m fine.”

One brow rose in doubt.

“Let’s just keep going.” My mind searched for something to distract her. The drumming that had become background noise drew my attention. “You did want to enjoy the music and dancing before The Protectors come, right?”

Excitement bloomed in her eyes. “All right, but first…”

Without warning, she was brushing back my hair, running her careful hands through the unruly strands. I took a deep breath. She was braiding my hair, in one of her clever ways that left me looking like a wealthy merchant’s daughter. And at the same time, her gentle fingers were washing away some of my tension.

“There.” She turned me around and smiled. “You have such lovely eyes, but no one notices how green they are, or the little specks of gold, with your hair always in your face.”

I didn’t tell her how much I tried to hide my green eyes, because she wouldn’t understand. To me, all they did was mark me as different from the village of blonde haired, blue or brown eyed people. To her, hiding them went against everything her mother had taught her, on how to emphasis a person’s loveliest features. In Sirena’s opinion, drawing attention to my eyes took away from my manly height and strength.

Locking eyes with Sirena, I tried to force cheer into my voice. “Thanks.”

Her smile widened. “Now we’re ready.”

We hurried toward the town square. Peering with curious eyes, we slowed our steps as we passed the town hall. The older women gathered there, decorating and cooking for the celebration. But we didn’t pause until we reached the edge of the busy town square, where the drummers beat an excited rhythm.

“I don’t want to forget a single moment of tonight,” Sirena whispered, taking my hand.

I stared down at our entwined fingers. She was like a sister to me. We could face anything as long as we were together. But tonight we might be separated forever.

“You go ahead. I just need a minute to get my thoughts together.” I tugged my hand free of hers.

She frowned in disapproval. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

To my astonishment, she hugged me. “Don’t look at me like that,” she whispered, squeezing me harder. “We’ll be together forever. No matter what.”

She released me, giving a reassuring smile, before darting into the brightly lit village square. The sea of short, blonde-haired people in festive colors separated to accept her. Before she’d reached the platform in the center, the crowd had swallowed her. I caught flashes of her dazzling yellow dress amongst the people, dancing without reserve to the drummers’ rhythm.

A few people spotted me, shouting their
good lucks
and complimenting my dress and hair. To my complete surprise.

On the outskirts of the young people were the more somber adults. Their hair and clothes spoke of a great celebration, but their silence said otherwise.

This was my first Choosing, but the tension in the adults felt out of place. It was a celebration after all. Right?

“Rose!” Clint stopped a short distance from me. His blond hair had been slicked back, concealing his normally untamable mane of hair. “Hefter wants to talk with you.” He pointed.

Turning, I stared at the five drummers, forming a slightly uneven line not far from us. Hefter was among them, beating slow rhythmic sounds into his drum. His face appeared serious beneath the flickering torch light as he gazed at me.

“He’s pretty nervous about tonight.” Clint gave an apologetic shrug, and left, weaving back into the crowd of dancers.

I walked slowly towards Hefter, trying to keep my nerves hidden behind a calm expression. Did he even know about his father’s plans? Hopefully not. Hefter was many things, but I doubted he was a man who’d willingly force me into marriage.

His gaze followed my path. “You look beautiful.”

The compliment made me cringe. “Thank you.” I stared at his hands as they pounded on the drums. “You’re a drummer?”

“Yes. They told us yesterday, but I wanted to keep it a surprise,” he answered proudly. “We five were the only ones picked. It’s a great honor, especially considering how long it’s been since the last Choosing.”

“A great honor,” I repeated, not sure what else to say.

“I know everyone is pretty excited about today, but in truth, I haven’t looked forward to it.”

I tore my gaze from his hands to his dull brown eyes, as they stared meaningfully into mine. What could I say? If I was honest about how badly I wanted to be selected tonight, and wasn’t, life could become very difficult for me and my father. I wondered, as I had many times before, if Hefter had the same cruel streak as his father.

“I’m looking forward to the feast too,” I said, forcing a small smile.

