A Trial Of Emperors and Empresses

Chapter 5 - Lauren

Congratulations, Lauren Smith. You are officially accepted as a member of the royal guard of Lord Cassius. A carriage will be sent for you as soon as possible . We wish to see you at the Royal Palace soon for your duties to our glorious Empire.
***
Lauren swung her sword. It connected with the blade of another's and Lauren spun her own sword, disarming her opponent. They scowled and turned away to leave, sour at their loss against a young girl. Lauren drank some water from a bottle. The life of a soldier was never over. It barely even ever starts.

***

That was a day that Lauren remembered vividly. Lord Cassius had decided that he didn't need anyone from other places. Only his own, brainwashed pawns. 17 year old her had hated that, almost the same way that 15 year old her had loved the fresh new air of the military. But that was two years ago, now that life was over.

Lauren marched across the rough roads towards the draw. This was her only chance. Her one chance to change things.

"Name, place of residence and ID?" The attendant asked when Lauren reached the front of the long line.

"Lauren Smith." She handed them her ID.

The woman frowned. "And place of residence?"

Lauren looked at her feet, embarrassed. "I don't have a home."

The attendant pursed her lips but didn't question her further, simply giving Lauren a piece of paper. Lauren scribbled her name down and dropped it into the jar, skipping away.

She was a mix of emotions. Happiness swirled deep within, but so did nervousness. But there was only one emotion that was clear. An emotion Lauren hadn't felt in a long time. Hope.

***

Lauren picked at her bread, sitting on top of the tree at the outskirts of the village. Her warrior's sword was strapped to her thigh in a sheath and her belt full of weapons, including a holster, was tied around her waist. Somethings like that could fetch for a lot of money, but Lauren couldn't bear give it away.

I don't have a home.

She shouldn't let it bother her as much as it did. She did have somewhere she could turn to, but it had its consequences. Lord Cassius would only allow those completely and utterly loyal to him to be members of his royal guard. Lauren was not that. And she had no other home to go back to. Her family had moved in the time she was gone, and she had no way of finding them. She could do nothing more than keep to the shadows, pray everything worked out. And becoming Empress was one of those things.

Lauren couldn't make enough money to buy or even rent a house. She was barely getting by at the moment. 

***

The music blared all across the small village. Only one town per kingdom could host the draws so the village had been extra packed for the past week or so.

"Katya Sanders."

Katya was a noble before the monarchy had crumbled. The third cousin of the king of the East. Now she had grown accustomed to a normal person's life, as could be seen by her clothing and the way she sunk down as she walked to the stage.

"Ella Grace."

Lauren knew her too. Well rather, her brother, Nicholas. He was in the army with her and as far as she was concerned, still in there.

"Drew An."

Lauren didn't actually know him. He appeared as he was close to boundaries of the Centre Kingdom. His style of clothing demonstrated that.

"Julian Peytro."

A simple boy. The village baker's son. Lauren sighed and felt the disappointment again.

"Lauren Smith."

Scattered applause broke out in the crowd. Unbelieving her ears, Lauren looked to the stage where they were all waiting for her. It was her. This was her chance. She would become Empress of die in the process. And there it was again. That wonderful, joyful feeling. Hope.

***

The nerves and self awareness kicked back in again. Every other competitor on the platform had an entire legion of loved ones seeing them off. Lauren had nobody.

She breathed in and out, the air around her nervous. Parents were saying what could be final goodbyes and the competitors were loading their heavy and numerous luggage. Lauren had nothing but a small backpack. It was all she had.

The whistle blew, signalling for everyone who needed to to get on. Lauren did.

People gave her strange looks at the weapons and sheath she wore. All except the girl in the last cabin

She had raven black hair and dark blue eyes. She was stunningly beautiful. A majestic gleaming black sheath was strapped to her leg.

Another girl had light blonde hair which she twirled and swirled with her fingers. She appeared nervous and troubled. But who wasn't?

The boy with them was all smiles. Unlike the other boy. They had sandy blonde and faded ginger hair with light and ice blue eyes, respectively.

The ginger's clothes were more tattered than the others. It was obvious that he was poor.

"Hello. My name is Mark Fields from the East. This is Evangeline Mirrors of the North, yes, that one. This is Warden Lang of the West and Amaryllis Van Gulierro of the South. And you are?" The sandy haired boy, Mark, declared.

Lauren gave a tight and awkward smile. "I'm Lauren Smith of the Central Kingdom."

Evangeline handed Lauren a glass of wine but Lauren refused it.

Evangeline raised her eyebrows and prodded Lauren.

Lauren sighed. "What did you out in there?"

Evangeline have a tiny knowing smile. "Oh nothing. Maybe some reverse cough serum."

"What?!" Warden exclaimed before erupting into a coughing fit. The others followed and Lauren rolled her eyes as Evangeline burst out laughing.

She stood up and left the compartment, still amused.

Lauren lectured them. "The Trial has already begun. Don't be so gullible."

"We're not gullible. She just took us by surprise. That's all." Warden insisted, grumpy.

"Sure. Sure." Lauren said, a grin spreading across her face. She looked out the window to the cabin and smiled as the train slowly pulled away from the station.

There it was again. Hope.