A murmur had broken out among the nobility as Kazimiera Jagoda ripped the holy arrow from her shoulder, blood splattering across lush green grass and fallen autumn leaves. The girl looked up at those gathered, the way their mouths hung open as if she had sprouted a third arm and another head. This was the third time the arrow had pierced her clothing but the first time it truly landed in her. The first time it was pinned in her favorite skirts and the second it nicked her arm as it pierced her shirt.

“This cannot be” someone muttered in the crowd.

“Duke Jagoda’s daughter? Not his son?” another asked as the girl marched her way through the crowd, the wound healing from the proximity of the arrow. She deposited the arrow into the hands of one of the priests.

“This thing has attacked me three times already. If you cannot shoot, let someone more skilled do it.” The priest looked at her, shocked. There could be no mistake. He knelt before her, a hand over his chest as his fellow priests followed suit.

“Thrice chosen! The Heavens will it that you shall hold the throne, Kazimiera Jagoda, Ruler of Yuva-Herztany.” Kazia stared at the priests, shocked before turning to see the equally as shocked faces of the nobility around her. Slowly things began to click in her mind. The previous king, King Hiacynt of the Kuzmenko Dynasty had recently died and had died without any children or siblings who could take on the throne. This information meant that the Church had to use the holy arrow, an artifact from the time of the first King and Grand Duke, to choose the next successor. The fact the holy arrow came to her three times meant that they were unsure of if it missed its true target. Her life was changing and she was about to be caught up in a whirlwind of adjusting.

“Alright. Let’s begin the process.” She knew this wouldn’t be as simple as merely being placed upon the throne, Globus Cruciger in one hand, the scepter of Saint Yuri in the other. She turned from the now muttering nobles, knowing that this was going to turn into something bigger than herself. She would be responsible for an entire nation and the people who called it home. She was granted a title of power by Pandievas. She couldn’t stay and listen to the nobility possibly complain.

“if Pandievas so proclaims my right to the throne, I should not dally. I must begin my training and learnings at once.” The Head Priest nodded, still in shock at the events. She began to walk away, hearing the rising roar of nobles starting to come to their senses and talking, or in some cases yelling, about this new development. Kazia could not dwell on it as she was led away. One of the priests turned to her, studying her.

“My Lady, you seem calm about this.” Kazia glanced over, keeping her face as blank as possible.

“What point is there to have a fit over this? Pandievas gave me a mission and I must fulfill the role he gave to me. I do not dare to question His divine authority.” The priest bowed his head.

“So wise you are, Lady Jagoda. You shall make a grand Queen.” Kazia paused for a moment.

“The Laws in place state that there can be no ‘individual Queen in which to rule the Kingdom of Yuva-Herztany.’ So we have come to our first dilemma. So I defy the law and follow the Will of Pandievas, showing to the people that I believe I am above consequence and cannot be held responsible by mortal standards, thus possibly equating myself with a god? Or do I defy Pandievas, whose divine authority is the law of one’s mortal soul, and prove to be a heretic for believing myself able to disregard His Will?” She frowned, placed in a conundrum already. The priest thought for a moment.

“That is quite the issue, Lady Jagoda.” Kazia nodded, thinking still.

“May I enter a library that contains books on law?” The Head Priest nodded and led her down a hallway, into a library. She politely thanked him before going in and finding herself a seat. She took a seat, breathing in slowly before just starting to shake. She was engaged. Her only worries until about twenty minutes ago were being a good wife and mother to her eventual husband and children. She could fake a marriage of happiness if needed but now she was to lead a nation and based on what? She stood and grabbed any law book she could find. She began to read, quiet and determined. She paused as she read, a feeling of weight being lifted off her shoulders occurring.

Kazia didn’t have to be the Queen of the nation. By definition, a queen had no gender, merely only the spouse of the King. When she looked at what a King was, no gender was given for that either, merely that they were the absolute ruler of the nation. No matter the law book, the results were the same.

Kazia would become King Kazimiera the First of her name, of the Dynasty of Jagoda.