Page 4 of Chosen

Chapter Three

Truth

I was trembling. It was so bizarre. I’d faced war in the past. Hell, I’d faced Sven and Ozias and pushed them to their limits, but even that didn’t compare to all of this. I had enemies now. Faceless people who wanted to see me fail. I could feel their scrutiny. As I walked down the hall with Gisla to meet my new tutors, people whispered with one another and cast judgmental looks my way.

“Ignore them,” Gisla murmured. “They looked at me the same way when we arrived.”

“You are not Truth. You have two brothers and an army. Truth is merely woman on her own.” I shivered and doubled my pace to keep up with her.

Gisla turned on me and took me by my arms.

“Truth, you are so much more than you give yourself credit for,” she whispered, staring into my eyes. “You are a woman without family or backing, and yet, you have survived and come this far. You will continue to rise and be successful as long as you put your mind to it.”

I took a deep breath and nodded, even if I didn’t truly believe her words.

I was a woman the Gods had smiled upon. My fate was forever surprising me… and yet, I still shook. My nerves were wound so tight that I actually jumped and startled, when we rounded the corner and nearly ran into Cardinal Anthony.

“Forgive me.” I bowed my head to the religious man and his hand found my shoulder.

“There is nothing to forgive, Lady Truth. Welcome to court.” He bowed his head in return and hurried along on his path.

“Welcome to court…” I laughed, once he had walked off.

I’d been here for months already serving as Gisla’s lady-in-waiting. No one had paid me any mind. I wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing. I followed Gisla to the castle library where we met a short man with fine, blond hair and blue eyes.

“Truth, allow me to introduce Sir Marcus. He was hired by King Raymond to tutor the king’s children during his reign.”

I allowed him to take my hand when he reached out toward me and watched on as he kissed my scarred knuckles. He didn’t let go right away, he held onto my hand and studied the mark Sven had left on me.

It felt like ages ago that it had happened, and yet, I knew it wasn’t but perhaps two years.

“It is lovely to meet you,” Marcus mused.

I nodded, rather than entertain him with my broken speech.

“Tell me about your education. Is it true that you spoke our language without any formal lessons?”

I looked to Gisla, unsure of how wise it might be to share my background with those in the castle. They knew I was a slave at one time, surely such knowledge was enough.

“Mother spoke two languages. That of birthplace, and that of Thor’s Ridge,” I admitted.

“I see, so your mother was from…” He stared at me and waited for me to offer up the name of a land.

I looked to Gisla, not really wanting to admit that I had no idea who my people were.

“Mother was pregnant with me when they enslaved her. She was spoils and rarely spoke of life before.” I shrugged.

“Ah… Well, you know what they say about situations like that, Lady Truth?” Marcus ventured, before quickly finishing his thought, “The story is yours for the telling! You could be Truth of Ramir? Truth of Frankfort… Truth of the Bay, the choices are endless, and it is up to you to fill in the blanks.”

I smiled and gave a nervous chuckle.

“Perhaps.” I hesitantly agreed, before admitting. “Frankfort is dreary and the Bay too fancy for the likes of me… Never seen Ramir.”

“Ramir is where Enzo is from,” Gisla offered.

“Ramir is the holy city.” I gasped, with a quick shake of my head.

I had nobles and royals to contend with. The last thing I wanted to do was anger religious men. I would not say that I was of Ramir.

“I am simply Truth. It is all I have ever been.” I gave a weak smile.

“Very good, Lady Truth it is then.” He winked and waved me toward a desk. “We will study language, writing, and diplomacy.”

“You are a good man and the Bay thanks you for your service,” Gisla assured him before giving my shoulder a squeeze and seeing herself out.

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