Knightess

5

Grandmother is the next to come in. The moment she enters I rush into her open arms. I'm taller than her by about half a foot, but in that moment I feel so small. "I failed you and Mother," I say to her.

"It's going to be fine, you didn't mean to," she comforts and leads us in front of the fireplace. "How was your goodbye with Jackin?"

I shake my head. "We didn't get enough time and now..." I stop as tears begin to swell in my eyes.

Grandmother sighs and finishes for me, "Now you'll never get to see him again?"

I nod and blink hard. "Y-yes."

Grandmother looks around the room. "Well, they certainly did a good job at decorating."

I laugh a little. She goes over to a vase sitting atop a dresser and picks it up. "Grandmother be careful, we don't know how valuable that is," I say, but it's in vain, because her shaky hands drop the vase and it shatters in a million pieces of sparkling glass.

"Oh, look at the mess I've made now," she scolds herself and I rush over to pick up the pieces.

She waves her hand. "Don't bother, anyway. If we're lucky they won't notice it."

I set the pieces in my hand onto the dresser and wipe my hand on my tunic. A stinging pain suddenly pierces through my stomach and I gasp. "Ow, ooh," I grunt and sink to the floor, rocking back and forth on my knees.

Grandmother sighs. "That Oakwater girl got you there, didn't she?"

I nod and give a thin-lipped smile. Grandmother shakes her head and takes out a roll of bandages from her skirt pockets. "The Oakwaters are nothing but trouble, and not the kind where they call you names and shove you around and such. The kind where if you can't get them what you want, they kill."

She helps me wrap the bandages over my stomach and any other wounds that I have. Zenna opens the door and nods at me. "It's time," I say sullenly.

She nods and I stand up, helping her next. We give a long embrace and say our goodbyes. Then she's whisked out the door. I cross my arms and close my eyes. One more to say goodbye to...

The door opens again and in steps Agnes. She grins at me. "Isn't this wonderful?" She asks me. "You, being Chosen as a Knightess. What a dream come true!"

I turn my head so she doesn't see my eye roll. She frowns. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing," I wave my hand dismissively. "It's just that..." I don't want to be a Knightess. I'm more than likely going to die. I'm terrified of what's going to happen to my family. "...I'm really going to miss you."

Agnes gives me a hug. "Don't worry about me," she says.

I give a fake laugh. "It's not you I'm worried about, it's Jackin."

"Why is that? He seems like he can take care of your grandmother just fine."

I groan in my head. What a pointless conversation we're having just to avoid what will happen after our five minutes. "What I'm trying to say is if you can teach him archery. To hunt."

She brightens up when I say archery. "Of course! I'd be happy to."

I give a smile. "That would be perfect."

Agnes suddenly stops smiling, and I ask her what's wrong. "Oh, it's nothing," she says in a strange voice, different from her usual cheerful self.

"Tell me," I ask.

She shrugs. "I overheard a group of villagers talking to each other on the way to the Ring. They were talking about how scared the Queen is of something, and how she's using the Knightesses to protect herself. A man said that that's why so many Knightesses have died since the Queen was enthroned. I'm worried for you."