Page 49

He stares. "You're not very reassuring."

"I'm trying honesty."

I inspect his wrist. The skin beneath the band is blistered, but the injury is superficial.

"Can you walk?" I ask.

"Yes."

"Then come with me."

His eyes narrow. "The marker said only one student could continue."

I look toward the words. They have changed. ONLY ONE MAY ADVANCE. Interesting.

"I think it is reacting to us."

He glances between me and the marker. "What if it's true?" He asks.

"What if it isn't?"

He considers my question for a few seconds. "That's not an answer."

"It's the Trial."

He almost smiles. Then winces as the bracelet pulses again. "We should go."

"Together?"

The lettering on the marker turns red. The path beyond it darkens. The wolf looks toward me. "You're going to get us both failed."

"Possibly."

He looks at the marker. Then at me. "Great."

He steps beside me. We walk past the marker. Nothing stops us. After several feet, the darkness clears. The bracelet around his wrist returns to silver. His number reappears. 82.

He exhales. "Apparently I'm not dead."

I smile. "An encouraging development."

He glances toward me. "Bren."

"Eirea."

"I know." He admits.

"Of course you do."

We walk together for perhaps ten minutes before the path divides again. His bracelet points left. Mine points right. The silver numbers stretch into narrow arrows.

Bren studies them. "I suppose this is where we separate." He says quietly.

"Probably."

He looks down at his burned wrist. Then at me. "Thank you." He says.

"You would have figured it out."