by Elly Blake
“I knew nothing of your wishes, Your Majesty,” I said deferentially. It wasn’t the time to argue. “Perhaps if you train me in your ways, I would know better how to please you in the future.”
“Or how to stab me in the back.” Her nostrils flared.
I swallowed the urge to argue. “My loyalty lies with you, Your Majesty. I hate the Frost Court and everyone in it.” Except Arcus, I amended mentally.
I bowed my head, feeling Kai’s stare on me. I was laying it on a bit thick, but this was no time to let pride or scruples get in the way of saving my own neck. And Kai’s, too.
Prince Eiko leaned forward. “Why did you agree to come here, young lady? What did you expect to gain?”
I took a deep breath and met his eyes. “I have dreamed of coming here all my life. My grandmother told me stories of this land and its beauty, of the richness of its culture and its history.” That much was true. “I longed to be where Firebloods are valued rather than reviled. I grew up hiding my gift. Then, when my identity was revealed, I was hated and feared. My life was worth nothing to the Frost Court.” That was also true.
A silence fell. The queen’s gaze seemed to soften. I had aroused her sympathy. I needed to continue while I held the advantage.
I had gathered from conversations on the ship that Fireblood masters were valued highly. Proving my usefulness seemed like a good way to start.
“Perhaps you could test me, as Prince Eiko suggested.” I was careful to keep any hint of demand from my tone. “Prince Kai has explained that anyone can attempt the Fireblood trials, no matter their background. Would it be pleasing to you if I became one of your masters?”
A small smile played about her lips. “You speak too sweetly to be trusted, young lady. Though I appreciate how well you anticipate what I want to hear.”
I clasped my hands in front of me and met her eyes squarely. “I admire you greatly, and I would do anything to gain your approval.” It wasn’t hard to say the words. There was truth in them, perhaps more than I’d like to admit to myself. I wanted to gain her trust, to be truly welcome somewhere. To belong.
She turned to her husband. “What do you think, Prince Eiko? What would I gain by granting this request?”
His reply was almost eager. “She managed to destroy the frost throne, which only a powerful Fireblood could accomplish. With training, she could exceed some of your strongest masters. Perhaps Sud has sent us this gift. We would be remiss not to consider such a possibility.”
The queen’s expression was smooth, but she seemed to weigh his words carefully. Finally, she transferred her attention back to Kai. “Speak, young prince. You always have much to say.”
“I have seen her use her fire, and her gift is strong,” Kai said. “She could be a valuable addition to the masters.” He hesitated before adding in a low, almost urgent, tone, “And it might reveal things about her gifts that could be of great interest.”
A crease formed between Queen Nalani’s brows. Some silent message seemed to pass between her and Kai.
“And suppose she uses her training and knowledge against us?”
“We risk nothing, as she is here and can be kept contained,” Kai answered.
“I would never use my knowledge against you or your kingdom, Your Majesty.” No, I would use it to save Tempesia. I needed the knowledge of the masters. Once I found out how to destroy the Minax, I would leave.
She stared at me for a long time, then finally shook her head. “I cannot afford to take unnecessary risks.” My heart sank as she continued. “Do not think you will be treated poorly, young lady. I understand that it was Prince Kai who brought you here. But I cannot trust you. You will be kept in my prison until I decide what to do with you.”
A drop of sweat trailed down my back. I thought wildly for something that would change her mind. Prince Eiko looked unruffled by her verdict, but Kai showed his agitation with restless movements and quickened breathing.
“Your Majesty, please,” Kai began.
The queen held up a hand. “Do not waste your breath, young prince. I will decide an appropriate punishment for your disobedience. Your family’s loyalty alone is what saves you from imprisonment as well. You will remain in my castle until I decide what to do. Only a sign from the goddess herself would change my mind at this point.”
As the queen frowned at him, a strong gust of wind blew through the balcony doors, lifting the gauzy curtains. The torches bent and flickered. The hot, humid air settled like a blanket over my skin.
