The arena’s floor is sunken so that it’s surrounded by a tall wall. At least two hundred people are perched in spectator stands that loom above the left and right sides of the long rectangle. A sea of faceless individuals, blocked out by the harsh lights overhead. At the far end is a balcony where the vicar and high curates sit.
Father’s chair is empty.
He really is gone…
And I feel…numb. I should be crying, shouldn’t I? Maybe something is wrong with me after all. My cheeks are dry. My chest is hollow. For once in my life, I don’t even feel my heart beat.
He’s gone…
The only thing that’s keeping me standing—keeping me pushing forward—is the knowledge that this is it. This is the last test, and then it’s over. I will enter Mercy, and there I can uncover the truth of Father’s death and find clues for where Mum might have gone into hiding. I’ll fight from the inside.
I glance toward Saipha and Lucan, chest tightening with the same pang of guilt I felt last night. I held back, and they might have suffered for it. I won’t make the same mistake today. I turn my eyes forward again, resolved.Play the vicar’s game, and we all survive.
“Welcome, supplicants, to the final day of your Tribunal.” The vicar’s voice booms. “The past three weeks have pushed you all to grow and to learn. You are coming away stronger—more prepared to live and sacrifice for Vinguard. And with the confidence that you do not bear the dragon curse.
“Today’s test will not just be the final hour of ensuring the curse cannot be wrought from your body, but it is also a demonstration for the various guilds and trade masters of our city.” He pauses, gesturing to the individuals gathered in the stands. “Following this test, you will receive your gilding and your invitations from them. Will you study under a master craftsman? Will you join one of our city’s guilds? It will be determined in part by whose eye you catch during your performance today. But, no matter which path you walk, you will join Vinguard as a full citizen and productive member of our society to further contribute to Vinguard’s greatness.”
What greatness?The remark sears across my thoughts. None of the people before me are great. They all cower to Vicar Darius, as though he could save them. And the vicar cowers before the dragons. He wouldn’t need me if he didn’t.
The vicar continues, “For this test, we have constructed three challenges. You will be given one hour to complete as many challenges as you’re able. And you may complete any challenge any number of times you wish, as they will adapt as you continue.
“For every challenge completed, you will be awarded with a token. With three tokens in hand, you may pass alone through the doors below, entering Vinguard once more as a full citizen.” He gestures under his balcony, where there is a door with three slits in it. Two inquisitors stand on either side like guards. “While those who succeed in completing the three challenges within the hour will be scored more favorably, it is never simply about how quickly you achieve something, but the methodology you use to get there. The way you resolve each problem will indicate to the various guilds and craftsmen here what job you might be best suited for.”
While he speaks, I mortar my focus in the present and assess the stadium. Across the stadium are three stations.
One is a rough-hewn cliff face that stands almost as tall as the walls of the arena. Lines of rope stretch down from its top to where they’re pinned at the bottom. A table with an assortment of artificer gears, tools, and other supplies is at the cliff’s base.
The second station has shelves filled with what look like silver boxes coated in splotches of paint—I’m unable to make out the details from here.
The third station is lowered into the arena’s floor—a subterranean ring filled with thin columns of different sizes poking up from a hazy mist. What their purpose is, or what the challenge might be, is impossible to tell.
Then, there are the doors he mentioned with the three slots. Three tokens each are all that stands between us and the end of the Tribunal. I can already taste Callon’s home-cooked meals, feel the softness of the pelt Father gifted me. I can challenge the world order after a hot meal and a good night’s rest.
One last push, Isola. You’re nearly there.
“And, lastly, any supplicants who fail to get three tokens within the hour will be presented with one final challenge to open the doors.” Of course there’s a catch. “I wish you all the best of luck. Your time beginsnow.”
The second he finishes, a large clock lowers from amid the lights above. With aboom, the hand clicks forward one notch. After that, it’s a steadythunkevery time the gears turn over, signifying another second has passed.
“Split up?” I suggest to Saipha and Lucan. “We each master one of the challenges and get three tokens and share.” The vicar did say we could do them multiple times, and nothing about not being able to share tokens. And none of us are in a state to do a fourth challenge if we don’t get the tokens in time.
“Are you sure you can—” Saipha starts to say. I already knowwhat she’s hinting at before she can finish her question.
I take a step closer to her, my voice dropping low. “My father is dead, and weeping isn’t going to bring him back. Someone murdered him.”
“What? How do you know that?” Saipha breathes.
“I can’t explain how, but I do.” The vicar’s hand is in this; I just know it is. Especially after the last conversation I had with Father. “And no matter what, I’m not getting to the truth of it unless I have a dragon-blood dyed cape on my shoulders. So, I’m doing this, and I’m going to be better than everyone else.”
She gives me a nod but says nothing.
“Which challenge do you want?” Lucan asks.
“I’ll take…that one, I guess.” Saipha points to the foggy pit with the pillars as I release her.
“I’ll tackle the cliff, then,” Lucan says.
“And I’ll do whatever is up with the boxes.” That whole setup reminds me of one of the games my father would play with me as a girl, where he’d hide little keys and tokens across the house. Or reward me with them for solving puzzles throughout the week to be able to exchange them for special treats at the end. I’m pretty certain now that he was preparing me for the Tribunal without ever telling me. I swallow the lump in my throat. I wonder if he had a hand in designing this arena and it is the last gift he’ll ever give me.
