Page 27 of Immortal Origins (Chronicles of the Immortal Trials #1)

“ T here you are!” Lily pushed her way through the crowd towards Ambrose, arms full of items, Akadian storming behind her. “I thought we lost you.”

“You are not to leave my sight again.” Akadian’s voice rumbled into her ear when they reached her. He bent low enough she could feel the reverberation in his words against her neck. “ Ever .”

Ambrose lifted her chin and glared at him. “It’s your fault for not paying enough attention.” She wasn’t a servant anymore, she could go where she damn well pleased.

“See where arguing with me gets you.” His eyes flashed with something dangerous.

Ambrose gave him the same obscene gesture she’d used quite a few times now in response to him. Sometimes, words just didn’t have the same weight. She turned back to Lily and smiled at the mountain of items in her arms. “Did you buy out the whole store?”

“Mmmm…” Lily tilted her head and pretended to think about it. “Just about. You should’ve seen the shop-keep, he was so excited he closed up right behind us to enjoy the rest of the festival for himself. He was practically giddy.”

Ambrose stared at the mess she was holding. “Where are you going to put all of that?”

“Oh don’t worry about that, I’ve got it covered.

” Lily tossed the stack into the air as a soft hum vibrated around it.

She opened a small bag at her side and with a small spark the items disappeared before they could hit the ground.

With a satisfied smile she rubbed her hands in accomplishment. “There. Much better.”

“I should’ve known you’d have a trick up your sleeve.”

Lily winked. “I always do.”

* * *

Lily dragged her to every corner of the festival, down every alley, determined not to miss a thing.

They tried exotic fruits and sweets that Ambrose couldn’t have thought of in her wildest dreams. Cakes with edible flowers that melted as soon as they touched her tongue.

A vibrant yellow and purple fruit so sour her face puckered as soon as the juices filled her mouth.

Bands and musicians played on every block, melodies from all corners of the kingdom dancing through the streets. Amber ales and fruit wines passed from happy hands to smiling mouths as they were gulped down.

While the palace was like a crypt, Ambrose was thrilled to see the terror hadn’t reached as far as the surrounding city. Humans and elven fae celebrating as though they could all die tomorrow. Rewarding themselves for a year of hard work.

The sun reached towards the horizon as hues of orange and pink filled the sky.

Owners cheerfully closed their shops as the crowd made their way outside the gates where grass fields stretched into the distance.

Magickal anticipation buzzed through the air at what was to come as they filed into the open spans.

Logs had been expertly stacked in a tower just shorter than the city walls.

Nineteen mages stood around the logs in a circle ten feet apart, dressed head to toe in the finest dragon leather that could be made.

Black as the night sky above them, they wore silver and gold wrist links in the shape of flames that reached up their forearms. Ambrose snapped her attention to Akadian who matched with them perfectly.

“What’s going on?” She shot him a confused glance.

“Part of my royal duties,” he replied. “This shouldn’t take long. Stay close and in my line of sight.” He left her side and stepped into formation with the other mages, filling the missing space that had clearly been waiting for him.

“This is my favorite part of the festival!” Lily squealed, shaking Ambrose’s arm.

“What’s going on?” she asked again. The last curve of the sun dipped from view, taking most of the light with it but left the warmth of the day to linger in the air.

“The king should be here soon and it’ll start.” Lily pushed up on her toes so she could see over the crowd.

Gathered together, the population of the entire Capital waited, exchanging excitement as darkness surrounded them and day turned to night.

Ambrose had never been to the evening festivities this early.

Usually, her day would’ve consisted of running about the kitchens preparing the king’s feast, making sure everything was absolutely perfect.

Tidying and finishing up any last-minute decorating, it would’ve been her responsibility with all the other servants to make sure not one thing was out of place.

Waiting for the nobility to get so intoxicated they no longer paid attention to them and the servants could sneak off and join the celebrations.

The king always came into the city after eating and she’d always wondered what he was doing.

It seemed soon, she would have an answer.

The nobles should’ve been gathered around the table and stuffing themselves with food and gorging on ale and wine. Soon enough, the servants would be able to come and join them but not until the nobles had their fill.

