I skid to a halt in front of the final door. “They want us to kill each other?”
Her face is pale. “Maim, wound, defeat, and force to yield, but not kill. Those were their words.”
My lips curl in disgust. “Then it’s a test for a torturer.” I slam my fist into the last door, frustration and anger burning through my nerve endings. “They’re doing this because of me. Aren’t they?”
“The whispers are that the idea originated from the House of Valor.”
Worry shoots through me. “Did Rhydian Valor make it through the first test?”
“With only a moment to spare. But yes, he did.”
“Then, it’s about revenge. He’ll go after Sebastian and Jasper first for humiliating him, and then he’ll come after me.”
Now that we’ve stopped running, Elise shakes beside me, trembling so hard I can see her arms and legs wobbling. I’ve never seen her so scared. “Elise, what is it?”
“The other champions won’t be cloaked. They’re allowed to touch you. They’re allowed to do anything they want to force you to yield.”
I stare back at her. Wait… anything?
She clutches the door. “You weren’t there when the Elven Command announced the trial. Rhydian Valor asked for clarification of the rules and the Elven Command gave permission for any methods to be used. I wasn’t allowed to speak. Commander Rath was silenced. He tried to speak for the other champions as well as you. This is bad for everyone.
“Please, Princess, I knew you’d never forgive me if I didn’t wake you, but please… don’t go to this trial.” She reaches for me and her fear is like a solid force. “Please stay here where it’s safe.”
“Safe for how long?” The storm’s whisper echoes around my head:Your husband will kill you.“Either they cut me to shreds in this trial. Or one of them tries to kill me in the end.”
“Cutting you isn’t the worst they could do.”
“I know!” I scream against the wooden door. “The Elven Command is trying to force me out. They want me to be so afraid that I won’t compete. Tell me one thing: while I was asleep, did the storm rage?”
She shakes her head. “I’ve never seen it so calm.”
“Then I might not have its power.” I need to curse. I need to shout and scream. But more than that… “I need my armor. How much time do I have?”
For the first time, there’s a glimmer of hope on her face. She opens the door, revealing my Storm Command waiting in a protective semi-circle. Jordan holds my armor out to me. But her face is as pale and afraid as Elise’s.
I say, “You hoped I wouldn’t open this door.”
“I did.”
“Cover me, please.” They close ranks as I strip off right there, sliding out of my damaged climbing suit and into the light-as-air armor. It covers me from my neck to my toes. I feel braver inside it. Let any male try to cut his way through this.
Elise says, “You have three minutes before they close the doors.”
I wish I could ask her to cloak my skin, but the spells that protect the trials won’t allow any spells to be cast over me.
I don’t have to say anything. I start running and so does my Storm Command. Two of them sprint ahead to clear my path, giving me a clear run through the courtyard and out to the arena. Crowds of elves press around the outside of the building. The upper levels must already be full. No doubt word has travelled fast and nobody wants to miss the spectacle. The onlookers obstruct the doors. If I don’t make it inside in time, it will be because of the elves outside.
My Storm Command screams ahead of me, the tips of their spears sporting blunted covers so they can use them to push elves aside. “Out of the way! Clear the doors!”
Elves scramble backward, hurrying to obey, whispering and pointing. “The Princess.”
From inside the arena, someone shouts an order. I recognize Elwyn Elder’s voice amplified by the spellcasters to be heard above the noise. “One minute to go. Close the doors.”
I’m not going to make it in time. There are too many elves in the way. But the doors are large enough that there’s space above the elves’ heads…
“Jordan, boost!”
She sprints ahead of me with one of my other ladies. The circle around me opens up to allow passage through the front. Jordan drops to her knee in the gap and so does the other elf, facing each other with their hands laced over their knees. I race to them and use their hands as a spring board. At the same time, they stand up beneath me, propelling me into the air.
