19
Ilean forward in my chair as the tables and partitions disappear, scrubbing at my face, unwilling to meet the eyes of what are no doubt five gloating, happy Elven Commanders. They wanted me out of the trials and now they’ve succeeded. Even though the instruments of the game are gone, the wooziness remains, although when I screw up the courage to raise my head I find that the room doesn’t swim as much as before.
Osian Valor is frowning, a deep crease between his eyebrows. Not exactly what I’d expected. He and the others look perplexed, exchanging frowns among themselves and shuffling. Their reactions become clearer as my vision sharpens rapidly.
“One of you chose differently,” Osian says. “But it was during a test where we did not expect it. For some tests the outcome is more expected than others. Those tests aren’t meant to distinguish you from each other so much as to test your… endurance.”
I glare at him. He means so that they can give us more cups and drug us more.
He looks to the other Commanders before resuming. “Before we reveal who is eliminated, we would like to know why you each chose the cup you did.”
Because of whatever stupid hallucinogen you put in the drinks you rotten, old…I sigh. There aren’t enough names right now.
Jasper leans back in his chair, his arms folded. His expression is as hidden as always and his reply is just as concealed. “I thought it was obvious.”
Yes, it was, unless you weren’t looking at the right cup because you got caught up in a fish hook that you thought was a ribbon.I continue the tirade against myself in my mind because I know that as soon as I stop berating myself—as soon as I run out of names to call the Elven Command or myself—I’ll have to face the fact that Baelen and Jasper will meet each other in the final battle. These two friends who have fought side by side will now be fighting each other. My heart squeezes. My internal rant against myself goes up in smoke and now I have to force myself to breathe.
Baelen is quieter. He doesn’t look up. “Because of a memory.”
I consider his answer for a moment. It’s also concealed, but more than Jasper’s it could apply to either of the cups.
I say, “Because of whatever you put in the drink.”
Osian scratches his head. “Well, this places us in a very difficult position. One we’d hoped to avoid at all costs. But what’s done is done.”
He steps toward me. “Storm Princess Marbella of the House of Mercy, you will meet Baelen of the House of Rath in final battle two days from now.”
I definitely didn’t hear that right. “I… what?”
“Princess, you and Commander Rath chose the same cup. Jasper of the House of Grace is eliminated.”
“I… No…” I’m out of my seat in one second flat. “How?”
“Well, that is what we would also like to know. But I don’t think we ever will.”
“No, you’re lying.”
He steps back and Elwyn Elder takes his place. “Sit down, Princess. Put your weapon away.”
Without realizing, I’ve reached for the steel at my side. My hand glows, not yet lit up, but threatening to. The Elven Command shuffles backward. There’s no shield between us this time.
Without taking his eyes off me, Elwyn raises his voice, “Commander Rath, which cup did you choose?”
Baelen stares at me. It’s the first time he’s met my eyes today. Actually, it’s the first time he’s met my eyes in days. His are just as piercing as always, just as perceptive, but now… there’s a question in them. “The one with the weird vertical squiggle on it that might have turned out to be… a fish hook.”
“And Jasper, which one did you choose?”
Jasper is frozen. “The wind in the clouds.”
I release my weapons. I don’t wait for Elwyn to ask me. “I chose the fish hook.”Because of a memory. Baelen must have seen a blue ribbon too. The one the wind stole. The memory was so strong that we’d both hallucinated it. My heart wrenches and I can’t stop myself pressing the heel of my palm to my chest. I seek Baelen across the room, but he’s turned away from me again and I can’t read his expression. I can’t read his body language.
There’s a wall between us now. It’s the same wall that existed on the first day when he offered me his heartstone in the Storm Vault. I might not be able to see this new barrier between us, but it’s there.
Elwyn says, “Princess, in light of the fact that Baelen Rath is the Commander of the elven army, which is a position of great importance to elven security, and the fact that he is the last of his House and his death would be, quite frankly, a tragedy… do you wish to exercise your right to yield at this point in time?”
I can’t look at Baelen as I speak. I want to tell myself that this is not happening, but it is. “No.”
“What?” It’s Jasper. For the first time, his guard is down, his true emotions showing through, and those emotions right now are raw and horrified. “Marbella, what are you saying? You can’t fight Commander Rath. You have to yield. You have to—”