The queen looked over in surprise. Prince Eiko turned to her and smiled. “I believe you have Sud’s answer, my dear.”
She paused for a long moment before nodding. “Indeed, it seems Sud has spoken. I am resolved, then.” She had a more relaxed air, as if the tension of uncertainty had drained from her. “Ruby.”
“Yes?”
“You will be admitted to the school for assessment and training. If the masters declare you a suitable candidate, I will allow you to take the trials. If you pass, you will be initiated as a Fireblood master and sworn to Sudesia. If you’d go to such lengths to embrace your heritage, that would give you a measure of credibility in my eyes. Perhaps I would even grow to trust you and allow you to live freely here.”
The relief was so great, I had to lock my knees to stay upright.
“You risk your life at each stage of the trials. There are sacrifices you may be unprepared for.” Her dark eyes held me spellbound. I had the uncomfortable sensation that she could see into my mind, that she was picking apart my motives and seeing the things I was trying to keep hidden.
“You will have to pledge yourself to me if you are initiated as a master,” she added. “Your allegiance, your very life, will be mine.”
As we left the throne room, Kai led me down the tower stairs and through a long arcade with sun-filled arches supported by thick, round columns.
When we were safely out of view of any courtiers or guards, I turned and gave his chest a shove. “A spy?” I could hardly even get the words out.
He crossed his arms and leaned against a column. “I never actually lied.”
“You said the queen had sent for me!”
“I may have… bent the truth to ease your worries. And I knew the queen would welcome you once you were here.”
His refusal to admit fault was infuriating. “And that was your idea of a warm welcome?”
“What harm has come to you? If you recall, I said you could train to be a Fireblood master. The queen agreed to let you take the trials. And quite easily, I might add.”
“You forgot to mention she would essentially own me if I passed.”
His brows rose a fraction. “Everyone knows that the masters are the queen’s puppets.”
“I don’t know these things!” Suddenly, I was frustrated with myself for not pressing Kai for more information before and during our journey.
He glanced pointedly out the window at figures in the courtyard. A few curious faces were turned in our direction.
I raised my voice. “And I don’t care who hears!”
“Then by all means,” he said, more urbane than ever, “let us air your secrets here. I only thought you might prefer to speak of this in the privacy of your room. Go ahead, scream it all in front of the court. They do love a good show.”
I sighed and lowered my voice. “Why bring me here if that’s not what she wanted?”
“To save your life, for one thing. Not that you’ve shown a scrap of gratitude.”
“Don’t make it sound altruistic. You’re trying to trade me for a second chance at something.”
His chin lifted. “Some of us have to fight for the things that are offered so readily to others.”
“Stop wallowing. You’re a blasted prince, for Sud’s sake.”
A flush crept across his cheeks. “You know nothing of Sudesia. Nothing. And until you do, don’t presume to judge me, Lady Ruby.”
He made it sound like I was being unreasonable. I wanted to lash out. Unleash
my fire on him. But he could do the same, and more. This was his domain, not mine.
And no matter how furious he’d made me, I was the fool who’d believed him.
He turned, continuing down the corridor at a quickened pace.
“Wait, Kai,” I said, wrestling with my temper.
“What?” He didn’t stop walking.
“Where is the throne?”
That brought him to a halt. He turned and regarded me with quizzical annoyance. “We just came from the throne room.”
“I mean the throne of Sud. Black lava rock, running with molten lava. Massive and intimidating. Sound familiar?”
“That throne was destroyed in a volcanic eruption, along with the old castle and everything in it.”
No. This couldn’t be happening. I had counted on finding the fire Minax in the throne of Sud.
“When?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I don’t know, before I was old enough to remember. Most of the island was evacuated for a time. Everything was rebuilt here. This is the only castle I remember.”
I put a hand to my stomach, my shoulders hunched as if I’d just received a body blow. What a fool I’d been. Rushing to Sudesia with little more than a handful of stories and loads of assumptions.
