Page 81 of Awakened Light

Catrain slid from my arms and took her sister by the hand. Together, they approached their mother.

“No one needs to die, Mother. If you’ll just give me a chance to explain, we have a plan.”

Liùsaidh didn’t answer as her daughters approached her.

Catrain reached her first. “I am giving up my right to the throne.”

The tribe who watched silently all gasped along with Liùsaidh.

“You can’t!” Liùsaidh screeched. “The tradition—”

“I know the tradition,” Catrain cut her off. “But I’m making a new tradition. I don’t want the throne. I don’t want to marry Uradech.” She pulled her sister forward. “But Alpia does. She loves him, and she will make a much better leader than I would. Alpia is the one who should marry Uradech and take your throne.”

Liùsaidh looked between them, and after a moment, shook her head. “It’s not how it’s done. The eldest ascends.”

Catrain stepped forward and slipped her mother’s hands into hers. “I know that’s how it’s always been done, but that doesn’t mean we can’t change... adapt. This isn’t what I want, mother. I know that hurts you, but it’s true. You want a ruler who wants to rule, not someone forced into the throne. Alpia is the right leader. She will take care of our people and our traditions the same way you would. It should have always been her.”

Liùsaidh stood silently, then glanced over to her youngest daughter.

Alpia lowered her eyes to the ground and stared at her bare feet.

“This is what you want?” Liùsaidh asked her.

Alpia lifted her head and looked to Uradech. His eyes lit up the way mine did when I looked at Catrain, and he nodded his head as he smiled.

“Yes. This is what I want,” Alpia said. “I promise I won’t let you down, Mother. If you’ll just give me a chance, I will make you so proud.”

Liùsaidh twisted her lips as she looked to Uradech. “Do you agree to this? You must agree to ensure our pact remains intact.”

“Yes,” he answered quickly. “Yes, I agree. I will marry and rule with Alpia.”

Alpia’s face lit up like a thousand suns as she smiled at him, and he returned the warmth with his growing smile.

Liùsaidh looked to Catrain and impaled her with a heated stare. “There is no going back if you decide to do this.” She glanced to me. “If you choose him over your people.”

“It’s not about him. I’ve never wanted this. Never. I have dreaded this day my entire life, but only now I realized I have a choice. I choose my happiness. I choose Alpia’s happiness. Uradech’s happiness. I choose what’s best for our tribe. And yes,” she paused and looked at me, “I choose Thorne. Alpia should reign, and I agree to give up my claim to the throne.”

“Then it is done.” Liùsaidh bowed her head and stepped forward toward the tribe. “Let it be known that the heir to the throne is my daughter, Alpia. She will wed Uradech under the next full moon.”

The shocked faces of the tribespeople started to soften as they saw the joy between Uradech and Alpia.

“Does anyone oppose this union?” Liùsaidh asked them.

They glanced between each other, all answering with the same shaking heads.

“Then let it be decided. Alpia, come.”

Alpia hurried to her side, and together they stood in front of the tribe.

Liùsaidh tapped her staff in the sand. “Bow to the new heir.”

One by one, they lowered themselves to the ground. I glanced over to see Catrain watching with tear-filled eyes and that smile I’d missed so much.

When the tribespeople rose, Liùsaidh pulled Alpia in for a hug and kissed her on the cheek. After she let go, Alpia raced to Uradech, and he caught her in his enormous arms.

I walked over to Catrain, and she spun to see me.

“Did you just pull it off?” I asked as I stopped in front of her.