Chapter One
Chosen of Mine
Kethry lay awake in her bed early one morning, just daydreaming. She was dreaming of a life beyond that of her noble estate in Kettlesmith. She was sick and tired of all the potential suitors arriving at her doorstep, and groveling for her attention. She hadn't found love with any of them. In fact, she began to wonder if she would ever love at all.
She sighed, and picked up her book of Herald Vanyel. She carefully dusted off the cover and opened it up, staring at the pages. It would be magnificent to be a herald, She thought. A Herald of Valdemar, yes, that's what she wanted to be, those majestic heralds, with their beautiful white horses.
She sighed again. She doubted that a beautiful horse like that would pick her to be a herald. She was a lady of Valdemar… ladies weren't supposed to do heraldic things. In fact, she was lucky that her father even let her have her daily horseback ride, very lucky. Her father was the sort of man who thought women were only meant to do homely things, like cooking, sewing, and gardening. He even thought reading was bad, because it would taint their minds. Kethry would have to sneak her books in and hide them under her bed.
"Kethry! Get up you lazy girl! Time for chores!" Her mother called, banging on her door.
Kethry groaned… Chores… Her chores usually consisted of cooking breakfast, gardening, and doing laundry. Why was she the one who had to do all the grunt work? It was probably the fact that her older sister Gina was the favorite. Gina was the "perfect" lady. Gina followed her parents' orders with no fuss, had perfect manners, and was interested in lady-like things like dancing and piano.
Kethry got out of bed as slowly as she could. She winced as she heard her mother pounding on her door once again, this time even louder.
"I'm coming mother!" She yelled with a hint of bitterness in her voice.
"Don't you dare take that tone of voice with me young lady! Shall I have speak with your father about your behavior again?!" Her mother shouted angrily.
"No ma'am." Kethry grumbled, as she quickly changed into her dress and made herself look presentable.
"Are you not even dressed at this hour? Good havens girl! I can't believe you're so lazy!" Her mother scolded her as she finally opened the door. Her mother gave her a quick slap on the hand. "Quickly! Get to your chores!"
Kethry rushed down to the kitchen to help the cook prepare breakfast.
"Here, go fetch some eggs from outside dear." The cook said, handing her a basket.
Kethry grabbed the basket and headed outside to the chicken coop. She started collecting eggs. "Seriously… Why can't the servants do this stuff." Kethry grumbled. "Just because I don't like doing lady-like things… my parents treat me like I'm not lady-like at all!"
After being pecked viciously by the roosters, Kethry made her way back with a dozen eggs. She set the basket down and washed her hands. She began chopping the tomatoes for the eggs, and stuck the rolls in the oven. By then the chef had finished the eggs and the ham was cooked.
"Ok, you're done dear." The cook told Kethry. "Wash your hands and you can sit down with the rest.
Kethry heaved a sigh of relief and washed her hands, and sat down at the table.
"You know Kethry, I only teach you how to cook because It's what every lady needs to know." Her mother replied, in that snobbish tone. "You must be able to cook for your husband."
"What if I don't get a husband?" Kethry asked sarcastically.
Her mother raised an eyebrow, and gave Kethry that look. "Stop acting so disrespectful!" She said raising her voice. "We give you this house! This food on your plate! Your fine clothes, and your horse! So do not even begin to think that you have the right to do anything when you are so much under our care." Her mother growled. "If you want these luxuries then you should at least have the courtesy to listen to what we tell you to do!"
Kethry just stared at her mother. What she was talking about made no sense at all. Kethry was in fact the one who helped cook the meals, and helped mend the clothing, and garden. So she considered herself paid off in full. She stood up in anger, grabbed a roll and some ham, and ran out the door.
:I don't understand my parents at all!: She thought angrily. She started pacing out in the paddock. She didn't even notice that another person was watching her.
"Kethry… what is it this time?" She heard a familiar voice. She looked up and saw her second eldest brother Keil.
"Mother…" Kethry grumbled.
"You know youngin… Mother wouldn't be so harsh on you if you weren't such a little rebel half the time." Keil said chuckling.
"I try to please her! But nothing seems to work! There's no use even trying anymore!" Kethry shouted angrily at him, tears streaming lightly down her cheeks.
Keil only laughed light heartedly. "Oh dearest, it's alright. I think you make a fine lady. You are really good at dancing… even if you don't like it. You can horseback ride almost better than I can! And you can play the flute pretty darn well." He smiled and pulled her into a hug.
Kethry calmed down a little, and hugged him back. "Keil, if I didn't have you, I swear I'd hang myself out of misery of having to live with those nut cases!"
Keil chuckled. "You're quite the comedian youngin."
