"That's right, men, Arabella. Don't worry, Jeremiah, you'll probably finish only about a few seconds behind me. That's nothing to be ashamed of, bro." Deen says with a mouthful of mashed potatoes.
"If that's what you need to tell yourself to make yourself feel better, you go right ahead. Just know, I will beat you so bad that even our mama won't be able to comfort you afterward." Jeremiah barely makes out the words before he starts laughing.
Deen spits out his drink and laughs. "Man, that's cold." Then holds his hands up in a W and whispers, "Whatever..."
Jeremiah shrugs then turns his attention to me. "The Fire Trials will be unlike anything you've ever witnessed; this moment is ours. We've trained and worked our entire lives for this great honor."
Deen gives me a toothy grin. "We've pulled out all the stops for this one. We Pyralis’ as a whole can be a little extra."
"But ain't no shame in our game. Lions plus fire, what could go wrong?" Jeremiah winks.
"Bro, when you're right, you're right!" Deen laughs.
My eyes dart back and forth between the two of them. I'm amazed how they can go from almost fighting to laughinglike hyenas. I wonder if what Uncle Jo said was true. Will the participants in the Fire Trials really ride out on lions?
Which reminds me, I need to talk to my family, then to King Aramayus. I’m not sure how they will feel about my promise, so ripping the band-aid off is best. I blurt out my declaration. “I’ve decided to enter the Trials, I can’t expect the future Guardians on my team to do something I haven’t done.”
Uncle Jo looks like he’s about to have a heart attack, but Uncle Radix and Aunt Adalias faces are beaming with pride. Uncle Jo mumbles under his breath. “Damn freshwater mermaids.”
Aunt Adalia pats Uncle Jo's hand. “Let me speak with Aramayus first. He will not be on board with this, but we will come to an agreement of some sort.”
I nod. “Thank you, this is important to me.”
Turning my head back to Frick and Frack, I start to ask my cousins questions about the lions when suddenly, an explosion happens in the center of the room. Knocking the table over, they jump in front of me, interlocking their arms to form a small fortress around me with their bodies. The others at our table draw their weapons. I can’t see much through the tiny gap my cousins have left open.
Sebastian, in the distance, instructs some of the people in the crowd. His voice is authoritative yet calm. His expression is not to be fucked with though. There is a blue gray smoke charging throughout the center of the room. Someone better have a good reason for being here, or it’s about to get real bad for them.
As the smoke settles, a man with blue-black hair and beady eyes emerges. Hairs on my arm stand up, and I instantly feel repulsed by the man. Everyone is still in attack mode,waiting on their leaders to give their seal of approval to take out the the unwelcome guest.
My uncle Radix is the first to speak, "Thaddeus, you're bold to show up at our niece's welcome feast unannounced. Not to mention without an invitation."
Thaddeus greets the royals with a halfhearted bow. "Forgive me, dear Aramayus, Radix, and sweet Adalia, but I assumed my invitation had gotten lost in the mail. I..."
A voice I've never heard stops him before he can say another word. The voice is soft yet commanding. "You will address them by their rightful stations, or you will be escorted to Inferno where you can stay the night, free of charge."
Thaddeus' lips are smiling, but his steel blue eyes betray that emotion. He doesn’t like that the man talked to him like that. "Yes, of course. I meant no harm in my lack of formalities. Dear Kings Aramayus, and Radix, and sweet Queen Adalia, my King Diodyous has sent me to talk to the girl. You will understand that I must see her in private. It’s what he wishes."
I detect a slight Russian accent, it’s in the way he rolls his r's. Glancing toward my aunt, her demeanor gives nothing away, but her hand is balled up into a tight fist at her side. That can't be good. "Surely, Diodyous knows his wishes are not the ones that we will grant. We deny your request, it is our wish that you tell her your message in front of us all. However, be careful, Inferno is especially menacing this time of year. All our high-ranking officials are listening, so unfortunately they will get to you before I can."
Uncle Radix nods his head in our direction. "Deen, Jeremiah, it’s time to release her. Arabella, come forward. Thaddeus, this is The Chosen to all our people, even yours."In one swift movement, the "twins" glide apart ending up at eachone of my sides. With the protective cocoon they offered me gone, all that’s left is the coolness of the air and the deafening silence set before me.
Thaddeus' pale skin is impeccably flawless making him look almost see through. He has small, smoky gray eyes, with dark circles underneath. His chin is pointy, as is his nose.?He lifts an arrogant brow; his lips transform into a thin fake smile. “Thaddeus, it is a pleasure to meet you." I paste on a fake one of my own.?
"Splendid indeed, The Chosen, it is my pleasure. King Diodyous of the Kori sent me here to give you a warning..." My cousins jump off the stage moving so quickly that I almost fall on my butt.?
Jeremiah makes it over to Thaddeus first and wastes no time getting in his face, "Warnings can be perceived as threats. You better watch yourself, Thaddeus."
Deen's tone is low but deadly. "I wish he wouldn't, J. Come on, Thaddeus, I've been itching for a fight."?
Jeremiah looks over his shoulder. "You'll get first dibs, little bro."?
Deen, satisfied with that promise, backs up just a bit. "Alright, sounds fair. Now, what do you have to warn her about?"Annoyed at my barbaric cousins, I jump off the stage and storm toward them. This is my fight, so I'll get first dibs if someone needs a punch to the face.Stupid oafs!
Growling, I elbow my way in between them. "Boys, I can take it from here. Thaddeus, this isYOURonly warning. You better choose your words wisely."?
A gasp sounds through the crowd, as someone in the back happily shouts. "Yes! Better watch out, Thaddy. She gets it from her Mama!"
Embarrassment creeps in, my temper gets the best of me again. I can't hide my redness, but I’ll still hold my head high. Thaddeus puts his clothing back in place as he looks over at Jeremiah and rolls his eyes. He's not happy with all the new wrinkles. I gently bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. My cousins don’t feel the need to hide their smile, which makes me have to bite down a little more.?
