Page 25 of Immortal Origins (Chronicles of the Immortal Trials #1)

A mbrose considered herself lucky when she made it to the last day of the Harvest Festival without seeing Casimir.

The palace had become like a graveyard as servants and nobles filed about in ghostly silence.

Even the week’s festivities couldn’t fully bring the warmth back, but tonight, Ambrose was determined to enjoy herself.

She wouldn’t let anyone ruin the Harvest Festival.

Her magick lessons were quiet. They only spoke about the fallen mages once when they had a small memorial for them at one of their last lessons.

Death was usually sacred—especially when a mage died—but Casimir had their bodies discarded like they were nothing.

Without a proper burial ceremony. So, they’d taken it upon themselves to give them a small send-off and then knew they could never speak of it again.

“You always look so deep in thought, you really should lighten up.” Lily tapped Ambrose on the back as they headed towards the palace entrance.

For a moment, the walls around them disappeared and she was transported to the woods outside the city walls where she’d said something not so different to Adym what seemed like a lifetime ago.

He’d be so proud to see how serious she’d grown, now that she was a Trial Champion.

She hoped she could find him at the festivities.

If she could find him and finally talk to him, maybe she could convince him to leave with her.

They could grab Ernaline and make their escape while everyone was distracted.

She would never forgive herself if she didn’t try.

“See? Where’d you go?” Lily studied Ambrose with a look of concern. “Are you okay? ”

“Sorry.” Ambrose gave her a reassuring smile.

“I just can’t get the festival out of my mind.

This year has been so different.” Not the truth.

Not a lie. She still wasn’t sure how much she could trust Lily, though she had come to deeply admire and respect her.

It was an unexpected friendship that turned out to be one she didn’t know she desperately needed.

She wanted to enjoy the last day of the festival the same way everyone else did—by throwing all her worries away for one night.

She was going to enjoy it as a free citizen as it likely was her last one ever.

She pushed the world’s impending doom from her mind and tried to focus on having fun with her friend.

“It has been. It’s pretty weird with Casimir always around.

It’s as though the entire palace is frozen in this weird state of fear.

Even the upper nobles are affected, I’ve never seen anything like it.

” Lily tossed her red-brown hair over her shoulder and gave Ambrose a nod.

“That doesn’t matter though. Tonight is the biggest celebration of the year and the only time the powers-that-be take the sticks out of their asses and let everything loose.

I don’t care if he freezes the entire festival, we’re not missing it.

” She pumped a fist in the air and linked her other arm with Ambrose’s.

Lily brought an encouraging amount of energy to each day.

“You’re right. I’m actually glad to be getting out of the palace today. I haven’t been to the market in ages.” Ambrose realized her mistake too late.

“The market?” Lily implored, “When was a palace servant ever in the market?”

Ambrose turned away and hoped she wouldn’t see the growing redness on her face. “In paintings of course, there are depictions all over the palace and I’ve always wanted to go in person.”

Lily looked at her as though she didn’t believe her but wasn’t upset at her for lying.

“You don’t have to do that. Not when you’re with me.

I know it doesn’t always feel like it, but you’re safe.

I promise.” She squeezed her arm in reassurance.

“I know this world can make it hard to trust, but I’m here for you.

At least, I want to be. But you never have to tell me anything you don’t want to. ”

Everything about Lily felt safe and Ambrose wanted to trust her, but she never thought she’d meet a noble she could trust, even Inanna maintained her status when she and Ambrose weren’t alone, as was expected.

Lily was so open and kind, it slightly scared her to imagine opening up to someone who wasn’t Ernaline.

Even Adym didn’t know many of her inner thoughts.

A few weeks of a good friendship weighed hard against the unknown.

Underestimating someone could get her killed, and Ambrose still wasn’t certain why Lily had taken such a liking to her.

“Don’t be weird,” Ambrose joked in an attempt to lighten the mood. “What do you want to do first?”

Lily beamed and quickened her step. “Shopping of course! Just wait, there’s so much to see and do, you’re going to be amazed.”

