Thorns in The Rose: Once Tasted, Never Forgotten (book 1)

Prologue--Theesa

Ever since I was a little girl, I've always wanted adventure. My parents and I are in a kingdom called Edinburgh, Scotland. My family has been here since it was officially founded. That was around 850 BC. We live in one of the many civilizations on the outskirts of the kingdom, not very near the castle. It takes about 5 days on horseback to get there... Which disturbs me. Why would we be so far away from the castle? Shouldn't we be closer so we can connect with everyone?

When I got older, I realized why the towns were built this far away from the castle; to protect us.

My older bother Breac always told me stories of what happened when he visited there. He is a falconer, and travels all over Edinburgh entertaining people and trading. 

He said that everyone he met that works near or in the castle seems suspicious. They are always alert, very stealthy, and sometimes even violent. They keep secrets and only the king and his workers know them. Everyone and their uncle is very suspicious of the Monarchy. In fact, I heard from Breac that some people are getting jobs there just to be an inside source. I pray that what Breac said is not true. If the King finds out, they will most definitely be executed. 

I've never been to an execution. I personally think the whole idea is morbid. Why would you enjoy seeing someone killed? I guess some people fake it. Who knows what might happen to you if you protest at the execution. You might get executed yourself...

This time of year is the very peak of executions. It's winter time, and people are starving. The only thing left to do is the last resort. Stealing. Or die. If you get caught stealing, you will be killed anyway, so there's a no win situation there.  That's why the King is huge about making sure you have a job. Make sure you have at least some income to buy necessities for your family. To make things even worse, the King decided to double the price of bread. He thought too many people were able to buy it, so he thought he was eventually going to run out... Let's just say King Daniel is a very greedy ruler.

Fortunately, my family lives on a farm. We gather and sell enough crops to make it through the winter. We even have some extra food and money. My father is a very generous person, so he eventually gives them away to needy families. I think we need to buy some better tools for faster gathering, but he insists of doing it the old fashion way. My mother agrees. 

I am very envious of my parents. I have never seen two people get along so well. I have never heard them fight. Not once. Of course they don't always agree, but they always find a compromise. They are also the most generous and accepting people I know. They never hold grudges and that's why everyone in my town knows and enjoys their company. We are likable people. 

Talking about likable people, my brother just got engaged! He and his now fiance Fiona have been together for a couple years now. She is the merchant's daughter. Luckily Breac and Fiona's father hit it off. They now tell each other stories often.

Well, I guess that's the most important things to know about my surroundings. 

My name is Theesa. I am 15 years old. People find me a little odd. I like things that other girls my age don't. For example, I like snakes. They're super cool and misunderstood. I'm also interested in becoming a healer. Fiona works with medicines, and she's been showing me what she does for a living. It makes me feel... Happy. I don't know why. I just feel like healing is my purpose. 

I like to read. While everyone else is playing with dolls or going to the woods, i'm usually sitting against the tree in my backyard reading. It takes me to another place that I wish to go someday.

I don't have many friends, except for my best friend Xino. Our parents have been friends for a long time, so Xino and I have known each other since we were babies. He's the only person who doesn't judge me for who I am. Well, him and my family. Everyone else judges me behind their backs. 

Talking about gossiping, the person who bothers me the most is this guy named Jamie. He usually just insults me, but one day he shoved me into a wall and spat on me. Xino saw it happen and immediately punched him in the face! At first I was surprised. I didn't think Xino would do something like that. Then I was relieved, and ran as fast and as far away as I could. 

I think I would fight someone for Xino too. He can take care of himself, but I know some moves now just in case. 

My father, right before he went into our farming business, was a royal guard. He knew how to sword fight and do these cool tricks. 

Of course, being my father, he decided that he needed to teach his kids to fight. Especially his young daughter. The world is full of bad people, and if you can't protect yourself, bad things will happen to you. 

Anyway, he started slow. When I turned eight, he made a dummy in the barn. A face, chest, arms and legs. If you hit it, it spun around like crazy. He used that practice dummy to help with my hand to hand combat. I guess once you're a soldier, you're always a soldier.

A lot of people in my town didn't approve of letting women do these kinds of things. My family kept it secret from the rest of the world; training at night when no one was awake. The only person I told about this was Xino. And of course, being him, he wanted to learn too. So since the ripe age of ten, we've known how to sword fight. I personally think that's pretty impressive.

A lot of things are different now that I'm older. I help around the house more. I also go around the village to ask people if they need help with anything. My mother wanted me to do this to show that I was a good citizen. On Mondays I water our neighbors' flowers, Tuesdays I help make bread with the chef, Wednesdays I help re-stack books in the library, Thursdays I help teach little kids, and on Friday I help the blacksmith. The weekends are when I help around my house and have a little free time. It's also when Xino and I collect plants and herbs from the woods. 

Unfortunately, I have also been forced to wear a dress in public. I don't know how women do this! It's itchy, very tight, and most of the time I feel like I'm causing too much attention to go to me. Mother forced me into this because I 'need to learn to be a proper lady'. 

Well, I officially love pants. 

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Today was the worst day of my entire life. 

Everything used to be so simple.

I would rather go back to wearing dresses than loosing my family.

I would rather get beat up by Jamie than seeing my town burnt to ashes.

I would rather die than to see this all happen because of King Daniel's men.