Chosen

Chapter Five

The dinner party was short and slow. I was escorted to a table that went from wall to wall in the dining room. Hanuk seemed to gasp as he saw me and smiled.

“Why mercury what have we here!” he exclaimed as he held out a seat for me. I nodded and thanked him. My head began to spin, I had to get used to so many things including the upcoming of my death, though I could survive but that couldn’t happen unless the new king allows me to live. I have to earn his trust first though. I began to go deep in thought about how I could kiss up to the new king so he could spare my life when I was disturbed.

“Um” I responded with a jolt. Hanuk caught me and threw a cold hand on mine slowly. I shuddered as I gave off a smile.

“Darling why are you so jumpy. I might have to get the nurse to come and take you to your room” He seemed so serious I thought he was going to. But the old man’s face gave off a wide smile and bursted into laughter. The laughter echoed in my ear and it began to buzz. The other man who sat across and next to me joined in only I didn’t notice that no woman were here. I began to get uncomfortable.

“Oh Mercury what a laugh you bring.” He turned his head to me and smiled. I sat frozen. “Darling I know this is so new to you, but this is how you live from now on what you had is gone.” he echoed as he clapped his hands together and somehow these waiters appeared and set down plates in front of us. I was given Lamb stew as my mouth began to water. It had been so long since I had a real meal. I almost dug in till I remembered where I was.

“Oh darling you can’t just sit there looking miserable. Eat.” Something in Hanku’s voice made it demanded so I did. The stew brought warmness to my throat as I saviored it. I didn’t believe how bad my body was craving for it before I realized I had no more. Hanku seemed to notice as he made a big smile.

“Well aren’t you hungry!” he clapped his hands and another lamb stew was put in front of me, except this one had bread and a glass of wine. I looked a bit surprised.

“Oh you’re 17 have a drink. We’ll take care of you from now on”  His voice made me a bit afraid yet safe. I sipped and finished the rest before he can get another word in.

“Well. Darling we must go to the other reason why you are here” Hanku spoke dabbing the little pieces of his roasted snail.

“Hanku will we that begin” a man from the end of the table spoke.

“Tomorrow” He spoke and silenced them.

“We must speak about your training”

“My what?” I asked. I knew Beatrice had told me this but I needed to sound clueless. I think.

“Training so you can find the king darling” a man from the end said.

“Silence” Hanku shouted pounding his hands so hard my stew swishes. “I will tell her” Hanku looked back at me. “Mornings is archery, Afternoon sword fighting and evenings fighting skills” he spoke grabbing a snail afterwards and chewing it.

“WHat?” I said again. I was a bit excited but I had my guards up still. I couldn’t let them down. Not ever.

“It will start tomorrow at breakfast is at five and training begins at six, Lunch is twelve and dinner six” On the dot child he spoke slipping a card over to me. It glimmered copper as i turned it side to side.

“it’s the card to get in the rooms. Some of them” he spoke before continuing on his dinner. I slipped the card in my dress and finished my stew and second wine. Dinner ended after Hanku and the men made a toast to me. I was escorted to my room only I got to open it. Every door had a place were to slip the card in and unlock it. I entered the room and jerked all the stuff off. I began to go through stuff in my closet and found a dark blue nightgown and slipped it on. I went in drawers next to my bed and found a rubber band and put my hair in a pony before sliding into the rooms bed and shutting off the lights. It took me longer to fall asleep but I finally did.