Eira shook her head.
“It’s a duel that only ends when someone forfeits or dies.”
“Duels to the death aren’t allowed in Solaris.”
“It’s not technically to the death. Though I still got a strong reprimanding for it from my superiors. Anyway, to spare you from a long and gruesome bedtime story… Things got out of hand and I nearly took off the arm of one of my fellow guards. If the swing had been slightly different, I might have cleaved him to the heart.”
“I didn’t know,” Eira whispered.
“I’m not exactly proud of it.” Gwen laughed lightly. Eira could hear a bitter note she recognized in herself. “So it’s not like I went home and told it around our Yule hearth that year. But it did happen. What do you think my punishment was?”
“Obviously you weren’t kicked out of the palace guard.”
“No. I was disciplined with hard lessons and service. But I served that time and I even rose through the ranks of the guard. Look at me now—I’m one step from major.” Gwen yawned and leaned away. With her hand free, Eira resumed picking at the hem of her dress. “Look, I don’t understand all the sorcery stuff of you and my brother. But I do understand what it’s like to be young, and make a mistake, and feel your life is ruined. But, if you’re breathing and are willing to work hard, there are not many mistakes that you can’t recover from.”
Eira kept her objections to herself. Certainly, if Gwen’s story was true, it was pretty serious. But the person she had hurt willingly stepped into the sparring ring. They accepted a chance of injury.
They also walked away with their life.
Three years ago, Eira had stepped into a classroom with a heart filled with naive hope. She had confessed her love—a love she’d thought was true and real—to Adam and he’d decided to make a game of it. He’d lured her in with a note of false promises. He’d given her the idea that he might actually have feelings for the awkward and gangly girl she’d been.
Noelle and the others were hidden when she’d arrived. Just as he’d gone to kiss Eira, they’d leapt from their hiding places with jeers. The jest had been on her.
Worthless…ugly…not even your mother could love you…
Eira could hear a thousand voices and she would never forget those. Ice had replaced the blood in her veins that night. Their cruelty had exposed her fragility and her power ran rampant. She’d covered half the Tower in frost, two sleeping students in the thick of it. One experienced severe frostbite and never returned to the Tower. The other was young, and had a weak constitution… She never woke up.
It was a wonder Eira hadn’t been expelled. Her actions were met with severe punishment, but since she’d been young, and not in control, she was spared irons—barely. The senate had certainly called for a more severe punishment. After that, most of the taunting happened from the shadows, rather than outright. And Eira could never look at any of her classmates the same.
“I hope you’re right,” Eira said softly to placate her aunt, shaking her head and sending the dark rats of her past scattering back to their usual shadows.
“I can tell you don’t believe me. But I am.” Gwen was settling back down underneath the covers so Eira stood. But her aunt caught her hand. “You have to move on eventually. Throw your hat in the ring. Fight to be a competitor.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“No one—no one loves the Crescent Continent—”
“Meru,” Eira corrected. The land had been mostly forgotten to time. Those who did know of it referred to it as the “Crescent Continent” not knowing any better. But it had a name now; as far as Eira was concerned, people needed to start referring to it properly.
“My point exactly.” Gwen smiled and pulled Eira’s hand so she was leaning over her. “No one loves that place more than you. You were born to go there, to see the wide world and find your place in it, I can feel it.” Gwen kissed her cheek. “So sleep well, niece of mine. When you wake up, follow your heart. I’ll help smooth things over with your uncle if needed.”
“Thanks, Auntie.”
Eira retreated back to the Tower, the shadows of her past and the possibilities of the future trailing her every step.
The next morning, she met with Alyss as planned and they suffered through classes.
After instruction was done for the day, Eira, Alyss, and the rest of the Tower met once more for an announcement in the main atrium at the Tower’s base. Every student and teacher hung on bated breath to the minister’s words.
“We all know why I have summoned you, so I will not make you wait.” Fritz stood on a table to address them all. “This week, I had lunch with the empress, which sparked many meetings with both the empress and emperor, as well as the head of the Guard and Minister of War on this upcoming tournament. In addition, I have met with Ambassador Ferro and his delegation, discussing the details further.”
“Get to the point,” Alyss hissed under her breath.
Eira shh’ed her. She was having a hard enough time focusing on Fritz over the murmurs, the voices that haunted her from the walls, the remnants of Gwen’s encouragement, and the frantic beating of her heart.
“It has been decided, after much discussion, that one sorcerer of each affinity will be sent from the Solaris Empire as our competitors in the Tournament of Five Kingdoms. This will mean the other four kingdoms—territories—will send four of their best sorcerers as well to compete.”
Whispers of excitement scampered across the room like eager children during the autumnal celebrations at the Festival of the Sun.
“Four of us, they’re sending four!” Alyss shook Eira’s shoulder.
“Only one of each affinity though.”
“Don’t be a downer.”
Fritz continued before Eira could say anything. “Any apprentice over the age of
