Professor Dekela was going to be giving me a test, and I intended to be ready for that so I could prove to him and everybody else that I was ready for anything. After all, I was supposed to be the most powerful being in all the seven kingdoms: a fae-mage with unlimited magic. If I didn’t prove myself now and be the best, how could I ever hope to run a kingdom and be queen?
The First Test
The garden cafeteria was a gaggle of voices and chattering students. Autumn had arrived early, and stray brown and burnished gold leaves scattered beneath the soles of the students’ boots. I couldn’t believe it had been only three months since I had come to Avalonia, and I had finally regained a sense of belonging that had disappeared when my adoptive parents died.
Professor Dekela strode into the garden; his very presence was enough to quiet the cafeteria. His dark eyes flashed, stern and commanding.
“As some of you may know,” he started in a strong, calm voice, “over the next few days we will be having our annual tests. All the students enrolled at the academy must pass these examinations if they want to proceed with their magical education.”
Immediately, the chattering and whispering started in full force, like a wave rising and breaking against the shore.
“Please be quiet,” said Professor Dekela, an exasperated look on his face.
One of the teachers handed the mastermage a sealed scroll.
“I will post this on the information tree,” said Professor Dekela. “Everybody please check the time and place of your tests. If you don’t show up on time, you will fail at that subject.”
The night before the first tests, I met Rafe in our usual place and he presented me with a pair of beautiful jeweled daggers.
“Because every queen needs a set of these,” Rafe said, smiling when he gave them to me. “And they can be easily concealed.”
“And how do you know what every queen needs?” I asked, trying to sound stern but suppressing a smile.
Rafe’s eyebrows arched upward, and he grinned. “Do you really want to know?”
I shook my head and laughed. “No, not really. Thank you so much, Rafe.” I threw my arms around his neck and gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. “They are beautiful. I love them.” This time I didn’t ask where he got them.
He hugged me back. “Also not stolen, in case you were wondering.”
I swatted him on his arm. “Not funny.”
“I thought it was.” Rafe was still chuckling as we made our way back to the school before dawn broke.
When the day of the first test arrived, I was very nervous. I barely managed to stuff a piece of bread into my mouth as Vivienne accompanied me to the testing area.
The south field was splendidly decorated. Marquees and stands were set up to form a rectangle, and in the middle an open space loomed—the arena. Four tents were set up in the middle of the testing arena, which I presumed was the place the first test was to be held.
When I went to the professor to give him my name, I realized to my utter horror that Damien and I had been teamed together for the first test—healing.
I had no idea what I was up against, and having Damien on my team was not reassuring. What were the teachers thinking? They knew better than to team Damien and me together. Everyone knew about our enmity. I just hoped he behaved himself while the examinations were on.
“I hope you know what you are doing,” said Damien rudely, as he strode past me into the arena. “I don’t want to lose because some amateur forgot how to do things.”
“You’re the one who needs to keep up,” I retorted and turned my face.
Professor Dekela strode in as everyone lined up.
“Let the test begin,” boomed Professor Tanko’s resounding voice.
Healing was the first test. There were four tents, one each for different levels of magic. We had to go in the tents provided and create a remedy for the patient in the tent who had been poisoned.
We waited for our turn.
Damien came over to stand next to me. “We’re up next.”
Finally it was our turn, and Damien and I went into the tent. A pale girl was stretched out on the bed. Her head was sweaty, and her face was deathly white.
“She has been poisoned by hemlock,” stated Damien in his usual, irritating know-it-all manner. But he was wrong; healing was not Damien’s strongest skill.
“No, I don’t think so,” I said, checking the patient. “I think it is more subtle than that.”
I felt the girl’s head. She was burning with fever, her eyes were closed, and her breathing was faint at best.
“I think it’s a poisonous mushroom, but not just any mushroom. It seems to be the deadly Andrysian mushroom called the Shadow of Death,” I said finally. “Look at the purple tint around her lips.”
Damien thought for a moment. “Maybe you’re right. After all, you are from Andrysia.”
I was surprised that he agreed with me so easily. I’d thought I would have a fight on my hands.
“Well, that is an easy remedy to make, then,” he said, full of himself. He went about making the concoction. I wondered what he was doing. It didn’t look right.
My brow furrowed. “I don’t think you should add any more of the purple dragon flower seed. The girl could die.”
“You dare to question me?” said Damien, smirking. “I know exactly what I’m doing.”
A professor was standing quietly in the corner. Only inspecting, no advising. I was alone. Damien had confused me, made me think I was wrong when I was so sure that I had been right. I remembered studying this with Penelope.
Damien spooned the mixture into the girl’s mouth. Instantly she started turning white, and her breathing became even more