She just had to be patient.

Ambrose closed her eyes and tilted her head to the sky as a warm breeze kissed her skin and she took in the sounds of the masses around her.

For a moment, she was able to imagine another life.

One where she’d been born to a loving family, where she knew her mother and father.

She and Adym would’ve been able to grow up as normal siblings and maybe even have other brothers and sisters.

A life where she got to attend the festival with Ernaline and Lily by her side and they’d laugh and drink the way girls their age should.

Maybe she would’ve found a nice local boy that she could’ve fallen in love with.

She tilted her face towards the sky to keep the tears from spilling down her face.

When she was sure she wouldn’t cry, she opened her eyes and the stars and sky unfolded in front of her. Away from the palace and firelights of the city the dark horizon twinkled with endless shining lights that danced as though joining them in celebration.

“They’re amazing aren’t they?” Lily asked, her head tilted upwards as well. A soft look took over the contour of her features. She laced her fingers in Ambrose’s and gave them a small squeeze.

“Yes,” Ambrose breathed. “They are.”

“You know, my mentor growing up used to tell me stories of the stars. ‘Each of those little lights is a world just like ours’, she would say to me, and I ate it up. Of course, they were just stories she liked to make up to get me to pay more attention during my late-night Magick lessons. Something about them always intrigued me as a juvenile and I think she knew if she wove in stories into my lectures, I’d listen to anything she said.

” Lily breathed as she admired the stars. “They are something incredible.”

“Did it work?”

“Some of the time.” Lily turned to her and winked. “I’d probably be a better mage if it had though, huh?”

Ambrose shivered imagining what Lily could be capable of had she gotten stronger in her training. It was difficult to imagine her stronger than she currently was.

“Citizens of Eltoria!” A voice magickally echoed, grabbing the attention of the crowd who turned to see who spoke.

Sounds of anticipation died to a low hum, leaving a static in the air as everyone fell silent.

Ambrose immediately recognized the speaker as the head servant of the palace.

An elven fae with copper skin, light green eyes, and a lean build earned from running to all ends of the palace day after day stood on a podium facing the crowd.

She’d come to know Onabas as an acquaintance through the years they served together.

He could usually be found by the king’s side when he wasn’t tending to the servants and monitoring their duties to perfection.

If Onabas had arrived, so had the king. He waited until he was satisfied he had everyone’s attention, “Welcome your king, your sovereign, The Great Storm, King Tallis!”

Draconian and Imperial Guards marched into the crowd single file until they formed a circle around the congregation.

Ambrose searched their faces for her brother but didn’t see anyone she recognized.

The king was the last to step forward, followed by Imperial Guards—two on either side of him.

They stood tall and proud next to him, all four displaying three gold stars on their armor.

“Wow! I’ve never seen such high-ranking lieutenants before!” Lily remarked as she noticed the knights standing by the king. “I wonder why they’re here and not at their posts. It can’t be for the festival, can it?”

Ambrose had never seen guards that high of a rank either. They were the second highest rank in the kingdom and the third in the empire. What were they doing at the Capital instead of at their commands?

“Maybe. I don’t know,” she muttered, stomach twisting.

She wasn’t sure why the king was walking around with such a strongly armed guard, but the possibilities didn’t sit well.

Terrifying and formidable, they were a true example of Eltorian excellence.

Some of the strongest fighters and mages in the kingdom, they had armies at their command who would die for them without fault or question.

As she looked over each man, she was almost knocked backwards when her eyes locked onto one of the lieutenants who already had his sight fixed on her.

Ambrose suppressed the chill that crawled across her skin as a sharp breeze swept past her, throwing her hair around her face.

His dark eyes burned into hers with a growing intensity.

Pulse quickening, she met his stare until she couldn’t bear it anymore and moved behind a few people to dip out of his line of sight.

What the hell was his problem?

The king, dressed in the same official armor he wore for her criminal trial, puffed up his chest in pride. Standing more than two heads above even the tallest citizen, he towered over the crowd, easily visible from all ends.