Page 66 of Trial of Thorns
This time, I am ready.
I force every ounce of doubt out of my mind. My pain is my fuel. My darkness my strength.
The champions begin gathering at the gates, and I approach slowly, watching each of my opponents closely. Despite a new alliance, I don’t trust a single one of them.
I am Caelynn of the Shadow Court. I have no friends. Not anymore.
I take the spot next to Tyadin, but he doesn’t even glance my way. Today, he’s in his armor again, and I get the feeling he’s more comfortable this way. It’ll slow him down, but maybe, today, that’ll work in his favor.
Since the first day of this trial has become a planned blood bath, most of the action is likely to be long over if he’s delayed. The contestants would like to get him out of the way, but only if it’s convenient. They won’t go out of their way. Same with me.
They keep assuming they’ll have a chance to get rid of me whenever the mood strikes, so they’re focused on their stronger enemies. I like this thought process. It works in our favor.
I lean closer to Tyadin only to notice Drake watching me. I stand up straight and adjust my bag. I’d like to warn him, but the champions are too close together. It’ll have to wait.
The massive ruby gates crack, light peeking through. Once again, I stand in the center and close my eyes as the bright light streams through and warms my face. This moment, this in-between, one beam pressing through the darkness—it’s the only time I can pretend to feel what I’ve lost.
The sun will forever haunt me, reminding me of who I am. And who I will never be.
I shiver, but soon the light is so bright it hurts my eyes. I wince and turn away from the brightness only to see someone watching me.
Rev.
His eyes meet mine with an expression that’s—well, it’s not hatred. Curiosity, perhaps? I swallow, unable to hide my emotion for the first time. Just a crack. The smallest sliver of a window, exposing what’s inside of me.
Rev blinks, and his face falls into surprise. He turns quickly, once again leading the pack out into the massive arena.
The crowd roars. They’re eager for a bloodbath. The last challenge only resulted in one champion loss. They’re ready to move on with the competition. They’re eager to lose a few more of us.
The sunlight blasts us as we leave the solace of the quiet and dark training center, and my heart begins beating harder. A black bird soars through the sky in the distance.
I haven’t seen Raven since last night in the forest. She won’t ever forgive me.
When I turned her into a raven it had been because she’d brought attention to her owl form twice in the hour before. I thought a raven safer. But I hadn’t anticipated her avoiding me for this long.
“Kill her!” someone shouts, then another. Until the whole crowd is shouting the chant.
Kill her. Kill her. Kill her. Kill her.
My stomach twists. They’ve learned about the new rule provision, and it’s my head they want on a pike.Perfect.
“Welcome, champions!” A minotaur stands on a booth in the middle of the arena, his pitch-black horns massive. “Today is your third and longest challenge of the Trials of Thorns!”
The crowd screams.
“Each day, you will be given a new task. Five in total. Some will be simple. Others excruciating. This challenge will require endurance and intelligence and strategy and basic survival skills. You must follow clues, travel many miles, sometimes in complete circles, and fight both mental and physical battles for days on end.”
This is the biggest challenge of them all.
“Your arena will consist of hundreds of miles of wilderness. You must find and reach every corner, following the clues. Do not think this is a straightforward challenge—there will be dead ends and misleading clues. Stay diligent. Remain humble, or you will not make it out alive.”
Drake described this challenge as a maze, I keep that in mind as I examine the minotaur’s announcement for clues I may need later.
“As a reminder of what you’re fighting for and against, there are sections of the arena that are marred with the scourge. You will see our world’s true enemy.
“And to make it more realistic, to add a layer of betrayal and brutality, we have removed a previous rule. During this trial, there will be no punishment for any death of a champion—no matter the cause.”
The crowd roars, and another chant of “Kill her” begins.