Relief flooded his face, and he missed a beat on his drum. “I’m glad. I mean. I thought you’d turn nineteen, and then, we’d know you wouldn’t be picked. I didn’t want it to be like our moms. Getting married. Having us, and then being Chosen. I didn’t want my kids to lose their mother.”

My jaw dropped ever so slightly. His words were surprisingly… sweet and sincere.

“Rose.” The serious way he spoke my name had my guard up once more. “I had an interesting conversation with my father…”

“Oh?”

His eyes narrowed. “You should’ve told me you were behind on your taxes.”

“My
father’s
taxes—”

“Regardless,” he interrupted. “The queen is taking such acts very seriously.” He paused, uncertainty flickering across his face. “You know Wilson?”

Of course. I knew everyone in this town, including Wilson, one of my father’s drinking buddies who made my skin crawl every time he looked at me. “What about him?”

“He was behind in his taxes…”

“And The Queen’s Men beat him.”

I remembered the day. The memory was unforgettable. Never in my life had I seen someone beaten into an unrecognizable shape, swollen, bruised, and bleeding. We’d all been sure he’d die.

“Well,” Hefter squared his shoulders. “They’re going to hang him.”

My throat closed. “Hang him,” I repeated, wheezing out the words.

He nodded. “Paying taxes is every subject’s duty to their queen.”

It took me a second to understand his words. “You think he deserves to die? Over taxes?”

“Of course.”

The heartlessness of his words erased any doubt I had about the influence of his parentage. Anger tinged my words, “every year, taxes increase. What are they even being used for? People are nearly starving to death just to pay them! How is that fair?”

His eyes were steel. “The queen has to fund the war with The Northerners. And there are other problems—”

“The centaurs say our lands are cursed. Wood Elves won’t speak to us anymore.” I took a deep breath. “We didn’t have these problems when King Zander ruled.”

He stopped drumming and leaned towards me. “What do you even know about that?”

“What? You think because the queen murdered the whole royal family and usurped the throne
before
I was born, I wouldn’t know about the most peaceful time in Tarak’s history?”

His expression darkened, danger looming in his eyes. “What you speak of is treason. Don’t test me, Rose. I may love you, but even I can’t tolerate such talk.”

We stood in silence, unspoken anger crashing between us.

“Sometimes I wish I’d never seen you,” he said, glancing over my head at the dancers. “You’re impossibly beautiful. Like a siren. Or a goddess.” His gaze swept to my face. “Your eyes steal my breath every time I look at them. I’ve never seen that shade before. Blue, green, pale brown, and gold blending together in such perfection.”

His unexpected compliments did nothing to cool my anger. “Is that why you want to marry me?”

“Well,” his brows drew together. “Of course.” He tilted his head, eying me in disbelief. “It certainly isn’t for your ridiculous beliefs. Those will require a lot of work to un-teach.”

“And what if I don’t want to be
untaught
? What if I don’t want to marry you at all?”

He leaned uncomfortably close to me. “It sounds like with your debt, you really don’t have a choice.”

I reared back, glaring at him. “I’d rather die.”

Turning, I started to storm away, but his words stopped me. “Don’t be a fool, Rose. Poor, uninteresting farm girls aren’t selected to be Protectors.” Humor filled his voice. “Tomorrow you’ll come back to me, begging me for forgiveness, and the goddesses know I’ll forgive you. Father always said women were ruled by their emotions, after all.”

My throat closed. Anger built beneath my flesh, blazing my skin. If I spoke now, I had no idea what wretched things would come spilling out.

So I walked away.

Sirena appeared in front of me, fear flickering across her expression. “Are you all right?”

I nodded.

She didn’t look convinced. “Well, the other girls are lining up.”

Following Sirena, I walked up the few stairs of the platform without noticing much, but paused when I reached the top. There were seven girls waiting, dressed in their best clothing. Shifting and giggling, their expressions were an expected mix of nervous and overjoyed.

My necklace warmed again at my throat, surprising me and distracting me from my anger. Frowning, I turned to scan the crowd. What danger was I missing?