Ambrose returned her smile, hoping for a day of some normal fun. No terrifying ancient kings. No training or fighting. No powers she couldn’t control. Just two friends, having fun the way two girls their age should. Today, they weren’t mages or warriors, they were just Ambrose and Lily.

Well, and Akadian.

“Would you hurry your old ass up?” Lily tossed over her shoulder at the prince who walked slowly behind them, clearly unhappy with the day’s plans.

“I’m not that old. And I far outrank you, so watch it.” Akadian growled past the hair that fell in his eyes, though he kept his gaze turned down.

It genuinely impressed Ambrose how unafraid of the royals Lily was.

Her family must have done something to earn never-ending favor from the gods for her to take so much freedom.

No matter what she did, Lily never held back.

It was something Ambrose not only admired but wished she knew for herself.

Her entire life she’d been holding back when all she wanted to do was see what she could do without the restraints of their society.

A smile tugged at her mouth as Ambrose wondered if it was her birth that gave her so much confidence or if she simply had it because she was… Well, Lily .

“That doesn’t mean shit if you can’t even keep up,” Lily cracked.

Suddenly the space behind them went from empty to housing one of the most powerful beings in the kingdom.

Ambrose straightened her back and held strong as his charge tingled her skin and her hair stood on end.

What only a few months ago she’d recoiled from, a power so thick it was encasing, now felt strangely…

almost comforting. She’d grown accustomed to feeling his magick so close, always pulsing in waves as he moved.

The hum against her own becoming an all too familiar sensation that she no longer entirely hated.

Something about his presence was beginning to feel, natural…

Ambrose shook the thoughts from her mind as she realized she was having them. Nothing about Akadian was normal. He wasn’t even human, but something far more powerful and deadly. He wasn’t safe . She quickened her pace in an attempt to put some distance between them again and refocus her thoughts.

Lily kept pace beside her with little difficulty, the tap of her boots echoing against the marble floor. “See, you make her nervous.” She jabbed a finger at him.

“ Lily. ” Ambrose tugged on her arm, stifling her smile.

“What? He does? He’s so creepy,” Lily glanced back at him.

“He’s the crown prince,” Ambrose poked, but her lips were spreading as she tried to hold it back.

“So? He looks like he’s just the prince of sulking to me.” Lily said quietly between the two but still loud enough for Akadian to hear. “Creep.”

* * *

The markets were a sight for any to behold.

Tapestries of rich colors rolled out in an awning to block the street from the sun as rows of booths and shops lined both sides, stretching for so far the end disappeared from view.

Each turn of a corner offering a new alley that contained even more two-story shops.

Lanterns lit with firelights hung on posts lined the road: gold, silver and red for the kingdom of Eltoria.

The king’s flag waved high above their heads as shouts offering ales, meats, weapons, and magickal items from across the kingdoms sounded through the street as sellers offered their very best to the crowd.

Humans and fae flooded the dirt road, not a single cart able get through.

They filled every shop, selling out every food vendor and baker, buying all the newest fashions.

Fragrances of all kinds mixed together: incense and perfumes made from the sweetest flowers, herbal oils that could soothe any ache, and even so-called love potions that could make even the hardest hearts flutter under their magick—though any skilled nature mage would recognize them as aphrodisiacs.

Fighters and Trial Champions paraded through the streets in their best armor or gear as excited citizens stopped to adore them.

They whispered and gossiped about each of the warriors, some whose names had already reached the furthest corners of the kingdoms. Drunk on the attention, a few even pulled their weapons from their homes so the crowd could admire how powerful they were.

The flaunting made Ambrose want to gag. Seeing the other fighters she tensed as she scanned the crowd for one that would shadow them all.

“Don’t worry, he never comes to anything like this. Honestly, they’ll be lucky if he shows for the Champion’s Ball,” Lily assured. “His idea of fun is bathing in the blood of his enemies on the battlefield. I swear he doesn’t understand anything else.”

How did she know who she was looking for?

“Are you sure?” Ambrose asked over the tempo in her chest. She hated the fear in her voice.

“Yup. Rowland never comes to these things. Plus, you’ve got this guy.” Lily threw her chin at Akadian.

“Ha. Ha.” Ambrose rolled her eyes, but her shoulders relaxed.