Thronebound

By midmorning, the marketplace of Veyndra was already packed with people. Voices came from all sides, overlapping one another. Merchants shouted their prices while customers haggled over items, and not far off, a child was crying because his mother wouldn't buy him a sweet. Percy Vales shifted the basket against her hip and looked at the honey cakes inside. "Careful," Mara said beside her. "You're going to drop them." "I won't." "You said that yesterday." Percy looked at her. "And did I drop them yesterday?" Mara opened her mouth, then shut it. Elara laughed. "She has a point." Percy smiled and kept walking with them toward their usual stall. The three girls had been visiting this marketplace together for years. They knew which merchants would let them use space, which customers would bargain until the price was nearly insulting, and which old women would act uninterested before buying half their goods. Their small stall wasn't much to see, but it was theirs. They sold whatever they could make during the week jars of fragrant herbs, bundles of dried flowers, handmade soaps, small honey bottles, and baskets of freshly baked cakes. It wasn't glamorous. But it paid their bills. And Percy was happy with that arrangement. She appreciated the straightforwardness of her existence. She enjoyed rising each morning with a clear idea of what the day had in store. While she was setting out the honey cakes, Mara suddenly knitted her brows at the basket. “I said we should have brought more.” Percy didn't lift her gaze. “You've mentioned that three times already.” “Because I'm correct.” “You also claimed no one would buy them.” “I've reconsidered.” Elara shook her head, giggling. “You change your opinion every few minutes.” Mara started to protest, but Percy was already laughing. For a brief moment, everything seemed ordinary. Then, somewhere off in the distance, a bell rang. Percy hardly paid any attention to it. A second ring soon followed. And then a third. The sounds of the marketplace gradually started to diminish. Percy lifted his gaze. People were starting to turn in the direction of the square's center. “What is it?” Elara inquired. Percy followed where everyone was looking. Her smile faded away. The town crier had made his way into the marketplace. He wore the royal colors, and in one hand he tightly clutched a long parchment. At the bottom was a black and gold seal imprinted with the Crown's crest. Percy instantly understood what that signified. “Oh, no.” Mara glanced at her. “What?” “A royal announcement.” The town crier ascended the stone platform situated at the center of the square. People started to assemble around him. The merchants ceased shouting out their prices. Customers gave up on their haggling. Even the children grew unusually silent. Percy crossed her arms. She already understood what this was about. Each year, the king chose a group of human maidens and called them to the palace. One of them would eventually become his queen. Then after a short period they are sent back, saying they are not fit to become the nation's queen It was a longstanding custom in Veyndra. A custom Percy had never wished to be part of. “People of Veyndra!” The town crier's voice echoed across the entire marketplace. “By order of His Majesty, King Kael Veyne, I announce the names of the maidens chosen to attend the Royal Gathering.” A murmur of whispers swept through the crowd. Percy let out a sigh. Next to her, Mara suddenly leaned in. The town crier slowly unrolled the parchment. “Amelia Rowen.” A girl near the fountain gasped. “Is that me?” Her mother instantly wrapped her arms around her, and the nearby crowd started offering their congratulations. The crier went on. “Lydia Maren.” Another girl covered her mouth, her eyes widening with excitement. Then came the third name. “Seraphina Vale.” The marketplace buzzed with whispers. Mara moved closer to Percy. “Imagine being chosen.” Percy shot her a glance. “Imagine being unlucky enough to be chosen.” Mara frowned. “Unlucky?” “Why would anyone want to marry a king they don't even know?” “He's the king.” “That doesn't answer my question.” Mara rolled her eyes. Before she could say anything, the town crier cleared his throat. “Next…” There was something in his pause that made Percy look up. The man glanced down at the parchment. Then he read off another name. “Marielle—” Mara let out a scream. Percy flinched. “I'M CHOSEN!” Mara seized Elara's hands, practically hopping with joy. Percy just stared at her. “What?!” “They picked me!” Mara's face shone with excitement. “Percy, they really picked me!” “You have no idea what goes on at the palace.” “I don't care!” Mara laughed, still clutching Elara's hands. “I get to meet the king!” Percy let out a groan and looked away, hoping the announcement would wrap up soon. The town crier spoke louder once more. “And…” Something in his voice caused Percy to look back. He glanced down at the parchment again. Then his gaze moved upward to the crowd. “Percy Vales.” Everything inside her became completely quiet. For a moment, Percy didn't grasp it. She fixed her eyes on the town crier. He fixed his eyes on her. Then, bit by bit, the crowd started to turn toward her. Mara's smile disappeared. Elara came to a halt. Percy felt the basket slip a little from her hand. No. It had to be an error. There must be another Percy Vales. But the town crier was already saying the name again. “Percy Vales.” Her spirits plummeted. Mara turned to face her, moving slowly. “Oh, Percy…” Percy gulped. Her gaze stayed locked on the royal seal imprinted on the document. Just a short while earlier, the palace had seemed like a far-off location she had no cause to consider. Now, it seemed to be anticipating her arrival. And for the first time ever, Percy regretted ever learning the king's name.