Dark Horse: Chapter Two .:Sofie:.

Haggard was a big place, but Sofie swore she knew it like the back of her hand. Her parents were nomadic mortals, with no home city, like most humans of Haggard. Sure, they might be rough, but they cared in their own way. Like every mortal her age, Sofie had been preparing for the Choosing her entire life, if Dark Horse actually had the guts to choose her than Sofie wanted to be ready.

"Too slow." William declared after she'd attempted another sword thrust. "You may be my sister but you should stick with the axe."

Sofie sighed and brushed back a strand of silvery hair. "What if Dark Horse don't allow axes?"

"What if the whole Choosing thing isn't about swords?" Her brother countered. "It's probably nothing. And the chances of either us being chosen out of thousands of kids? Barely."

"You're forgetting again." Sofie shook her head. The Ewell family had a long history with the Choosing, their father's brother had been chosen, his father before him and so on. Dark Horse knew how hardened the family was, and it was safe to assume she didn't like the idea of them being free in Haggard. Either that, or she enjoyed breaking them down.

"I'm not leaving anything out," Will dropped his weapon onto the grass and stood next to her. "We're two out of thousands. Sure she likes pairs, *Haggar knows why*," He muttered. "But there are still hundreds of other options."

Sofie frowned. "But if we aren't chosen we'll be a disgrace."

"Who told you that?" Will laughed. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Nobody will care, and even if they did, do you seriously want do disappear forever?"

"No, I want to know what's in there. Why nobody comes back. I'm more than strong enough for Dark Horse."

"There's that curiosity again," Will sighed. "You know it's dangerous here don't you?"

"*I'm*  dangerous." Sofie corrected.

"Of course you are," Will rolled his eyes. "And self centered. Probably overconfident too."

Sofie punched him in the arm before laughing, "I guess so. C'mon, we've got to get to town so we can at least be there when *someone else* is Chosen."

"Do we? Nobody will know if we don't show."

"Unless you are Chosen." Their mother came out from a nearby tent dressed in her armor, rolled her eyes at her children,  and ordered the others, "Pack up. We are moving out towards Ansmond."

Ansmond, the capitol city of the mortals who weren't nomadic. The city was dirty, drenched in dull colors like brown, grey and black, results of the wars before Dark Horse took over. And even Dark Horse hadn't wanted to get it cleaned up.

Sofie glanced around wrinkling her nose, while Will gripped his dagger. The people around them raised their eyebrows, but didn't make a move.  At the very center of Ansmond, everyone had gathered, townspeople, their parents' group of nomads, and more travelers, awaiting the chosen two with their unlucky fates.

Sofie crossed her fingers, and Will bit his lip. A man dressed in the color pink, Dark Horse's favorite color that she made all her courriers and servants wear, stepped up onto the wooden platform and began to read aloud from a glowing tablet.

"Her majesty of mistress, Dark Horse, has chosen two mortals to come to Capitol and appease the other tribes." He paused, and the entire town seemed to lean forward. "Sofia Luna Ewell and William Haggar-Michel Ewell. Please report to the Chosen wagon."

Will cursed, Sofie stared, and their parents pushed them forwards. "Good luck."

Their father nodded. "You were good while you lasted."

Their mother gave him an angry look. "You will survive. You are different than your predecessors. Good luck."

Will shook his head, but stayed silent, and herded his sister over towards the wagon to their impending doom.