by Kova, Elise
The two had yet to notice them. They were too enraged with each other to have noticed a giant, northern noru cat charging up the hall.
“You’re being unreasonable,” Adam growled.
“And you’re being an ass.” Noelle threw back her head and laughed, a grating and terrible sound. “You had me fooled for the longest time. But I’m so done with you and your games. Now get away from me.”
“You are my woman.” Adam stepped forward and grabbed Noelle by the shoulders. It was in this movement that Eira noticed Adam’s lack of candidate pin. Alyss had mentioned it, but seeing his chest void of metal brought about an ugly sense of satisfaction. Perhaps the feeling of triumph was what ultimately emboldened her.
Noelle leaned forward and sneered in his face, “I am not yours or anyone else’s. Now let me go or I will burn your skin to the bone.”
“You wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Try me.”
“Noelle,” Eira called. Both heads snapped up to her and Alyss. “Sorry to keep you waiting!”
“What in the Mother’s name are you doing?” Alyss said out of the corner of her mouth.
Eira ignored her and bounded down to Noelle, shooting Adam a glare. “Let’s go to dinner?”
“You… You were on your way to meet these freaks?” Adam balked.
“Yes, you brute. I’m finally realizing who the quality people are in the Tower.” Noelle slapped his hands away and, thankfully, Adam’s arms fell limply to his sides. “Now get away from me. I’m not going to be late to the candidates’ dinner on your account.” Noelle carefully tucked strands of her long, black hair back into the braids they’d fallen from. When she walked down the Tower hall, she seemed to half-stride, half-float like a royal would.
Adam shot Alyss and Eira glares as they passed, catching up with Noelle.
Noelle glanced over her shoulder, prompting Eira to do the same. Adam was nowhere to be seen. Her dark eyes met Eira’s. “You didn’t have to do that. I had everything under control.”
“See, we shouldn’t have helped. She clearly doesn’t want us,” Alyss said snidely.
Eira ignored her friend. “You burn him and they would’ve taken your pin for it,” she retorted. “So you’re welcome.”
Noelle snorted. “Fine. Thank you, I suppose.”
“I take it the Tower’s ‘power couple’ of Noelle and Adam is no more?” Alyss asked.
“What gave you your first hint?” Noelle muttered.
“Did you dump him because he didn’t pass the trial?” Alyss didn’t miss the chance to question Noelle. “Did he vow to pass it to prove his love to you or something? Then you couldn’t handle the shame?”
Eira barely resisted stopping Alyss to tell her she read too many romance novels.
“What’re you talking about?” Noelle rolled her eyes. She sighed, shoulders hunching slightly—a movement Noelle quickly corrected. “I suppose I might as well tell you. He’s going to start rumors, no doubt, and I should be ahead of them. No, it had nothing to do with the trials and everything to do with the fact that he is an ass. I made excuses for it long enough, but I woke up to the fact when I found out he’s been dallying with some stable girl.”
“Yeah, I can believe that,” Eira murmured. “I could’ve told you he was an ass.”
Noelle stopped short and Eira did as well. They locked eyes. For a brief second, Eira braced herself to have Noelle defend Adam. As she said herself, she always had.
But Noelle surprised her when she said, “I know now. And I’m sorry for not seeing it earlier—when I should have…when seeing it would’ve put me in a position to stop him.”
Eira pursed her lips slightly. The movement prompted Noelle to continue.
“What he did to you was exceptionally cruel, and I’m sorry.” Deeming the matter finished, Noelle charged ahead.
Not even your mother could love you. Those were the words Noelle had said to her three years ago on that fateful night. Words that hurt more than ever. Eira clenched her fists, but kept her magic under control.
“What’re you sorry for?” Eira called on an impulse.
Noelle halted and glanced behind her. Her eyes narrowed slightly. “For what he did.”
“Don’t apologize for him. If you’re going to apologize, apologize for your hand in it.”
