Page 53 of Empire of Flame and Thorns

A ripple of anticipation pulses through parts of our group.

“You will be given a box with a glass egg inside,” Imar continues. “Your mission is to transport it through the maze without breaking it. Only the people who arrive at the finish line with an unbroken egg will move on to the next trial.”

On some unspoken signal, the eight clan leaders suddenly start moving towards the left side of our line. Reaching into pouches at their sides, they each pull out a small and very delicate-looking wooden box.

“These glass eggs are symbols of the precious mercy that we are offering you,” Emperor Bane announces. There is an arrogant tilt to his chin as he gazes out at us. “Ifyou are worthy enough to win it. So treat them accordingly.”

Maybe not symbols of how precious their so-called mercy is, but symbols of how fragile it is, at least.

Once the first eight people have received their boxes, the clan leaders move on to the next section of our row. After reaching into their pouches for another box that they hand over, they move to the next one. Which is my section.

Based on the way the clan leaders are positioned, Draven will be the one to hand me my box. Which I’m sure is no coincidence. He has probably been looking forward to having me kneeling in front of him all morning. Though after what he did for me last night, I’m not entirely certain of where we stand anymore. Maybe we have finally reached some sort of truce.

I raise my head as Draven comes to a halt in front of me.

He is already holding one of those delicate wooden boxes in his hands, but he doesn’t offer it to me since some of the other clan leaders aren’t in position yet. I search his face for any clues as to what he’s thinking.

His words from last night echo in my mind.This changes nothing.

Is that true? Has nothing changed?

There are no answers on his face. Only a completely blank mask as he holds my gaze.

The final clan leader moves into position.

As one, they all hold out the boxes towards the kneeling fae in front of them.

I keep my eyes on Draven as I reach up to take the offered box. His fingers brush against mine as he places it in my palms. That small touch sends a bolt of lightning through my veins.

His hands linger a second too long in mine as he holds my gaze. My heart stutters. Something has changed. It must have. Otherwise, why would he be looking at me like this? Is he really going to stop messing with me now? Am I actually going to be allowed to finish the Atonement Trials without his interference?

Right as a burst of hope pulses through my chest, Draven shatters those ridiculous thoughts with one devilish smile.

“Good luck,” he whispers so softly that only I can hear it.

The words should have been encouraging, but they are ruined and twisted into a threat by the absolutely villainous smirk on his lips.

My heart jerks at the sight of it, and worry snakes through my spine.

But all I can do is to remain on my knees with the box in my hands while Draven continues to the next section.

Once everyone has received a box, the clan leaders return to their positions on either side of the Icehearts.

Imar steps forward. “Get through the maze with your glass egg intact. Other than that, there are no rules. Understood?”

We nod in acknowledgement.

“Begin,” he shouts.

A jolt shoots through me, and I leap up from the ground. From the other end of our row, Isera summons a thick sheet of ice and encases her box in it. Several others who have some kind of elemental magic do the same. Since I have nothing with which to protect my box, I simply sprint towards the entrance to the maze.

The moment I start to move, a faint clinking sound comes from my box. I flick an alarmed glance down at it. But all around me people are dashing towards the opening between the hedges as well, so I can’t stop without making someone crash right into me.

So instead, I cut sideways while I run.

Once I’m through the opening, I press my back against the tall hedge that makes up the left wall. And then I open my box.

The world around me disappears as I look down at the thin pillow inside where the egg is supposed to rest.

---