Page 115 of The Song of Sunrise
Something feels off. Atlys looks…worried?
Commander Hogsmith booms, “You may have guessed it…. CHAMPIONS, TO THE STAGE!”
40
The Final Task
Eager arms pat my back and wish me luck as I head to the stage. I can barely hear them over the blood pounding in my ears. Someone grabs my elbow.
“Akemi, here—take this!” Ramona hands me my sheath of throwing stars. I am forever grateful for her. I tuck the pouch under my cape, quickly securing it around my waist before anyone notices.
“Can you hold onto this for me? Keep it safe.” I hand her the patch of Teller fabric from my pocket. She knows what it means to me. She carefully pockets the little square and urges me forward.
Other champions weave their way to the stage through the crowd. Leaf and Castor to my right. Gryphon and Selene to my left. Ahead of me, Ragnar’s hulking figure shoves people out of the way. I clench my teeth and follow in his wake, helping those up around me back to their feet.
Be careful, Akemi. More than winning, I need you to stay alive.Atlys’s voice fills my head. I swallow thickly at his words. He would rather I live and quit than die trying.
But I need this. To win the Summit. There are no stories about heroes only completing two thirds of their quest. No. This is where my trust test comes into play.
I stumble over something—no someone—on the ground.
“Artemis! Get up!” I pull the scrawny boy upward. How he managed to make it this far is truly a feat. Then again, perhaps that is what others think when they see me.
We join the line of champions standing in their various ceremonial formal wear. Markus walks along the line of newly minted Watchers with a straight face, fighting what appears to be a smirk and sneer at the same time.
“In a matter of minutes, this stage will transform into the setting for our third and final Summit task.” He pulls on a large rope, splitting the heavy curtains aside to reveal a giant stone wall with twelve onyx doors. One for each champion. Attendants line us up by our team clusters. The human champions are each placed in front of the doors farthest to the left. Then the Forest Tribe. Then the Jord Court. Then the Terraguard Court. Luckily, I’m placed between Selene and Gryphon. It’s a small mercy not to enter directly next to Sabra, who is currently snarling at Selene.
“The goal of the task is simple: the first champion to complete the task wins. You will enter through these doors, which will transport you into a maze. Professor Gregorio has truly outdone himself with this.
“At the center of the maze is our beloved prize for the Summit, the Helios Blessing. First champion to the center gets the prize! The corresponding royal delegate must immediately report for contract negotiations.”
The Jord Lord straightens at the mention of the treaty. With all three of his champions left in the Summit, his chances for winning are high.Not if I can get there first.
Professor Hogsmith continues. “Only one channeling stone is allowed per champion… to even the playing field.” Ragnar grunts in disapproval. Locks of matted red hair fall into his face as he drops two of his stones into a basket a small attendant is holding. The poor attendant catching the channeling stones looks like he would rather be anywhere else but on this stage next to some of the most lethal human channelers the Watch has to offer.
If no channeling stones were allowed in the last two tasks, why are they allowing them now? Sweat begins to bead along my forehead. I only just received my first stone, and I’m not even sure of the capabilities of channeling Sun’cher magic with it, let alone my Starwatcher abilities. I rub the golden cufflink on my wrist, finding little solace in the singular stone embedded there.
“There may be a fewobstaclesin the maze, so stay alert,” Commander Hogsmith says.
“Well that’s vague,” Gryphon mumbles to my right.
I chuckle despite the gravity of the situation.
The Commander continues, “The only rule: no killing blows.”
I choke on the dry air. Oh great, what a relief.
Carefully, I bend my knees to suppress the tremble beginning to form.
I will not let them see me quake.
“Champions, please turn around to face your door. On my count, you will enter,” the Commander instructs.
I turn toward the tall, arched door. The stone wall looks ancient, like the caves underneath the Watch. The wood grain curves and swirls in dark patterns. I continue to study the ancient wood rings barely visible, ignoring the multitude of needlepoint pricks each pair of eyes bore into my back.
I glance down the line to my left. Sensing me, Leaf turns.
I got you, he mouths. I have no time to react or respond before the commander wails and the ancient doors magically swing open. I charge through the threshold without thinking.
