Jasper and Baelen arrive at the same time, their advisors in tow. I assess the gap between us when they sit down, conscious that they are both doing the same. None of us trusts the Elven Command not to turn the tables on us.
Our advisors take their places behind us as Osian Valor clears his throat. “For this challenge, we have invoked the power of the Heartstone Chest. It is able to discern from the heartstones contained within it, your minds’ true thoughts and your hearts’ true desires. But this game is not about knowing your own thoughts. It is about knowing your enemy’s.”
He claps his hands and from nowhere, barriers shoot up between the three of us. There are now walls between us stretching from floor to ceiling. I can’t see Baelen or Jasper, but I can see the Elven Command in front of me.
Elise whispers at my back, “Steady, Princess. Don’t react.”
Osian waits with one eyebrow raised as if he expected one or more of us to protest. When we don’t, he claps his hands again. Less alarming this time, a small table appears in front of me.
He says, “For this challenge you will be presented with two cups. Each cup will have a certain… meaning.” He paces the floor, taking his time. “You must choose which one to drink. The only way to remain in the game is to choose the same cup as one of your opponents. As soon as you choose a different cup from the other two champions, you will be eliminated and the game is over.”
I take deep breaths as my head spins about the rules. I have to choose the same cup as Baelen or Jasper. If I’m the odd one out, I’ll be eliminated.
Osian grins. “Oh, and just to make things interesting, the substance you’ll be drinking won’t assist clear thinking.” He waves his hands at the War Table. “Much like the fog of war and decisions made in battle.”
He claps his hands again and two goblets appear side by side on the table in front of me.
“You may not lift up a cup unless you are prepared to drink from it. You will know when one of your opponents is eliminated because a bell will chime. Now, make your choice.” Osian Valor steps back in line with the other Elven Commanders and I’m guessing that’s all he has to say.
I assess the goblets in front of me. One is gold. The other is silver. Otherwise, they’re identical in shape and form.
Gold or silver? Which would Baelen choose? What about Jasper? I only have to choose the same as one of them. But which one should I try to copy?
Although… what if they don’t choose according to their own instincts? What if they choose the one they thinkIwould choose? If that’s the case, then I should choose the one I would pick, not the one they would pick.
Umm…?
My brain is already boggling.
Okay, focus Marbella. Concentrate on what you know.I take a deep breath. I know that Baelen’s bound himself to me and that that compulsion will urge him to pick the same cup as me. Jasper is loyal to Baelen so he would follow the same footsteps. Which means, I need to know which one I would choose.
Which is…?
One of the Elven Commanders shifts and I catch the movement from the corner of my eye. The others haven’t moved, but they’re all staring at me. Is it possible that I’m the last one to choose or are they trying to psyche me out by making me think I am?
Ignore them.
Would I spin gold or shelter silver? Would I welcome the morning sun or pay homage to the moon? Would I spill blood or dig a grave? I come from poverty so I would never dare drink from a gold cup, yet even silver is too valuable for the House of Mercy. The golden husks of the shimmer beetle plate my armor, but the silver threads from the Elyria spider line it…
I gasp. The image of the gargoyle’s cave is suddenly bright in my memory: those silver threads that only glowed once the golden lamp was extinguished, their beauty hidden except by the light of the moon.
Shelter silver.
I pick up the silver goblet before I can second-guess myself. The clear liquid inside it bites my tongue as it slides down my throat. It’s sweet and cloying, sticking to the insides of my cheeks like syrup. It’s not alcohol. At least, not like any alcohol I’ve ever tasted.
I place the cup back on the table and wait to hear if the bell chimes—if it does, it means that one of us chose differently. If it doesn’t, it means we all chose the same.
There’s a moment of pause. The Elven Command doesn’t look pleased. Osian Valor claps his hands.
The cups disappear. A moment later, two new cups replace them.
Since we’re going another round, that means we all chose the same, which means Baelen and Jasper are trying to choose like me. As long as I’m true to myself, then I can’t go wrong. Unless… I’m wrong about that and they chose the silver cup for reasons personal to themselves and it’s all a big fluke?
Stop it, Marbella. Focus!
Both of the new goblets are made of red glass. They’re transparent enough to see that there’s an object resting inside the bottom of each of them. The scrape of chairs nearby tells me that Baelen and Jasper have stood up to see inside the cups.
As soon as I do the same, I realize it’s a mistake. The blood rushes from my head and I sway, dropping back into my seat. I sense Elise shift behind me, but the Elven Command lift their hands in unison.
