This world belongs to Kendare Blake, but the characters are original.
17 days before the Quickening
Calista stood by the Arrons, proud and tall as always. She had taken in many poisons over the years yet had no scars, no sickness, nothing to show any sign of weakness. Her secret war gift had also grown strong, allowing her to withstand great pain, her throwing skills were perfected, training with weapons completed with with only the best warriors from Bastian City. Her telekinesis was also powerful, and she often practiced it with Isa or Althea.
The Arrons were spread out behind her. Isa and Nicholas, the matriarch and her husband right behind her. Althea, their daughter, at her side, hand intertwined with hers. Then, there was Althea's Aunt Beatrix and Aunt Thalia, as well as Beatrix's wife, Kasia, and their kids Meira and Ayre. Althea's grandfather, Taren, was standing alone, her grandmother, Maurena, had died a long time ago, but Maurena's sisters, Elle and Rosalia, remained. Elle's husband, Senre, stood in the center of the Arrons, hand on their son's shoulder. Kaleb, for some reason, didn't shrug him off, though he was trying to move closer to his wife, Novea, who was on the other side of the thicket of Arrons. Rosalia stood at the back of the Arron crowd, while her daughter and son-in-law, Eve and Kris, stood at the front, their kids, Emily and Maris, standing right behind Calista, ready to serve the queen.
The Black Council had told her that she would be meeting with her sisters, Cadence the elemental oracle, as well as Caitlyn, the naturalist. And a girl named Leia, though Calista had no idea who she was or how she was part of this. Then again, it was unusual for the queens to meet before their 16th birthday after departing from teh Black Cottage.
"Queen Calista, are you ready?" A priestess asked.
Steadying herself, Calista nodded, gave Althea's hand a squeeze, then let go and the young girl showed her into a chamber at the top of a staircase.
...
Cadence was waiting with her family. Rain, her sister, Ember, her mother, her uncle Blaze, and Aura his wife. Then, her grandparents Denre and Isla. The Westwoods had been the smallest foster family for a while now, but they were still strong.
They had come to be her true family, not foster family, after the first few years. Like most queens, she forgot her childhood, only remembering her sister's gifts. That was all.
She figured she was ready to go up against her sisters, though it was too early and they couldn't start plotting yet. Not for another seventeen days.
So far, she'd mastered all the affinities - water, air, weather, earth, and fire. She could also see almost anything with her oracle gift, though the one thing she couldn't make out was who would become queen. There were too many possibilities for her to focus on only one.
Finally, after pacing for what seemed like forever, a priestess poked her head into the chamber the Westwoods and Cadence were waiting in. Cadence rose steadily and followed the priestess.
...
Caitlyn stood with her pack pressed against the wall, leaning against her sister Lyr. The Milones stood anxiously i the chamber, all the familiars quiet for once.
Ora, her sister, stood with her mother Gia. Aunt Flora was standing in front of her husband, Jorel. Lyr and Ora's grandmothers, Aureina and Emeryra stood with Aureina's husband, Rennann. Rennann's family, his father Endon and sister Melanna stood at the back of the group of Milones and Sandrins. Next to Melanna was her husband, Monty Sandrin, and their daughter, Kaura Sandrin. Lastly, the Milone matriarch and Lyr's great-grandmother, Tae, stood next to Caitlyn and Lyr, soothing Caitlyn and murmuring words of encouragement.
Her timidness limited her gift. High Priestess Ehaj had been trying to help her, but it was just part of her nature. Timid as she was, Caitlyn's gift was still very strong, her familiar, Alene, quiet at Caitlyn's worries.
Lyr squeezed her arm as High Priestess Ehaj came into the room, telling them it was time to go in.
Heart racing, Caitlyn followed her, Alene at her side.
Outside the room they were waiting in, is another, larger, waiting room. The Arrons have already claimed half of it, tense, serious, and proper as always.
The Westwoods took up very little space in the room, as they were the smallest foster family, but the room's air is still. Still enough that one of the Westwoods must be controlling it.
Caitlyn watched sadly as the Milones and Sandrins settled themselves into their seats, and she went on alone.
...
Leia was the last one there, dressed in all black like she should've been her whole life.
The three other queens are standing in the room, in a circle, taking each other in.