Tiva Boon: Royal Guardian Read Online Free

D’laja raised her hand, motioning for Tiva to come, a smile still on her lips.
    “Coming Mother!” She waved back. “Sorry Te, I have to go. I’ll see you later.” She looked over her shoulder, and kicked off into a sprint toward home. It looked like all the other houses on the land: smooth gray stone exterior with massive, colored windows. The slated roof was high and round with a communications dish attached near the rear of the house, the only obvious sign of technology on the ancient dwelling.
    At top speed, she ran toward the house. The large wooden door was ajar and the sweet aroma from the kitchen wafted through the field. Tiva grinned and slowed her pace. She took a small hop and kicked off the stepping-stone near the door. She soared into the air, flipped forward, and landed in the doorway. She lifted her hands gaining her balance, then glanced at her mother.
    “You are getting better at your landing. Happy Remembrance, precious.” D’laja smiled and held out her arms. Tiva ran to her mother and hugged her. D’laja kissed her forehead, then playfully patted her on the bottom. “Go wash up, change for morning meal, and after that we head to the palace; you must make haste.”
    “Yes, Mother,” Tiva said. She released her mother, twirled around, and skipped through the lounge bumping into her father near the last stair. “It is a beautiful morning, Father.”
    He leaned over and picked her up. “You are growing up so fast. Soon you will be as tall as your mother, and I will no longer be able to carry you.” Kevler kissed her cheek and stroked his fingers over her markings. “Happy Remembrance, dearest one.”
    “Thank you, Father.” She kissed him back. “But you better not keep me, I must not dawdle, Mother said so.”
    He nodded his head and set her down. “Then do not tarry, be gone!” He chuckled and waved his hand to her.
    She rolled her eyes playfully before running up the stairs.
    Reaching the landing, she spotted a shadow approaching. Two small figures tackled her when she turned the corner. Knowing her siblings tactics already, Tiva grabbed them both, twisted them around, and rolled over so she was lying sideways across them.
    “We do just like Rae!” the girl screeched.
    “We want to have fun on Remembrance!” the boy said.
    Tiva tickled them both. The dark-haired, gray-eyed twins squirmed and squealed underneath her, but she continued. Their laughter echoed through the hallway. Tiva knew she risked reprimand for not getting ready quickly enough and stopped, eventually. She looked both in the eyes and tickled once more before jumping to her feet.
    “Remock, Bintu you are both too young to play so rough.”
    “I am not too young,” Bintu grumbled pulling the dress down as she stood.
    “I am not too young, too. Cousin Rae tackled you the first time when you were three. Bintu and I are four and one third.” Remock stayed on the floor and crossed his arms.
    “Very well, but you should only tackle those you know you can best.” Tiva offered her hand. Remock grabbed it. Tiva jerked him to his feet. “At least until you’re a guardian like me.”
    “You are not a guardian…I’m telling Mother you’re fibbing!” Bintu jested.
    “I ’ll be a guardian today, after I see the king and queen.” Tiva made a comical face at her sister.
    “We know,” Remock said, “we can’t wait the months until we meet the king!”
    “Your time comes quickly now, but I must go and ready myself.” She smiled, and hugged her siblings. “I will see you at morning meal.”
     
    Tiva appeared in the entranceway of the kitchen. One by one, her family turned to her. Smiles lit their faces. She stood before them in her new training uniform, legs slightly apart, her stance firm and confident. The dark maroon tunic with gray patches on each shoulder fit perfectly. The color did not flatter her pale-pink skin tone, but she belonged in the uniform. It felt natural. The trousers, black and flared at the