Page 1 of Blackwarden
Chapter 1 ~ The Name Called
Rosalin
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I couldn’t let them take my sister to the Dark Fae monsters, not when I was a childless widow burning with hatred. The moment I heard Renee’s name from the Magistrate’s lips, I knew what I had to do. She had so much of her life left to live. And the life I’d always wanted had been taken from me, all because my husband was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I stood and took confident steps to the dais before Renee even had the chance to acknowledge her name had been called. She was likely too shocked for the words to sink in. I would have been, if I’d just found out I was being sent to the Dark Fae—the terrifying creatures we’d read about in children’s stories. The same ones that had spent the better part of a hundred years systematically slaying humans during the Fae Wars. Dark Fae, like the one who’d killed my husband.
“The name I called was Renee Stormbeck,notRosalin Greene,” Magistrate Thompson said, voice stained with impatience. I pretended not to hear him. “It was your sister I called.” He reached a hand forward to stop me.
I couldn’t ignore him anymore. Mostly because my resolve was crumbling, the terror of what I was choosing to do sinking into my flesh like dark claws. By the time I’d taken the final step I was trembling, my confidence blowing away in the bitter, winter breeze.
“Pretend I’m her. Let me go in her place,” I hissed, hoping not everyone in the crowd heard. Not that most of these people didn’t know who my sister and I were already. Fennigsville was a small village.
“The person whose name is selected, is who must—”
“Please. My sister has her entire adulthood ahead of her. I’m a widow. No one wants me.” I hated the pleading in my voice, the way my heart raced faster with every word that tumbled out of me. “I fit the age criteria. I have no children. Let me go in her place. I beg of you.”
Thick silence had fallen over the crowd. I tried to ignore how their eyes burned the surface of my skin. I stood a little straighter, wiping sweaty palms on my dress. I hadn’t exactly prepared for the choosing of our town’s sacrifice. Instead, I’d worn my old brown work dress and a simple woolen cloak, my hair pulled into a loose braid. Most of the girls wore their finest gowns, with elaborate plaits and gaudy makeup, as though they were attending a formal ball. They all knew there was a chance they’d be taken away and without knowing what would become of them, they wanted to be prepared.
My name hadn’t even been included in the choosing. I’d escaped the archaic requirement when I’d married Bastion. I had only come to support Renee, because I knew, if her name was called, I couldn’t let her go.
“Rosalin!” Renee yanked at my arm. “This is my burden. You’re—”
“My life is spent. Yours is just beginning.” I pushed her back as two men in dark leathers stepped forward on either side of the Magistrate. “Besides, one of these Fae monsters killed my husband. Maybe this will give me a chance to find some closure...or you know, put a knife in someone’s gut.”
A sad smile tugged at her lips at my attempt at humor. It was fleeting. She stared at me, her eyes growing glassy as she clung to my arm.
“Say your farewells, Ms. Greene. These men shall escort you to the Gatehouse.”
I willed a shiver of terror back down into the pit of my stomach. “Can I grab a few things from my—”
“Anything you should need shall be provided to you.”
“But I—”
“Say your farewells,” Magistrate Thompson spat, turning away as the other two men stepped forward, all frowns and folded arms.
I’d made my choice. I had to go with them, or my sister would be dragged away—and I refused to let that happen. I turned to Renee and immediately wished I hadn’t. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and I struggled to hold back my own sorrow. I needed to be strong, for her.For me.I pulled her into my arms and held her as tightly as I dared, her shoulders shaking as she cried. I choked on a sob as I gripped the back of my baby sister’s head. This would be the last time I’d get to hug her, and I’d make it count.
“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered, even though I knew it was lie.
“It’snotgoing to be okay,” she said, between snivels. “I’ll never see you again!”
“We’d never see each other again anyway, whether it was you or me going.”
She refused to remove her face from my shoulder, holding me tighter than she ever had, and I refused to let go. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.
Not yet.
“It should be me. He called me,” she whimpered.
“You still have so much to live for. I’ve had nothing since Bastion was killed.” I pulled her back, holding her at arm’s length before cradling her face between my hands.
I couldn’t help my lower lip from quivering. She was my little sister. As far as I knew, she’d never even held a boy’s hand. Never been kissed. Never made love. She hadn’t lived, not really. And now I wouldn’t get to see her fall in love, or braid her hair on herwedding day, or hold my nieces and nephews in my arms. But at least I knew she’d have a chance to have these things.
“Let me do this,” I said, with as much authority as I could muster.
