Shards of Silver

THREE

The deafening sounds of the roaring crowd quieted gently with a small shush. Drastically the volume had dropped, and all Isren could hear was the slight coughing of someone a few rows behind her. The audience seemed to hold their breath as they waited for the Noble--the man who stands beside the king in any situation--to speak.

"My dear fellow Eysatixes," he began with a voice so deep and hard that it did not match the smile on his face or the look in his eyes. "We are gathered here for the Ceremony of Newfates, where each Eysatix that has come of age will receive their duty that they will carry out for the rest of their lives. For the Greater Eysatixes and for the court."

"For the court," the other elves around Isren repeated solemnly. She muttered the words under her breath along with them. She watched the Noble match eyes with everyone he could in the darkness. All the light that was seen was on the stage, coming from the flowers whose centers bloomed with a bright gem. The lights illuminated each court member that was seated on the platform in a row of chairs.

"Each fate is important for us. These Newfates will be given the opportunity to prove themselves worthy of that fate and show the skills to meet the requirements that are given to them." The Noble rambled on. Isren looked at each court member, finding her aunt seated among them. "Each year the Newfates have been successful in their lives and continue to do so."

The Noble, Isren believed his name was Chranis, took a few steps forward, having his silver robes trail behind him with each step. He clasped his hands together, white eyes holding amusement at the nervous faces as he stroked a hand down his beard, thinking.

"I expect no different," he announced. "There will be no changes made to any of the fates once each elf decides. Once you select your fate, you will carry it out. Failure to do so will result in shame and exile from the court if you betray us." The audience seemed to sit still to those words as if they weight of them was enough to make anyone shiver in fear.

Isren's hands trembled as she clutched at the fabric of her dress. She gritted her teeth and set a hard jaw. She wouldn't be able to change her fate after she chose it. If she was allowed to choose one. Esterals didn't have that freedom.

The elf sitting beside her nudged her with his elbow to get her attention. Isren tilted her head up and locked eyes with the Noble, an old but cunning man. He watched her for a moment before addressing the crowd again.

"Our king of this court was unable to come to the ceremony. However," Chranis's eyes seemed to glitter. "He wishes all of you a good fate. For the Court!"

"For the Court!" The crowd praised and clapped around Isren. This time she refused to say the phrase.

The Noble sat at his own designated seat, sitting in the center with the other eight court members. Two other members stood up--Lady Miranda being one of them--and they welcomed the gathered elves with smiles plastered on their faces and masks of no emotions gone. The roaring of the crowd died down, but there were still a few whispers, quiet and undisturbed.

"Isren," a whisper came at her with a harsh hiss to get her attention. Isren tensed, recognizing the voice from the night before and she refused to turn and acknowledge him. He whispered her name again when Miranda rose her hands in front of her and manipulated the lights to glow on the gems of the tree, a lot brighter than they were before.

Isren shook off the hand on her shoulder, keeping her face straight.

"As you can all recall, there were tests given a few months ago so we could truly determine each Eysatix's worth in their fate. This also included the Esteral test, when we determined which natural power you have if you have been blessed from a Greater."