Noelle stood a little straighter, determined to not back down. “I’m sorry for what I said to you that night. I helped organize the whole affair. I was just as cruel as he was. And I should have apologized much sooner than now.”
Eira pursed her lips. She wanted to gloat, basking in this moment of bringing Noelle to task. She wanted to yell, saying that two words—I’m sorry—could never be enough. Instead of doing either of those things, she just sighed.
“Fine, I forgive you.”
Noelle’s eyes widened a fraction in shock. She gave a small nod, and quickly disappeared around the corner into the mess hall—as if she didn’t want to risk Eira revoking the forgiveness. A part of Eira was admittedly tempted to.
“You…you forgive her?” Alyss gaped at Eira. “No way. I don’t believe it. You’re trying to trick her, right? Lull her into a false sense of security and then strike her down right before the next trial to throw off her attempt?”
Eira shook her head. “I always knew Adam was the real leader of that whole night and…” She let out a sigh that she felt like she’d been holding in for years. On that exhale, all the tension that knotted her neck and shoulders about Adam and his cruelty vanished. The words they said might linger, but Eira would do everything in her power not to willingly carry them a minute longer. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“How can it not matter? What he did was— What she said was—”
“Terrible, I know. I’m not saying I forgive him. But maybe Noelle was manipulated then like I was?”
“Maybe she wasn’t.”
“If not, then she’s clearly learned.” Eira shrugged. “I guess it just doesn’t seem that important after today. I can’t willingly carry that weight any longer.” Alyss continued to stare strangely at her. Prompting Eira to ask, with a nervous laugh, “What?”
“I feel like I’m watching my little sister grow up.” Alyss wiped imaginary tears from the corners of her eyes.
Eira gaped. “I’m older than you!”
“By a month!”
“Still older.”
Alyss rolled her eyes. “We all know I’m the mature one.”
Eira let out a small laugh.
“There, that’s what I was hoping for, a laugh.”
“You’re impossible,” Eira said softly.
“Takes impossible to know it.” Alyss smiled up at her. This woman was the one thing that still seemed real in Eira’s shifting world.
With Noelle, the colors of her world had been smeared yet again.
Cullen was being raw, and real, and vulnerable around her. Noelle wasn’t being cruel or haughty toward her. Marcus was still an unknown. And Eira, she…she wasn’t who she thought she was.
But Alyss was there, right where she always was. Eira slipped her arm around Alyss’s, hooking her elbow and pulling her close. “Thank you.”
“What did I do now?”
“You’re dependable. You’ll always be there when I expect you. And I need that right now more than anything.”
“I know,” Alyss said softly, squeezing her bicep and pressing her side flush against Eira’s. “Nothing will ever take me from you.”
“Good. I’ll kill anything that tries,” Eira said as they started into the mess hall. Alyss laughed. But Eira had never meant anything more.
Dinner was catered by the chefs from the palace again. They had clearly been working on the food for the entire day. A whole hog roast was presented on a buffet for them; buttered rice, spring vegetables, and dishes of steamed pudding prepared alongside it.
Eira arrived before Marcus—a fact she was grateful for. She was focused on her food, head down, when she saw him finally arrive
with Cullen from the corner of her eye. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him outright, but she stole glances when he was focused elsewhere.
His shoulders were a bit hunched. His gaze seemed distant. Eira hated seeing her brother look so forlorn, but the distraught expression gave her some hope. If he was as shocked as she was, then he hadn’t known. This wound could bond them. It would be a tether between them when everything else was called into question…she hoped.
Fritz entered the mess hall, and following closely behind were the emperor and empress themselves. The entire room jumped to their feet—all twenty-two remaining candidates plus Cullen—and bowed their heads in respect.
“Please, sit, everyone. You’ve had a long enough day as it is,” Vhalla said graciously.
The apprentices all lifted their heads, glancing around. No one seemed to want to be the first to sit. They were trapped between what they viewed as expected decorum toward the royals, and a direct command that ran course opposite to that decorum.
