‘Does that mean it’s not over?’ Sapira says, staring with barely concealed terror up at the stands, then the sky.
‘Oh, it’s over,’ I say with a grin, spotting someone in one of the stands. A friend, a face that brings hope as a blaze. She waves, angling a mirror at the emerging sun, the flash winking over the arena. There’s another flash in response on the other side in the crowd and I realise our allies are assembling. A signal. Sember’s plan is in motion. ‘Be ready. This is about to get interesting.’
Sember catches one of the flashes of light and sighs in relief. ‘Right on schedule. Actually, you know, they’ve been a little slow …’
‘Who?’ Kell asks as I look back up to where Agnes was seated. But, of course, now she’s vanished.
I draw my blade, feeling the welcome weight of it in my fist. Then a firework erupts from the stands: red stars, like blood, exploding across the arena. Another is set off in a far corner, then another, and chaos explodes like a bomb. The crowd begins to leave, a great wave of people, all pushing the guards away, stopping themfrom coming for us. That’s when I see her. The wave of dark red hair, the narrowed, spiteful gaze … the woman who killed my mother.
Captain Renshaw.
My heart jolts. Has she been watching the Trials, hoping I’d fail? I haven’t laid eyes on her since that day Mer injured her, blood blooming across her shirt … when she admitted she killed my mother. I lock eyes with her, and I tremble. Not with fear, but pure hatred. She took my mother. She gloated over the binding spell that took all the memories of my father. And she would have gladly killed me too. She’s in the stands, far from the ruling council, but she’s not fleeing to escape like the rest of the crowd. In fact, she’s smiling. I snarl, narrowing my eyes, and wish she was closer so I could finally end her. But as she regards me, standing here, full of hate for her, I find her smile widens in apparent glee. Then she’s hidden from my view by the jostling crowd.
I release a breath. If she’s here now, she still wants to capture me. What did she call us that day of the sea battle? Herhaul. I’m a creature to her, nothing more. She’ll come after me again – I’m sure of it. I have to get back to Ennor. We need to prepare for the attack I’m certain is coming. There’s no use in hiding. The watch would overturn the isles to seek me out. They would destroy everything just to watch us burn. Seth, her son, was murdered by the watch right before my eyes. Does she even care? Or was he really as expendable to her as he always claimed?
A shiver runs over me as I remember Seth. I know he will haunt me – our connection, his betrayal and his terrible death – to the end of my days. Was there more that I could have done? Would he have redeemed himself, if only he’d had the chance?
Sember, with Heath at her side, tugs on my hand, drawing my attention to her, and says, ‘Come on. Time for you to leave.’
I go to move, but Kell doesn’t. ‘Kell?’ I say, looking back.
But he shakes his head, standing by Heath. ‘I’ve a new job. Protecting this one. An offer I couldn’t refuse. Always wanted to see the world, travel to new places …’
I grin at him and reach out to clasp his fist. ‘I wish you well, my friend.’
‘If you see Helene, the woman who looked after me on Egan …’
‘I will tell her where you are and that you’re safe,’ I say. Then I look to Sapira. ‘Can you return home?’
She swallows. ‘Prince Heath has assured me he’ll see me safely home to Valstra. He’ll ensure Fey reaches her drake too, so she can make it back to the Spines. I have … things I must do. These Trials have opened my eyes.’
I nod, hugging her tightly, then look to Sember as the first guard finds his way on to the arena. ‘Time to go.’
We disappear quickly between the still smoking carcasses of wyvern, Sember reaching a door in the wallenclosing the arena. It’s hidden below the seating for the spectators, so well concealed that I did not even realise it existed. She flips that coin I’ve seen her use many times up in the air, and in her palm lands a key. She places it in the lock, gives it a shove and sweeps her hand out. ‘There you are. Your escape route. I discovered how the guards get in and out after the labyrinth Trial. They’reverychatty after a few drinks and the clink of more coin in their pocket.’
She smiles at me, mischief glinting in her eyes, as I say, ‘You’d better go and claim your victory.’
‘I had,’ she agrees. ‘Or His Royalness will get bored and complain that it’s all taking too long. You’ll find Agnes just outside, courtesy of some interesting allies I scooped up … friends of yours, I believe. Our deal is complete.’
‘Thank you. For saving us, for rescuing Agnes. For … sticking to your word,’ I say, taking her hands in mine, then pulling her into a hug.
‘A pleasure working with you,’ she says, hugging me then pulling away. She dusts herself off, flips back her hair and gives me a wink. ‘Well, I’d better round up my stray prince.’
I watch for a moment as she wanders back to the others, seemingly oblivious to the reeking, dead wyvern surrounding her, the chaos in the stands and the ruby red fireworks crackling in the air. Then I walk through the door, closing it behind myself, closing it on the Trials for good, and step into a narrow tunnel. I canhear the muffled voice of the commentator in the arena, scrambling to hold the crowd’s attention as he proclaims Skylan the victor. I huff a small, humourless laugh, shaking my head. The ruling council will be vicious in their revenge. But I believe the damage to our world would have been far greater if I had won and stayed their captive to manipulate. Now, there will be no violent storms throughout the Straits. Their plans to dominate the sea route, to control the flow of goods and wealth around the continent has failed. Tomorrow I will pay the price. But today,Iam victorious.
I step out of the tunnel leading to the outer arena walls, into the fields surrounding Highborn. And standing there are Brielle, Pearl and Agnes. Ididsee Brielle in the stands. Sember chose excellent accomplices indeed for our rescue.
I choke on a sob as Agnes covers her mouth before we run to each other. I hold her so tight and don’t ever want to let go as I cry into her hair and she cries into mine. There were moments over the past weeks when I didn’t know if we’d escape. If I’d ever be able to free her. And that day in the throne room eclipses my vision. Hastily, I push it away, suppressing a shudder and remind myself that she’s here. We’re both free. My sister in all but blood is in my arms, heart still beating. I wrench her away from me, checking over every inch of her as she does the same to me.
‘I didn’t know if you were still alive, if you’d been killed in the Trials—’
‘I can’t believe we got out. I thought—’
We both laugh and hug again as Brielle clears her throat. I look up and smile at her, my former hunter, now my friend. I walk to her and Pearl, hugging them both. ‘Thank you,’ I say, throat scratchy and thick from unshed tears. ‘For saving Agnes. For saving me.’
‘We found a little help in an unlikely place. Well, more than one, actually,’ Brielle says, lifting her chin as she looks over my shoulder. I turn to find a man standing there, someone who looks all too similar to the men of the ruling council. ‘This is Rue. An ambassador for the ruling council.’
He crosses his arms, watching me. ‘That was quite the display.’
