“The rules for the calling of the creatures are simple,” Herald continued. “Each party vying for the crown of Wonderland will use aether magic to call upon their mythical creature of choice. No fae may be called or influenced in this trial, only creatures identifiable as animals. Once the creatures are called, it’s a fight to the death. The participant with the victorious creature wins this challenge.”
“And if someone’s animal doesn’t show up?” the Red Queen asked, her lips curled in a smile that wanted to punch off her face.
“If only one participant succeeds in calling a creature, they are the winner.” Herald held up the jar. “The godsflame chose this spot specifically for its accessibility to animals of the forest, air, and sea. Everyone who is not a contestant, congregate at the edge of the beach. Just as with the combat trial, the godsflame will protect onlookers from any animals who might slip from their master’s control.”
The crowd, including the soldiers and a few rebels I glimpsed in the far back, moved to huddle against rocks that climbed up to the base of Heart Castle.
Once they were a safe distance away, Herald unscrewed the jar’s lid. Out floated the green flame—the final godsflame of the trial.
“Are the contestants ready?” he asked.
I glared at my aunt, and she stared back at me, hard and unyielding.
“Yes,” I growled.
The Red Queen nodded. “Let’s get this over with.”
In response, the green godsflame floated up, thirty feet high, and formed the shape of a unicorn.
Herald held his paws to the sky. “Let the final challenge of the Trial by Aether begin!”
The Red Queen leapt into motion, her body turning, her arms extending toward the ocean.
My heart jumped into my throat at the implication.She must be calling the kraken. I need to focus.
Mentally bringing up an image of the roc, I called the aether. I bid it to find the closest roc and bring it to me.
I did exactly as the text said. And yet, I felt absolutelynothing—no change. No indication that what I was doing was working.
Maybe calling creatures is a more subtle magic.
Keeping my eyes closed, I tried harder and harder. Sweat began to pour down my brow, and my arms trembled as the sounds of churning water and my aunt’s laughter filled my ears.
“She’s coming!” the Red Queen cackled. “The queen kraken is coming to protect her master!”
She must’ve looked over at me, because her next jab was directed at my pitiful state.
“You should pull yourself together. Kraken can sense weakness as well as they can smell blood in the water. They might mistake you for a tasty snack, niece.”
My teeth gnashed together and, unsure if it was the right thing, I switched targets. Gryphons were more familiar to me. At the very least, I’d seen one in the wild, smelled their musty scent, heard the noises they made.
I pulled up the image of the convocation of gryphon, as vivid in my mind as the day I entered Faerie.
A bird screeched, and distractingly, the hope that the roc had actually arrived leapt in my chest.
I opened my eyes and swore.
It was only an ordinary hawk, cruising the skies.
“It seems you need assistance,” a voice, dreamy and familiar, spoke in my ear.
I gasped and twisted, but no one was beside me.
“Who’s there?” I asked as a pit formed in my stomach.
Was someone playing a trick on me? Was one of the witches befuddling my senses?
“I’ve been watching you, Alice. And now I’m here because you have shown which princess you’re most like.”