Unsurprisingly, Cullen was the first to take his seat. If anyone knew the correct protocol when it came to dealing with royals, it was him. He was followed by Marcus and Noelle, then the rest of them. As they settled back onto the benches, Fritz, Aldrik, and Vhalla assumed position at the front of the room.
“The emperor and I wanted to come and congratulate you ourselves,” Vhalla continued. “Each of you had an impressive run through the course today. We know many of you took hard falls, but you endured and pressed on. You have all earned your pins today, every one of you. Take pride in the fact.” She brought her hands together, clapping, and the room followed suit.
“As you know, one of the goals of our reign has been to oversee the better integration of sorcerers with Commons.” The emperor stepped forward, hands folded behind his back. His slightly crooked nose, dark hair, and angular features made him a harsh and imposing man. Emperor Aldrik radiated a presence up close that had the room stilling and a slight terror worming its way into the back of Eira’s mind. “Because of this, we are particularly invested in finding the best sorcerers to represent our Empire. People who are honorable, strong of heart and will. Sorcerers of astonishing power and skill. Sorcerers that even the Commons who are the most steadfast in their ways will cheer for.”
“To that end,” Vhalla continued where her husband left off. “The third trial is one of our own design. My husband and I wished to craft a trial that will allow you and your magic to shine as only you know best.” She motioned to Fritz to continue.
The minister stepped forward and Eira stared over his shoulder rather than in his eyes. She didn’t dare be the one who averted her eyes entirely. She wouldn’t be that rude outright. But she couldn’t stare at his face after their recent interaction. After it became clear that he thought she was one breath away from killing even her own parents.
“The third trial will occur in just under two weeks. We are calling it ‘the creation,’” Fritz said. “You are to create something with your magic that will impress us.”
“Create something?” Alyss repeated softly.
An apprentice raised their hand. Fritz nodded at the young man. He stood with a quick bow. “Sir, Your Majesties, what is it that you would like us to create?”
“That’s the beauty of this trial,” Vhalla said with a smile. “Your creation is entirely up to you. What form it takes, how you present it, are all your decisions.”
The apprentice slowly sat down. He looked as confused as the rest of them.
“You will be given ten minutes each to present your creations,” Fritz continued. “The emperor, empress, Prince Romulin, and Ambassadors Cordon and Ferro will be your judges for this trial. The trial, as the others have been, will be open to spectators. It will be conducted at the Sunlit Stage. You will have the entire lower area—where the test was conducted—to present your creation. The rules are that the creation must be entirely housed in this area; it must not be a danger to any who are gathered or damage the Sunlit Stage; and you must create, present, and destroy it in the time given.”
Everyone mulled this over in silence.
“We realize this is an open-ended trial,” Vhalla said in a reassuring way. “But we want to see your creativity. We want to see what you can do without restrictions or a goal in mind. Set your minds, and your magic, free—wow us.”
“Any additional questions can be directed to me or your instructors. One-fourth of the remaining pool will be cut following this trial. Be sure to do your best to get a score that places you in the top three-fourths,” Fritz finished.
With that, the minister, emperor, and empress left. As much as Eira wanted to sit and continue mulling over what they just said, she knew she couldn’t. The time had come for her to conquer something much more immediate, and scarier, than any trial.
She stood, said a quick farewell to Alyss, and crossed to her brother before he could escape. Marcus locked eyes with her and sheer terror seemed to swallow him whole. He shrank in his seat. His eyes were wide with panic.
“I—hello, Marcus.”
“Eira.” He choked out her name, swallowed, and said more smoothly, “Hello.”
“Can we talk?”
Marcus looked to Cullen, who was already stepping away from the table with Noelle.
“Let’s give the ice siblings some space,” Cullen said casually. Noelle gave her a questioning look, but stayed silent, disappearing. Eira was left to wonder if Marcus had confided in them both.
“Where do you want to talk?” Marcus stood. Though, given the way he moved, the weight that was trying to crush her all day was also bearing down on his shoulders.
