The leaders of the villages of course.
But I have to focus on what the king says. And as usual, he starts with the same sentence, just like he did with every other beginning of a trial.
“Welcome to the fourth trial!” he yells.
But what is different this time is that almost nobody claps. There isn’t a live audience and none of us candidates are going to clap for him. His eyes darken at me as I fold my arms together. He coughs, in some kind of embarrassment I think?
“Well, let’s start then I guess,” he continues. “You will have to reach the top of the mountain to win.” An evil smile rises on his face, the crown weighing heavy on his head.
“There will be only one winner. Good luck.”
Giving us no further information, he walks away. I am not sure why they bonded us together if they wanted only one winner? The sensation maybe, the killing? Well, little does that man know my plan isn’t to win this damn thing. It is Braxton’s plan. Or that is what I think at least. I turn to him, but his gaze is forward, not looking at me. He must notice me looking because he answers.
“I am not leaving you alone. We are going to the top together,” he growls, no room for debate. I shrug. Fine by me. Because I hope to be gone before I can reach it.
The king starts counting and before I know it, we are all sprinting into the deep dark forest.
Twigs break under my feet as I rush inside the dark forest. Just like a light switch, a ball of light starts to dance above me as darkness surrounds me. My feet stop as I watch Aiden and Aaliyah both run into a different direction. Delilah and Ethan also split up. None of them have already started a fight. I spin around in slow motion, only hearing my own breathing and heart pounding in my ears.
“Where the fuck are you going?” Braxton hisses.
I narrow my eyes on him.
“I am giving you an opportunity.”
I shrug. He grabs me by my arm as I step forward. I avoid his eye contact, but I feel his gaze burn on my face.
“No. We are not doing this. You and I both know something changed between us,”he argues. “I don’t want to win. All I want to do is leave and never look back at the palace.”
What he actually wants to say is his father, and I actually wanted to leave on my own, but he is right. Something changed between us and it makes me look up in his eyes.
Maybe leaving together isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I can’t ignore the little jump my heart makes every time he is around.
“Alright.”I sigh. I try to sound bored, but I notice the enthusiastic high-pitched note in my voice and I assume that Braxton heard it too.
“So what’s your plan?” he asks, putting his hands in his pockets. A grin appears on my face.
“You will see.”
Braxton goes in front using his sword to cut away long branches of leaves. There are some paths. But we decided to go off road.
“Are we even planning on reaching the top?” Braxton asks.
“Yes. I have some things to say to your father.” I know how I hope to be gone before I reach it. But it is important to see the king one last time. My feet stamp through the wet and mushy floor.
“As long as we keep coming to new places we should be fine,” he suggests. I chuckle. Little does he know I can do some things with my magic.
A light compass appears in front of him making him stop.
“When we stood in front of the forest the sun was to our left. On the east, because it was coming up. The mountain in the middle was south,” I explain to him. I step next to him pointing my finger on top of the hologram compass. The compass has four directions, but it also has a little sun up top. “The sun is now on the east, but we will see it rise. That way we can know where the sun is and whether we have to keep it on the left, middle or right. This maze or forest thing might shift and change direction.” I continue, pointing my finger at the sun.
“But the sun won’t. I will make sure of that.” For the first time since my explanation, I look at Braxton. He opens his mouth and closes it again, holding his tongue.
“Why did you never show me you could do this? That is impressive,” he sputters, his voice low and raspy, his finger brushing through the light giving hologram. I shrug my shoulders.
“Because I wasn’t sure I would nail it. But I practiced and I think it will manage the way I want it to.” I smile shyly.
“Is that what all your books are about?” he asks, making up his pace again.
