Small thuds hit the ground, and then Aimilia screamed again as something landed on her left arm, the one not holding the egg. She blinked her eyes open to see a large rock was the culprit. Aimilia shifted, wriggling her way out of it, each move causing her to gasp in pain. When she was finally free of the debris, she looked down to see her egg in perfect condition, even though she wasn’t.
There was a throbbing in her arm. Aimilia wasn’t certain she didn’t have some kind of break or fracture in her forearm. She couldn’t see anything, but with how heavy that rock was it wouldn’t surprise her. Aimilia tried to shift it, and she let out another horrendous scream.
Curse Hypatia and her horrific premonitions.
Something certainly wasn’t right. She wasn’t going to be able to cast like this. Not well. She wiggled her fingers, and she was able to do that decently, but it would be for the best if she avoided it. Aimilia knew she was going to be bruised all up her back and legs as well from the fall. Still, this wasn’t over yet. She just needed to make it to the end and hope she’d earned enough points to put her well ahead of Cyprian.
She staggered to her feet and pressed on. Aimilia didn’t know what else was in store for her. If that had just been Cyprian’s trap, what had Nikias and Queen Clelia laid for her?
Aimilia wasn’t entirely sure how, but she managed to avoid whatever Nikias and Clelia had planned.
Somehow she made it to the end without any other major issues. She burst through the tree line, seeing Cyprian had already finished, and two of her cousins had been transported there, too injured to continue.
Aimilia wasn’t even running at this point. She was staggering, egg still in both arms as she didn’t dare move the broken one. She was sure she looked a sight, filthy in her chiton and cloak covered in dirt and blood.
Still, she made it to the finish line and the Runai in the stands erupted in cheers as loud as if she had run across it first. It wasn’t just about speed. It was also about skill.
Had she impressed the judges enough to award her the win?
Aimilia looked over at her only competition.
There was a crack in Cyprian’s egg’s shell as well as a very small, slight burn on his leg. Prisca walked up to Aimilia, examining the egg as the handlers came up and took it from her. Aimilia couldn’t help let out a sharp cry as it was taken from her.
Aimilia spotted her last cousin coming in out of breath without her egg. And then a few of the commanders emerged from the route as well. She spotted Nikias and his mother coming down from the stands. She could feel Nikias’ eyes on her.
Aimilia ignored them, just pressing her arm into her stomach so she didn’t move it. She watched out of the corner of her eye as the judges exchanged comments and sheets, discussing what each of them had seen, since none of them could have seen everything.
Aimilia had to hope at least someone had seen her deliberately choose the egg over herself. Aimilia watched as Commander Prisca looked over the sheets and exchanged a commanding nod with the other judges.
Queen Clelia’s face was impassive. Nikias was unreadable as well. They were mirror images of each other.
Aimilia exchanged glances with Cyprian. His eyes flickered toward the handlers examining his egg. The electric blue with a crack next to Aimilia’s spotless orange, red, and gold pattern. Finally, Prisca took the stage again and said, “The judges have finished their discussion and the awarding of points.”
The crowd fell silent. Aimilia held her breath.
Had she done it? Had it all been worth it?
Was she free? Or was her fate sealed?
“And it is my privilege to announce to you the next Head of House Mitis. This commander showed an extraordinary display of power, skill, and strategic thinking that made them the superior to all the other commanders from House Mitis. This trial only confirmed what we already knew about this mage from the first two trials. There is no better mage to take over this esteemed and noble house. House Mitis, Imperia, I give you Commander Aimilia.”
Aimilia couldn’t believe her ears. Had she been hit on the head? Was she hallucinating? Was this some kind of trick?
The crowd erupted into cheers. As they went wild for her, Aimilia just stared at Commander Prisca. The woman smiled at Aimilia as her words sank in.
She’d done it. She’dwon.
House Mitis was hers. Her life was hers.
Aimilia blinked and looked at the crowd. Nikias stood with the other commanders, and to her shock, he was part of the applause, beaming at her. But before she could begin to figure out what game he was playing now, a hush went through the crowd. Everyone fell deathly silent.
Nikias’ smile vanished and his face lost all color.
Aimilia looked over her shoulder to see another rune lighting up the ground. Aimilia had only seen it once in her life before. And even then, she’d only seen it toward the very end of the fight.
On the other side of the rune was Cyprian. His eyes were pure steel as he stared her down.
He was challenging her.