“I don’t know…” Eira folded and unfolded her hands. “Let’s go to the rooftop.”
“We haven’t been there since we were kids and new to the Tower.”
“Perfect time to go, then.”
They accessed the rooftop by a passageway back to the palace proper and a spiral stair that let them out onto a guard’s walk. Down the rampart was an old ladder, mostly rusted off and icy to the touch. When Eira gripped the first rung, a firm coating of ice covered the ladder and the bolts that connected it to the wall. Like this, it was sturdy enough for them to climb up to the flat roof of a palace spire.
Eira walked over to the far edge, inhaling the bracing chill of the night. “From here, I always thought I could see the whole world.”
“It’s quite the view,” Marcus agreed softly. He didn’t move far from the ladder, as if he were still debating a quick escape.
Eira chewed on her lower lip as she stared out at the city, glittering in challenge to the cosmos above. At the city’s far edge were the switchbacks that trailed down the mountain into the dark forest below. That was the route they would take home through the mountains.
Home. The word was a dagger, slowly peeling away the armor she’d thought she had protecting her.
“I didn’t bring you here to talk about the view, though,” Eira said softly. “But you already know that.” She glanced over her shoulder. Marcus remained silent, staring. There was an invisible wall between them. One that couldn’t be seen but Eira could feel. “I don’t know if I know this city anymore, or at least my place in it… I don’t know if I know who you are—who we are—who I am.”
Marcus pressed his lips into a hard line. Eira took it as an invitation to keep speaking. As if she could talk away the insurmountable wall of discomfort between them.
“I didn’t know,” she whispered. “I had no idea. If I’d known I would’ve…I would’ve told you.”
He still did not speak.
“Say something?” she pleaded.
Silence.
“Did you know?” Eira dared to ask outright.
Marcus looked away and Eira could almost hear her heart shattering. He’d known. No matter what he said next, his movements told her that horrible truth.
“Not…outright. No. I…I didn’t know. I was never told, is what I mean to say.” Marcus frowned. But was it at h
imself, or at her? “Though, I think, there’s a part of me that knew.”
“There was a part of me that knew too,” Eira said hastily, grasping for a connection with him. She couldn’t be alone now, not when the rest of her family felt so far from reach. She needed him.
“I have…a memory,” Marcus continued. “I never understood it. I thought I dreamed it.” He laughed bitterly. “I guess that’s the memory of a three-year-old, hazy and dream like.”
“What was your memory?” She didn’t know why she asked. She didn’t want the answer.
“I remember you coming from nowhere. I remember waking up, and you were there. Mom and Dad telling me I had a sister. I remember thinking, ‘I didn’t ask for a sister.’ But there you were in my home.”
In my home. Eira blinked several times over as the words replayed. His home. His family. She had been an invader. She had been the one who imposed. Marcus had no doubt been thinking how good his life would’ve been without her ever since Fritz’s revelation.
Marcus crossed his arms, swaying slightly as he shuffled his feet. Perhaps he was cold; he’d always been more susceptible to the cold than she. Or perhaps he was debating if he wanted to run off and reclaim the sister-less life he’d been born into—the life he should have had.
“I didn’t mean…” Eira shook her head.
“I know you didn’t mean. You didn’t mean anything. You were a baby. You had no say in it all, just like me.” Marcus glared at her. “But you did have a choice today in the trial.”
“This is more than the trial…this is about our family,” Eira said weakly, trying to summon the strength Alyss had earlier. But the words were a cheap echo of Alyss’s, void of all substance.
“Exactly, family. And you know what family doesn’t do, Eira? Family doesn’t lie.” He took a step forward. “Family doesn’t challenge each other.” Another step. Her eyes were burning again. She desperately wanted to give in to the icy wind prickling her skin—allow it to coat her once more. “Family doesn’t attack each other.”
“I never attacked our parents,” she whispered.
He didn’t hear, or didn’t care. Marcus continued relentlessly on. “Family helps each other succeed rather than trying to tear each other down.”