“Ruby, are you all right?” Kai put a hand to my shoulder.
I straightened up, and his hand fell away. “I’m fine. Show me to my room.”
It was time to start making new plans.
TEN
I SPENT THE NIGHT IN A GUEST ROOM decorated in blue and gold, with beaded throw pillows, painted vases filled with hibiscus, and lamps made of colored glass. The bed frame was heavy and intricate, with four polished wooden posts at the head and four posts at the foot, all rising to meet elaborate woodwork that ended in a sort of square border, draped in cream silk, at the top.
I lay on the bed but didn’t sleep. My thoughts raced.
Despite the shocks and disappointments of the past day, not much had changed. The absence of the throne didn’t alter my primary mission. I needed to find the book. It would reveal how to destroy the Minax, and I had to believe there was more than one way to do so. Finding the book meant gaining access to the Fireblood school, which meant taking the trials.
I might actually become a Fireblood master. Whether I was strong enough and powerful enough remained to be seen. But I couldn’t fool myself any longer: On some level, I wanted this. I wanted to test my abilities and master them. To prove myself. To be more than I was.
The excitement lasted for a few seconds until I remembered what passing meant: pledging my life to the queen. Giving up my freedom. Following her orders.
I might never see Arcus again.
The Fireblood school was a squat, pillared building made of sun-burnished yellow stone. Vivid pink and red flowers in clay pots softened the linear facade with delicate leaves and round blooms. A gracefully arched doorway led into a courtyard where pairs of students moved in and out of view, their grunts and exclamations mixing with the dissonant music of wooden wind chimes trembling in a light breeze.
A tall man stepped through the doorway and bowed. He had a crooked nose that looked as if it had been broken and healed more than once, rounded cheekbones, and deep grooves carved between his brows. A streak of reddish orange ran through his dark hair, while a sprinkling of gray touched his temples. His hair had been scraped back and secured at the nape of his thick neck.
His eyes moved over me with a kind of focused assessment I’d seen on the faces of hostlers evaluating horseflesh. It was impossible to tell from his closed expression whether I passed muster. At least I’d braided my hair neatly, and a maid had washed my tunic and leggings before laying them out on my bed that morning.
“This is Master Dallr,” said Kai, the first words he’d spoken since coming to fetch me for a tense and silent carriage ride. “He is the senior master and in charge of this school.”
Master Dallr merely nodded and turned, leading us in. He and Kai exchanged pleasantries while I glanced around. Students from about ten years old to young adulthood were sparring in the large open courtyard, using only their hands and feet as weapons: kicking, punching, blocking, and flipping their opponents. They didn’t use fire. After a few minutes, one of the masters—you could tell by her bright orange tunic, while the students wore sunny yellow—gave a loud whistle. Everyone moved back, forming a circle that left the center of the courtyard empty. Another master called out names and two students stepped forward. They bowed, took their positions, knees bent, fists at the ready, and at a command, began to move.
The opponents clearly weren’t novices, but they weren’t perfect. Some movements were quick and well executed, while others were ill timed or poorly aimed. The master in charge barked corrections and the students made the appropriate adjustments. Then the master said a word I didn’t recognize and bolts of flame issued from the students’ hands, meeting in the center and flowing toward the sky.
“What did he say?” I asked Kai, who sat to my right, cross-legged on the packed earth. In my curiosity, I’d forgotten I wasn’t speaking to him.
“The commands are given in ancient Sudesian,” he whispered, only a slight curve of his lips betraying that he noticed I’d broken my silence. “The first word meant ‘release.’ That next word meant ‘spiral,’ and this move now is called ‘flick.’”
“It looks similar to Tail of the Dragon.”
Kai looked intently at me. “That is the combination of spiral and flick. You know it?”
I nodded, absentmindedly making the motions in the air. Brother Thistle had taken great pains to teach it to me those many months ago when I’d struggled to gain even a basic command of my gift.
