She then set up online payments from her bank to secure his salary indefinitely until she returned. She also gave him access to a fund so he could pay the ranch bills. He was only too happy to accept.
The rest of the time she spent changing her clothes and putting some other provisions in her backpack. She knew she wouldn’t need much. Her magic was strong in Vyronas and she would be able to provide well for herself. Instead, she took advantage of bringing clothing that would be practical to wear. She assumed she would be camping out and possibly involved in battles. No, she wouldn’t be wearing any royal gowns until she was seated back in her palace.
Ava didn’t look backward as she walked out of her house. She wasn’t sure if that was because she felt she would be back, or if she was realizing that this ruse was never her home. Now as Ava waited for Carrick and Kieran to come out of the barn, she let her mind drift over her situation.
The Carrick that stood in her bedroom shaming her was not the Carrick she had loved back in Vyronas. This Carrick was a bit scary…cold… almost cruel. She wondered if that was an act to motivate her or had he really changed that much in the past four years. Not that it really mattered to her anymore, but a memory came unbidden to her. She had seen him act with that frigid menace once before.
Ava was just eight years old but already being an heir to the sovereign throne of Kestevayne put quite a burden on her young shoulders. Oh, it’s not that her ultimate duties of ruling and protecting her people were bothering her at this tender age. It was the burden of being unpopular with the other children.
Although Ava was a sweet and generous child, none of the other kids wanted anything to do with her. Oh, she sometimes had her cousin, Quentin who she could count on. But he was away traveling with his parents and she was lonely.
Ava was old enough to know that the other kids were jealous of the privilege that being a Royal brought to her. But she didn’t know how she could change her circumstances. Her family was wealthy, their magic was the strongest, and they lived in a palace. Ava often thought she would give that all up if she could just have one true friend. Since that wasn’t really an option, the most she could do was be extra nice to the other kids and hope that one day they would accept her.
On a beautiful spring day, Ava followed a group of kids, of varying ages, as they went to play in the meadow that lay just to the east of the palace, yet still inside the city walls. The kids were from all diverse backgrounds, poor and rich alike. They all got along well which confused Ava as to why they would not accept her into their group.
Some of the kids came from the working class families such as farmers, butchers, potion makers and the like. Some of the kids came from the Maiorn caste, which ranked above the working class, but was not of royal lineage. These were families who owned land and oversaw the running of towns and cities that sat upon their land outside Kestevayne. The Maiorn swore allegiance to Kestevayne and although most Maiorns had some type of military force of their own, they were also under the protection of the Kestevayne Army.
The rest of the kids were from the Warrior caste of Kestevayne. While not part of the Royal family, they were about as close to royalty as one could get. The Warrior caste descended from a long line of strong Magi. Their only duties were to protect Kestevayne, its citizens and the royal family. It was a great honor to be part of the Warrior caste.
So, there was a hodge podge of kids in the mix, and they all seemed to get along relatively well. The children, about twenty in all, gathered together and discussed what they would do for the day. Some wanted to go fishing, while others wanted to play a group sport game. Ava stood on the fringes, watching the discussion
The rest of the time she spent changing her clothes and putting some other provisions in her backpack. She knew she wouldn’t need much. Her magic was strong in Vyronas and she would be able to provide well for herself. Instead, she took advantage of bringing clothing that would be practical to wear. She assumed she would be camping out and possibly involved in battles. No, she wouldn’t be wearing any royal gowns until she was seated back in her palace.
Ava didn’t look backward as she walked out of her house. She wasn’t sure if that was because she felt she would be back, or if she was realizing that this ruse was never her home. Now as Ava waited for Carrick and Kieran to come out of the barn, she let her mind drift over her situation.
The Carrick that stood in her bedroom shaming her was not the Carrick she had loved back in Vyronas. This Carrick was a bit scary…cold… almost cruel. She wondered if that was an act to motivate her or had he really changed that much in the past four years. Not that it really mattered to her anymore, but a memory came unbidden to her. She had seen him act with that frigid menace once before.
Ava was just eight years old but already being an heir to the sovereign throne of Kestevayne put quite a burden on her young shoulders. Oh, it’s not that her ultimate duties of ruling and protecting her people were bothering her at this tender age. It was the burden of being unpopular with the other children.
Although Ava was a sweet and generous child, none of the other kids wanted anything to do with her. Oh, she sometimes had her cousin, Quentin who she could count on. But he was away traveling with his parents and she was lonely.
Ava was old enough to know that the other kids were jealous of the privilege that being a Royal brought to her. But she didn’t know how she could change her circumstances. Her family was wealthy, their magic was the strongest, and they lived in a palace. Ava often thought she would give that all up if she could just have one true friend. Since that wasn’t really an option, the most she could do was be extra nice to the other kids and hope that one day they would accept her.
On a beautiful spring day, Ava followed a group of kids, of varying ages, as they went to play in the meadow that lay just to the east of the palace, yet still inside the city walls. The kids were from all diverse backgrounds, poor and rich alike. They all got along well which confused Ava as to why they would not accept her into their group.
Some of the kids came from the working class families such as farmers, butchers, potion makers and the like. Some of the kids came from the Maiorn caste, which ranked above the working class, but was not of royal lineage. These were families who owned land and oversaw the running of towns and cities that sat upon their land outside Kestevayne. The Maiorn swore allegiance to Kestevayne and although most Maiorns had some type of military force of their own, they were also under the protection of the Kestevayne Army.
The rest of the kids were from the Warrior caste of Kestevayne. While not part of the Royal family, they were about as close to royalty as one could get. The Warrior caste descended from a long line of strong Magi. Their only duties were to protect Kestevayne, its citizens and the royal family. It was a great honor to be part of the Warrior caste.
So, there was a hodge podge of kids in the mix, and they all seemed to get along relatively well. The children, about twenty in all, gathered together and discussed what they would do for the day. Some wanted to go fishing, while others wanted to play a group sport game. Ava stood on the fringes, watching the discussion
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