They walked along the paddock, talking for a while so that Kethry could calm down. Kethry loved her brother. He was her savior. He defended her against her mother and father in the midst of their spats. He was chosen, just last year by a companion so he was rarely around. He was still only a trainee so he got to come home for holidays like this one. Kethry envied him, and wished oh so dearly to be a trainee.
Finally, once Kethry was calm, they both headed back to the house. She apologized, if a bit unwillingly, to her mother. Her mother forgave her, and then sent her straight to her harp lesson. Kethry sighed, and trudged up the stairs to meet her teacher.
She practiced harp for the rest of the afternoon, until her fingers were sore, and covered with blisters. Her teacher then decided to call the lesson to a halt. She packed up her harp, and washed her hands, and changed into a nice dress. Just then her mother came in the room.
"Oh good darling, you're all dressed up. Perfect, just in time too, we are having an important family meeting for dinner." She said sweetly.
Kethry gave a surprised look. "Family meeting?" She asked.
"Oh yes, we are discussing your future." Her mother exclaimed excitedly.
Kethrys eyebrows raised an inch. "My future???" She asked again.
"Yes, now hurry up. We have some visitors, theres a nice young gentlemen from the D'estera family here to meet you."
Kethry groaned. –Nice young gentleman… my future…- That could only mean one thing. She finished curling her hair, and trudged down the stairs.
"Darling, walk with grace." Her mother said, catching her eye at the bottom of the stairs.
Kethry nodded sarcastically, then fluttered about the room in a mockingly. Her mother gave her that look again, and finally Kethry sighed, and walked normally. She headed towards the dining room and met her father. He smiled his fake smile.
"Good evening dearest. I'd like you to meet Daren D'estera. He is the middle son of the D'estera family. They own an estate in Haven." He said, with a matter-of-fact tone in his voice.
Kethry pretended to be somewhat interested. She put on her fake lady act. "Good evening Daren, nice to meet you." She said with an airy giggle. She held out her hand in greeting.
Daren smiled a somewhat sick smile. She watched his eyes travel up and down her body, and nearly gagged. He gently held her hand and brought it up to his lips to slowly kiss it. She almost tore her hand away.
Finally once introductions were over, they all took their seats. Throughout the five-course meal, both Fathers discussed business matters. They babbled on for hours. Kethry tried to avoid the advances Daren was making on her.
"So… yes, now… about the betrothal." Kethry heard her father mention. She suddenly couldn't stop herself from shouting madly. "WHAT BETROTHAL?"
Everyone at the table stared at Kethry wide eyed. Her father's mouth was gaping.
"The, BETROTHAL…. Darling…" He said between clenched teeth.
"I'm not getting married to that sick bastard!" She shouted angrily, her mother letting out shocked gasp.
"Dearest… we don't take that tone of voice at the dinner table." He said, still with clenched teeth.
"I don't care! I'm NOT marrying HIM!" Kethry shouted even louder. She stood up and tore out of the room. She ran and ran, out of the house, and down to the paddock. The paddock was always her little haven. This time, she didn't just stop there though, she ran straight into the stables. She grabbed her horse and tied him to a post. She gathered her tack and started throwing on her blanket and saddle. She was sobbing at this point, nearly hysterical. She paused for a quick moment, leaning into her horse's neck, just crying.
When she looked up, she saw a flicker of white across the paddock. As her tears dried, she saw that it was in the shape of a horse. She squinted her eyes, and stepped out from behind her horse. She gasped in surprise, could it be?? A… A… companion!?
Sure enough, the white horse was heading in her direction, it thundered up to her and came to a halt just a few feet in front of her. Kethry stood in awe, not able to speak at all.
:I am the Companion Vryna.: The horse spoke to her. The voice was so sweet, it held in her mind like a warm hug. Kethry was overcome with the feeling of love. She stared into the companions blue eyes. It was as if she was falling into a sea of warmth and love.
:I choose you.: The companion said finally.
Kethry wanted to cry tears of joy. This was the happiest moment in her entire life.
:Now get on! Let's get going!: Vryna said impatiently.
"Go where?" Kethry asked startled.
:To Haven of course.: Vryna chuckled.
"Haven!?" Kethry said, eyes widening.
Vryna nodded her large head. :Now get on!:
Kethry climbed up, a little clumsily. Once she was settled, Vryna took off at a canter towards the city of Haven. :Is this happening? Am I really becoming a herald?: Kethry asked herself.
:Of course you are.: Vryna chuckled.
Kethry smiled, and settled into the saddle, and enjoyed the rest of the ride… the ride to her new home. The one she had always dreamed of.