Chapter Two

Ahmik flies down the path just as I could have hoped. We travel most of the day without incident. We are only about an hour or two away from the festival when the sky all around us goes pitch black and lightning strikes down beside us. Part of me is relieved, but I’m also a little disappointed.

Lucky for me Ahmik isn't easily frightened by storms. I get down and walk him over to a grove under the trees. I use my magic to create a barrier that will protect us from getting soaked by the storm. I try not to let this delay get me down and just hope the storm doesn’t last long, so we can be on our way. After 30 minutes, I give up and sit down beside Ahmik.

It figures that we would get held up by a violent storm right when we are making record time. All the anger in the world can’t compare to the violence raging all around us. I hope I never have to deal with such rage. Just the thought of it frightens me a little bit.

Just when I think it’s never going to end, the storm finally subsides. I can sense a great peace and calm in the woods as Ahmik and I continue on our journey. Ahmik ventures on as fast as he can go. Even though we are a little late to the festival, we aren’t the last to arrive.

I direct Ahmik to the stables. They aren’t too far from the entrance, so we have no trouble finding them. The stables are just as grand as my brothers had described them. They are painted white with a deep green trim, and there are rose bushes on every side save the doors. Many horses and other animals are already in their designated areas. Although they are of many different sizes, none of the animals are what I would call unique.

As we are looking for Ahmik’s designated area, I realize how much bigger the stables are on the inside. They sure didn’t look like they could hold hundreds of horses and all of the other animals that brought their riders to the festival. They are so elegant and well-kept, with stable hands walking everywhere, making sure all the animals are fed and taken care of. I finally find Ahmik’s name. He has a nice, large space for him to lie down on, plenty of hay, and space for me to keep his saddle and all of his supplies. I unload him and give him a nice brushing and evening meal. After ensuring that Ahmik is adjusting to his surroundings, I leave to find the sign-in tent.

As I’m heading towards the doors, I feel a strong presence, almost like a gust of wind blew all around me. Usually, my instincts are telling me to run from danger, but I am at the Triune Festival; there is no danger here. But, as I’m passing through the stable doors, I notice a man who looks like the face of evil, if there is such a thing.

He has a sideways grin that sends chills up my spine. His hair is red and orange and looks like it could turn into fire at any moment. His eyes seem to say that he has an ulterior motive and is hiding something. I break eye contact and race away before I am killed by curiosity. I can hear his entire entourage laughing, most likely at my pathetic excuse for a heroine. I lecture myself about being braver next time.

The sign-in tent is so busy and crowded that I barely have time to notice anything else around me. Although, I am amazed at a group of warriors that walks by, bantering like a bunch of schoolboys. I keep walking and can’t stop thinking about the presence I felt before noticing that evil looking man. I shudder at the very thought of him.

I need to focus on finding my tent and getting some sleep, because tomorrow is going be a long day. I finally locate the line that leads into the sign-in tent and realize that it’s rather small, only large enough to hold three guests and the tent designator. I can’t help but notice all the groups of people that already know each other.

This is the first time in decades that only one person from my kingdom has attended the festival. There are others who have the lineage, but they are a couple years too young to attend. Everyone older than me, like my brothers, had already been to the festival. I was the only one born with a Triune lineage. Now I understand how much I depend on meeting my two matches; I will finally have companions my own age that know what I am experiencing. I try to focus on the present and not my loneliness or the uncertainty of the future. Everyone is so rambunctious and excited, and I can’t wait to join in on some of the fun.

I’m next in line to see the designator, so I’m starting to get nervous. What if I’m put in a tent with strange mages or those more developed than me? Although, we spend only one night together before everyone is separated into match groups. We will all go through a bunch of tests and trials on the day of matching ceremonies to see who should be paired up. It’s not about being the best, because there are no scores. It’s just about being you and showing your unique talents and powers. The people in charge of the festival have hundreds of years of experience in matching.

I hand my papers to a kind but worn-out man at the table, and he directs one of the festival workers to show me to my tent. We didn’t walk very far before I saw the most magnificent dark purple tents with orange fabric waving in the breeze. This is it, the beginning of the Triune Festival, the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I cherish this brief moment and walk inside.