Chosen

Chapter 3

It was absolutely true that if anyone was going to be picked from their village, Freya would be at high risk. She was beautiful, with blazing blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and long blonde hair that fell in waves to her waist. She had a smile that could light up any room, and half the boys in the town were in love with her.

They had always made a funny pair, the difference between them as obvious as night and day. Where Freya seemed to shine everywhere she went like the gentle rays of the sun and brought smiles to peoples faces, Isadora burned. And people avoided her like a flame as well, as if they might get scorched.

Being alone for so long and having to figure out how to survive had hardened her in comparison to the other girls in the village. When she walked down the street people tended to avoid catching her eye. With her pale skin and gleaming red hair she stood out in the town. Because she did most of her own hunting she also dressed in tight leather pieces that were unlike the flowing, silken dresses most of the girls in town opted for. They looked like pretty puffs of dandelion fluff while she looked more like...a predator.

She had learned how to protect herself from an early age, so she never left her house without her small, curved dagger strapped to her thigh, high enough that people couldn't see it under her jacket. Isadora knew how to protect herself, and also how to provide for herself. She could hunt better than half of the men in the village, and sometimes made a few extra coins selling game if she ever caught more than she could eat herself. Which wasn't often, as of late.

Isadora threw a comforting arm around Freya "It's ok" she said "There's so many towns over here I doubt we will even get picked. We haven't been picked in years, and I don't think that's about to change anytime soon"

Isadora could see her friend start to relax a little bit, a hint of a smile returning to her face

"And even if they do pick our village by some chance, I doubt they would pick you. Just come with knotted hair and borrow some of my clothes. Then you'll squeak by no problem" Isadora continued, lightly jabbing Freya in the ribs.

Finally Freya fully smiled and Isadora felt a bit of relief. Even if some of what she said wasn't necessarily true she was glad she could make her friend feel a bit better.

"Thanks Isa" Freya said "I have to go find some carrots for Mother, but I'm so glad I ran into you. Let's walk into the town center tomorrow before the ceremony, I don't want to go alone"

Isadora agreed and Freya skipped off to go find her carrots. Regardless of if they got picked as a town or not it was tradition to gather in the center of the town before noon on the day of the reaping. It was supposed to be a show of strength for the Fae folk to see in case they came into town. To show that while we might agree to their tithe, we still were a force to be reckoned with.

Of course both the Fae and the town people knew just what this was: a show.

However there was something comforting about waiting with familiar faces until the town clock struck noon. If it reached noon and no Fae had come tearing into town then they knew they were in the clear that year. After that if they managed to not be selected as a town to pay the tithe the whole town would pass out ale, play fiddle music until they passed out, and celebrate all day and night. Isadora prayed that this year would be the same and no one would have to be chosen.