Ariadre and the Legend of the Fire Rose (The Land of Fiora Series Book 1) by Kristi A. Cole

Author:Kristi A. Cole [Cole, Kristi A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-27T00:00:00+00:00

“Ariadre,” Codwaters called my name in his cold and lifeless tone.

I stepped up to the front of the room and cleared my throat, unable to keep my hands from shaking. It was the day of the big speech, and even though I’d had plenty of time to prepare, I’d found it hard to concentrate ever since the last trial.

All I had been able to think about was what had happened at Tree Island. The fire had been purely unnatural, as if someone had been controlling it, causing it to jump from tree to tree.

And that someone had not wanted us to live.

What was strange to me was that everyone else seemed to have forgotten about it. Even Laurel didn’t seem fazed by it one bit. Maybe she was used to having near-death experiences. I certainly wasn’t.

For my speech, Codwaters had given me the topic of Courage, saying it would be a good thing for me to think about. I thought it was a mean trick because I was feeling anything but courageous at the moment.

Now that I was standing in front of the class, I was having trouble remembering how I had even planned to start. I only had a few major points written down on a piece of parchment.

I drew in a quick breath and opened my mouth to speak. Nothing came out.

Dahlia’s smirk was like a beacon in the room, drawing my eyes towards it, while Maggie flickered a weak but encouraging smile. Codwaters was fidgeting with his glasses as if he didn’t care what I had to say.

Tick tock. Tick tock.

The clock on the wall set my nerves on edge as its every sound was amplified.

I glanced towards the exit, trying to guess how many steps it would take for me to reach it when a familiar burning sensation began to travel from somewhere in my center all the way up to my head. It felt warm and delicious, like hot cider on a winter day, filling me with an unusual calm.

The world faded in front of me, and in my mind’s eye, I could see my speech. I could suddenly scan through possible sentences, words, and phrases, determining their outcome and effect before they were even spoken.

New energy spurred me on, and I lifted my chin.

“Courage,” I began. “Is it when we do not feel any fear? No. Quite the contrary. Courage is forged in the deepest places of our soul when fear rages all around us and seems to have the upper hand. When all that we can see is darkness…”

As I spoke, passion welled up inside of me, and I began to walk around the room.

“Therefore, fear is necessary for courage to grow.”

I could see my classmates’ faces more clearly now, but at the same time, I got a better picture of what they truly were—young girls who were just as insecure as I was.

“So what causes us to feel fear? Other people’s opinions? Lack of time, money, and resource? The threat of pain and death? These are the things that can so easily stop us in our tracks.

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