I noticed someone watching me and turned my head to find Master Dallr staring. “Perhaps our guest is keen to show us her skills in a practice match,” he said. Before I could answer, he stood and whistled. The students immediately ceased sparring and bowed before running to sit at the edge of the circle.
“Prince Kai, if you would, please,” the master said.
Kai glanced down at his red silk doublet and pristine black leggings.
I snorted. “Worried I’ll ruin your pretty clothes?”
He sprang to his feet, his mouth assuming its typical smirk. “Not at all. I merely hope my skill doesn’t blind you.”
“Your doublet is doing that already.”
His eyes crinkled, the gold flecks standing out against the brown, his irises carved from tigereye agate. “If only your attacks are as sharp as your tongue, Lady Ruby. Why don’t you show us all what you can do?” He walked backward into the circle, arms spread wide in challenge, and raised his voice. “Behold! The girl who melted the frost throne will honor us with a glimpse of her greatness.” And he topped the speech with a sweeping bow.
I looked around anxiously. I’d learned to fight from Brother Thistle and Arcus, matching their frost with my fire. I had no idea how to combat someone who shared my gift. But something about Kai’s cocky grin made me determined to surprise him.
“All right. But what if we hurt someone?” I gestured to the spectators.
“We are all Firebloods here,” Master Dallr replied. “And we will protect our students.”
There were several masters spaced out at intervals in the circle, gazes alert, hands ready. I took a breath and returned Kai’s bow before raising my fists.
“Begin,” said Master Dallr.
The word still hung in the air as Kai punched out an experimental tongue of flame. I ducked and returned the favor, but missed him by inches. He had already swept a gout of fire at my feet. I jumped over the sheet of flame and sent my own at his chest. He ducked and somersaulted backward, his fists thrusting out twin jets as he regained his stance. One caught my sleeve, setting it alight. I dropped to the ground to put it out, then dodged another attack.
Kai’s movements were fast, agile, and unpredictable. I found my mind shutting off and instinct taking over. Attack, jump, t
wist, duck, counterattack.
I threw out a wide swath of stinging flame. Too late, I realized my attack was curving toward the students. The masters positioned their palms facing me, their fingers pointed at one another, and redirected my fire in an arc around the circle, all hands receiving and shaping the flow of it. I hesitated, marveling at the way they had worked together, the fire controlled so neatly, when a burst of heat crashed into my shoulder, nearly knocking me down. I twisted and whipped out a spiral of flame, twitching it at the end like a whip.
“So you do know Tail of the Dragon,” Kai said with a grin, even as a red welt bloomed on his cheek. “But do you know Sud’s Hammer?”
A roughly hammer-shaped swirl of flame formed in his hand and came bearing down on me. I leaped out of the way as it slammed the ground, sending up a cloud of white dust.
“Or Fire Blade?” He swished twin razors of flame at me from both sides. With nowhere else to go, I threw myself on the ground, hands over my head. Kai’s laughter drifted over me.
“Or Sud’s Bowl?” he taunted. Heat surrounded me. I uncovered my head to see myself trapped under an inverted bowl of flame that burned so hot its center held tongues of blue.
It wasn’t the blue of frostfire—not nearly so bright. But any hint of blue meant it was hot enough to injure me. Grandmother had once told me that blue flames meant burns even for a Fireblood. Kai’s fire was strong, maybe stronger than mine. I needed a way out.
I gathered my heat and threw both arms up, punching a column of fire through the bowl. As I leaped out, Kai twitched to the right—I had noticed that he had a tendency to dodge that direction—and blinked in apparent surprise, giving me a moment before his hand came up to attack.
I sent fire arrows at his face. He turned nimbly and met my arrows with heat that sent them off course, then clouted me in the chest with a thick bolt of fire.
As I flew backward, I fisted twin vortexes at him, not at where he stood, but curving toward where I anticipated he would move. To his right.
I heard the attack connect, and Kai fall, just as my back met the packed earth, the air leaving my lungs.