Jamie was just starting to believe that Marcus had forgotten about them when everything changed.
They were jolted from sleep by alarms blaring through the inky blackness. Jamie leapt to his feet before he even had time to think, peering into the darkness. Just as abruptly, the lights were switched on, chasing the shadows away and leaving the Competitors blinking blearily at a Cleaner, who was the source of this undignified awakening.
They were given just enough time to get dressed and grab a few mouthfuls of breakfast before being escorted to the Combat Arena, just as the first light of dawn crept delicately over the mountain range.
The Combat Arena had been completely transformed; seating had been erected outside, for spectators to view the action. And inside – well inside, the Earth Master of the Elemental College had performed his magic, turning the flat ground of the Ring into a wild jungle, filled with twisting, creeping vines and trees with dense canopies. The vegetation pushing up against the edge of the Arena seemed to make the spectator seating pointless – it was unlikely anything would be visible.
Marcus stood on a platform raised high above the Combat Arena – visible to all the spectators seated around the dome. The mountain range was dark and forbidding, rising up majestically behind him. It was an impressive setting and based on Marcus’ inclination towards showmanship, Jamie judged it to be completely intentional. When Marcus spoke, his voice boomed across the vast space, having been augmented artificially.
“Welcome Competitors, to the first of the three Trials. This morning, you will be playing a game – a variation on the classic – capture the flag. You’ll be separated into two teams. Each team will be given two flags and a final, fifth flag has been hidden within the Arena. The winning team will be the one to be in possession of all five flags at the location of the fifth flag. The members of the winning team will progress within the Trials, the losing team will be eliminated.” Marcus paused, allowing his words to sink in, his dark, piercing eyes ranging over them.
Jamie turned to Allyra; she had her head raised, watching Marcus impassively. She felt his eyes on her and turned to him, flashing him a quick and utterly unconcerned smile, before turning back to Marcus.
An irrational blaze of annoyance washed over him at her nonchalance. He wanted to shake her, to yell at her, screaming that she should be more alarmed.
There was too much left to chance here.
They would have little control over the choice of teams.
They might end up on different teams.
And more importantly, she might land up on a team of losers.
He screamed silently in frustration.
Jamie’s heart was beating erratically, and the beatific look on Allyra’s face only made it worse. He could only unflatteringly describe the hollowness in this chest and his pounding heartbeat as panic – an utterly unknown sensation. He struggled to concentrate as Marcus continued his instructions to them.
“Today, there is only one rule – the use of your Gift is forbidden. Iron bracelets will be placed on you. They will make access to your Gift difficult, if not impossible for some of you. But understand we will be watching.” Marcus said, indicating huge screens placed around the dome.
There had to be cameras within the Ring, their pictures to be delivered to the screens, making their test more visual and accessible to the spectators.
“If any of you are caught violating this single rule, it will mean automatic elimination of your entire team.”
Cleaners walked amongst the Competitors, placing iron bracelets on them. When Jamie’s turn came, he felt an irrational urge to run or fight – he swallowed it and allowed the cool metal to be tightened around his wrists. Instinctively, he closed his eyes, trying to see the red threads of fire running through the world. The harder he tried, the more the iron heated up, blurring his vision and giving him a hint at a pounding headache.
He noticed, as a Cleaner wrapped iron around Allyra’s wrists that the white bandage was still wrapped around her right hand and wrist. The wound to her side had healed enough that Mike had removed all stiches and bandages a couple of days ago, yet the one on her wrist remained.
Jamie wondered if Mike had shown her the tattoo, if he’d asked her what it was or even explained to her what he thought it might be. He made a note to ask her the next time he managed to get her alone – if he ever got that chance again…
Marcus spoke again. A light breeze was picking up now, stirring through his dark hair, giving him a certain animation that he didn’t normally possess. “Now choose your teams.” He said lightly, pointing down to a Cleaner, holding a now familiar black bag of tiles.
The Competitors organized themselves into a long line. Allyra was towards the back of the queue and he maneuvered himself behind her. The Competitors ahead were reaching into the bag and coming away with colored tiles, either white or gold. All too soon it was Allyra’s turn, she reached in and withdrew a golden tile before she stepped out of the way for him to take her place. His eyes never left her as he reached into the bag, lifting out a single golden tile. He forced his expression to remain frozen, even as his heart soared and his breathing steadied.
Luck
