‘So you’ll help us?’ I ask.
‘Depends on what you’re planning to write in these messages, really,’ Hira says. ‘And why I’d help you. What information about a law would my Mal be interested in?’
‘Look at it this way. You want us to live, right? That’s half your assignment here. Little room for failure atCoven Septern, I’ll wager,’ I say evenly. ‘And, trust me, you want to be able to go back to your Malefant with the information we have. You want to be the first witch to bring it to her. Because, if you do, it won’t matter if you fail this assignment. You’ll still win her favour.’
A smile spreads slowly across her face. ‘I’m listening.’
‘Two messages. Just saying we’re alive, and that we’re competitors in the Trials. Nothing more, no elaborations,’ I say, then swallow. ‘We just want them to know we’re alive.’
Hira runs a hand down her face, staring at every point in the hall except us. Then she folds her arms again, gaze fixed to mine, then Kell’s. ‘I’ll think about it. In the meantime, you show me what you can do. What we have to work with.’
By lunchtime, it’s clear that Kell has the most control. He can summon those pale flames at will, coaxing them from one palm to the other, then stoke them until they’re a towering column of fire. But all I’ve managed to do, or all I’vewantedto show Hira I can do, is call a blanket of clouds to hang moodily over the court. After the incident with the lightning, I refuse to push it any further. The thought of hurting someone, even accidentally, churns my stomach. Hira calls time and Kell exhales in relief. We go inside and Hira runs through what to expect in the coming days.
The guards bring our lunch – meaty broth, bread and water – and I gulp thirstily before digging into thefood. I barely taste it, but Kell scowls before shovelling it in.
‘You both got a good look at the other competitors last night?’ Hira asks before tearing off a chunk of bread.
I nod. ‘We saw some of them.’
‘And you understand what you’re facing?’
‘We know we have to get through the Trials if we want to live,’ Kell says stonily.
‘Good,’ Hira says, sweeping the crumbs from the table, then points at me. ‘Unless you’ve got some trick up your sleeve, you need to find a weapon as soon as it begins. And you –’ she jabs a finger at Kell – ‘cover her and stick by her side. She’ll protect you; she’s far more vicious than you. Try not to die. It’ll reflect poorly on me. And, if you’re victorious, it will make things easier for your friend.’
‘Is that all?’ I ask her, ignoring the stab of fear at the lingering threat hanging over Agnes.
‘No. I’ll deliver your messages.’ She grins at us. ‘My Malefant is going to be intrigued indeed by what you have told me about this law. She’ll want to investigate and I hope for your sakes that you’ve told the truth.’
‘Why would I lie about that?’ I ask.
Hira sighs, sitting back in her chair. ‘To discredit me at my coven? I haven’t exactly put a lot into your training, I know. Truth is, I wasn’t given much time. I do wonder if this is as much a test for our coven as it is for the two of you. If you die, the ruling council can blame my Malefant and favour another coven. If you live,they reward our coven. Seems to me they’re playing us against each other. So if this information about a law to control magic is true …’
‘Which it is.’
‘Then there’s more going on here than I realised. Games upon games.’ Hira shivers. ‘I never did like court politics. But training you isn’t that bad. And I suppose I see no harm in these messages. Now, to strategy …’
Hira crosses the room, pulling a folder from a bag and bringing it back to the table. ‘What’s this?’ I ask, peering at the scrawled handwriting, littered with dates and names of past contenders.
‘An analysis I pulled together of previous Trials both here and hosted by other territories.’ She leafs through the pages and taps on a list. ‘Trial types. Water-based, land-based, sky-based. In the past, there have been battlefields, monster hunts, mazes and traps … anything that will delight and engage a crowd of spectators.’
‘Any idea which type the first Trial might be?’ Kell asks, raising his eyebrows. ‘Capture the flag – that doesn’t sound so bad—’
‘The flag was a drake egg and the mother was set loose to hunt down the team who captured her unborn young,’ Hira says darkly. ‘That was long, long ago and none survived.’
I shiver, running my eyes down the rest of the list. ‘Do they often repeat Trials?’
‘Occasionally,’ Hira says. ‘You should view this analysis as a set of examples, not absolutes. Be preparedfor anything. Play to your strengths, keep each other alive. And try not to piss off the other contenders, or they could turn on you.’
I finish my food, listening as Hira and Kell discuss past Trials and hide the flush of triumph blooming in my middle. All I need is that one message to reach Ennor, and when Eli returns he will come for me. I want to believe that Sember and Heath will keep their deal with us and ensure our survival, but I am done trusting others. I cannot sit idly by and pour my hope and Agnes’s very life into a stranger’s hands.
And, in the meantime, I will make the most of being here, in the ruling council’s court. I will find out what they intend to use me for. I will be a weapon, but not one wielded bythem.
brielle stills, every inch ofher focused on the cold touch of the blade against her throat. A thousand thoughts chase each other across her mind as she calculates her own odds, and that of Dreska’s.
‘A strange way to greet a hunter,’ she says softly, chancing a glance to her side, taking in as much detail as she can. The hand holding the blade is covered with a rough brown glove, the kind worn by foot soldiers. His jacket sleeve is deep green, almost black, equally rough spun and designed to blend with the forest. A ranger, perhaps? Or a man from one of the nearby Lorvan towns, bent on slaughtering the beast casting fear in these parts. ‘You’re fortunate it’s only me that you’ve found out here tonight.’
‘Fortunate?’ He chuckles softly before retracting the blade. ‘Brielle Tresillian, I am counting my blessings.’
