When she was finished, she spared a moment to bid the room farewell, leaving it behind for the next apprentice to uncover.
Eira left her bag in her room alongside one other and a large trunk. She then descended through the halls, down a secret passage, and was the first to arrive in a waiting room designated by a second letter that had arrived late last night.
Cullen was the second to arrive.
The moment he entered, his eyes met hers and he came to a halt. They spent a long minute staring at each other. A thick and heavy tension immediately occupied the space between them, much like it had the day before. Eira sincerely hoped this wasn’t a new sensation that she’d feel every time she was around him.
“Are you ready?” he asked softly.
“I am.” Eira looked to the window. Meeting his eyes now felt oddly vulnerable. “This wasn’t how I wanted everything to happen. But I’m here now.”
“Marcus would be proud of you.”
Eira tensed at the mention of her brother’s name. “Let’s go and win, for him.”
“We will,” Cullen vowed.
Eira didn’t clarify that she wasn’t merely talking about the tournament. There was another game at play. One she was willing to risk everything in.
“Eira.” He whispered her name, close enough that it forced her to look away from the window and realize he was standing before her. “I know…you and I…we…”
“We what?” Eira looked up at him, guarding every tender edge of her still-bleeding heart.
“We had a rough start.”
She snorted softly. “That’s one way to phrase it.”
He cracked a smile. “But I’m glad to be here with you now.”
“You would’ve preferred Marcus.”
“I would’ve preferred he be here to see you take this spot,” Cullen said firmly. “I’m glad you’re here…with me.”
His hand rested lightly on hers. Eira stared at the unexpectedly tender touch. She followed it up his arm to his face. She didn’t know what expression she was wearing, but whatever it was made Cullen pull away.
I can’t, she wanted to say. I can’t risk giving you my heart. People die when I fall in love.
“I think we’ll make good teammates,” Cullen said stiffly. It was his turn to ignore her and look out the window.
Despite her heart being walled in ice, it persisted to ache. She wanted touch. She wanted comfort. His comfort.
All things she couldn’t let herself have. Cullen had his secrets. She had hers. And Eira couldn’t risk bringing him into the world of shadows she was headed to.
The door opened again to reveal Alyss and Noelle. Alyss promptly crossed to Eira and Noelle hovered in the far corner of the room. Cullen went over to make small talk with her.
After about thirty minutes, Gwen arrived in her formal regalia. “Hello, competitors of Solaris,” she said warmly. “Are you ready for your debut?”
They all nodded and followed behind her.
Gwen led them through quiet back passages, up to a hall that was familiar. The last time Eira had walked this path it was night, and she was chasing behind Ferro. She hoped the muzzle they had on the ambassador-turned-assassin was good and tight.
They came to a stop behind the large doors that opened to the Sunlit Stage. There were muffled cheers following unintelligible proclamations on the other side. All at once, the doors opened, and the four of them stepped into the sunlight.
Ferro and Deneya were expectedly absent. Eira had heard some excuse made about them having gone back early to Meru to help with further preparations. Eira had no doubt they would be traveling alongside them in secret. The emperor and empress stood on one side of the stage, Fritz on the other. Eira kept her eyes forward as she strode toward the stage’s edge with her fellow competitors.
The four sorcerers lined up, sunlight glinting off their pins—the last four pins in all of Solaris. The pins that now marked them as competitors.
“Men and women of Solaris,” the emperor boomed. “I present to you our competitors. The Windwalker, Lord Cullen Drowel—”
Cullen stepped forward at his name to thunderous applause.
“—the Firebearer, Noelle Gravson—”
Noelle took a wide step, flicked her hair, and raised both her hands in a wave.
“—the Groundbreaker, Alyss Ivree—”
Alyss braced herself before stepping forward. Eira could see her chest heaving with nerves but she managed to plaster on a bold smile. The effort was rewarded by more cheers.
“—and the Waterrunner, Eira Landan!”
At her name, the applause fizzled like an ember doused in water. Eira scanned the ramparts, watching the people as they clapped politely and uncertainly for her. They had no doubt been fed the same rumors of her killing for this spot. Even if her name was officially cleared, they were still skeptical of her involvement.
Eira forced a smile and a wave.
Let them think what they wanted, because by nightfall she would be in a carriage headed for Norin. Within two weeks she would board a ship of the Imperial Armada. Within the month, she would step foot on Meru. And within the year, Eira would bring Solaris victory, and her brother vengeance.
* * *
Eira’s story continues…
The next book in the Trial of Sorcerers series is A HUNT OF SHADOWS (A Trial of Sorcerers, #2). Learn more and grab your copy at:
https://elisekova.com/a-hunt-of-shadows/
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Discover more from Elise Kova
A Hunt of Shadows
Continue Eira’s story as she ventures to Meru in the next book of the A Trial of Sorcerers Series.
Pre-order and learn more at: https://elisekova.com/a-hunt-of-shadows/
* * *AIR AWAKENS
Read Vhalla’s story of how she went from a common born, non-magical, library apprentice to the first Windwalker and Empress of Solaris.
Get your copy: https://elisekova.com/air-awakens-book-one/
A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond…
The Solaris Empire is one conquest away
