Page 32 of Trial of Thorns
I scan the gathering crowds, each court surrounding their champions. Pushing through the crowds, I listen carefully to the announcer, naming all of the successful contestants.
“Tyadin of the Crumbling Court.”
Good, now I have a name for him. The cheer for him is a like a battle cry, echoing over the arena. I smile as I find him among his countrymen, some stalky and hair covered as he and some clean shaven, fair and slender as the stereotypical fae. They laugh and cheer, and I smile just watching the exchange.
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
Many of the entrants today died. I think that’s a sobering reminder for the remainder. These trials are not a game.
They very well may be sacrificing their lives in order to make whatever point they’re trying to make. But together, my dwarf-fae friend—Tyadin—and I have certainly made one. We are the only lesser courts to make it past the first challenge.
I bite my lip and then turn away, shifting through the scattered outer crowds mostly filled with the mourning courts. Some of the stronger courts are those who’ve lost their promising challengers. But it’s the lesser courts who mourn the most. For some, it was a major loss.
I pass a group of Webbed Courters, who shift to allow me plenty of room. I hold my head high, face blank as I march towards the estate.
A snowy-white owl glides over the stands, squawking. She finds me as I dip into an empty nook behind the stands. She swerves down expertly, and she lands on my shoulder, her wing tangling in my hair awkwardly.
“Well, I was going to compliment you on your new flying skills until that debacle,” I say, trying to pull my hair free from her talons and gently set her wing back to her body.
She shivers and clucks softly in my ear.
“I’m glad to see you too,” I whisper. She is the only one I want to be around after today.
I’m certain I’ll be the first to our rooms, which means I might actually get a chance to bathe without much conflict arising.
I jog up the stairs towards the estate, where several fae are scrambling to do last minute set up for the upcoming party.
Several fae nod in my direction as I pass, and I wince, unsure what the sudden vague respect is for. Rebel sympathizers? I don’t know, I don’t think I want to know.
***
RAVEN SOARS HIGH OVERHEADas I enter, and I make sure to stop in my room to meet her. She’s already on the windowsill, waiting for me.
I wave my hand, and she pops back into human form, clunking to the ground awkwardly. “Ow.”
I smirk.
“Why do my feet feel so weird now?”
“Getting used to your bird form, huh?” I wink. “Come on,” I tell her, already pushing my way back out the door. She scurries after me.
“Where are we going?” she whispers breathlessly. “Can I come out here?”
“Most of the time, no. But right now, the other contestants should be out of the way for at least an hour. I figure it’s the best possible time for us to risk a bath.”
“A bath?” Her eyes grow large, her lips twisting into a pleased smile.
“Come on!” I rush through the opening, and strip my clothes instantly, hopping into the communal soapy water.
Raven stops, staring at the room. Basically a cave with a massive hot tub covered in pink and purple bubbles. “This is how fae bathe?”
“Not all of us, but it’s an old tradition.”
“The water is going to be disgusting with you in it.” She wrinkles her nose.
“Oh hush,” I say, subtly glancing down at my dirt and blood covered arms. “It’s magically cleaned and heated. Totally sanitary.”
She purses her lips.
