I balled my hands, then loosened them and wiped my palms on my pants again. Sir Featherton had promised that the remaining three males would be identified by the final test, but why the king hadn’t declared them yet, I didn’t know.
As if sensing me studying them, Michas Crimsonale shot his gaze to mine. His face remained expressionless, but then his lips quirked up in a mocking gesture before he nodded his head subtly. I wasn’t sure if he was doing that to wish me luck, or if he was giving me a bow of farewell since he thought I would surely lose the first test.
Flustered even more, I began to tap my foot.
“Ilara!” Matron Olsander swatted me again. “Stand still. They’re about to explain the test.”
As if on cue, the door behind us opened with a flourish, and the Trial’s archon sauntered out of the castle and dipped around us before dashing down the steps to make a show of his arrival.
The crowd went wild, hooting and hollering before they began thumping their feet in anticipation. Meegana and I shared a nervous look while Beatrice’s lips thinned, and Georgyanna preened.
To the crowd, Sir Featherton raised his hands more, a grin on his face as he waved for them to quiet. It took almost a minute before the deafening roar finally abated, but once everyone was calm, the archon swirled toward us. “Dearest daughters of the Solis continent, welcome to your official first test in the Rising Queen Trial!”
Another wild cheer went up, even louder than before.
“And now . . .” Sir Featherton bowed deeply. “May I present our king.”
A flow of air washed over my cheeks as the sound of marching footsteps reached my ears. Six of the king’s guards appeared, surrounding a hovering enchanted carpet that the king stood upon. It rose above the shoulders of his guards as magic held it aloft.
The crowd worked into a frenzy when they saw King Novakin, cheers and roars filling the air, before they all dipped into low bows, following Sir Featherton’s lead.
Blood rushed to my cheeks when I beheld the king. Everything Norivun had revealed to me swirled through my mind. This king was the reason behind Queen Lissandra’s abuse. He was the instigator of the attacks on my family. And he was the male who raised his hand in vengeance against his own sons.
Somehow, I managed to bow like the females at my side, but my teeth grated.
When the king reached the courtyard, we all straightened, and the king deftly stepped from the carpet to be seated on his throne as the floating carpet lowered to the ground while his guards positioned themselves in front of him.
Queen Lissandra gave him a vacant smile as both Prince Norivun’s and Nuwin’s expressions went slack, their eyes glazed as they became portraits of his dutiful sons versus who they really were—children of an abused female who did everything in their power to keep her abuse to a minimum. They were the perfect puppets, and the puppet master sat before them.
The king raised his hands. “Rise, sons and daughters of the Solis continent, and let the first test begin!”
Another wild cheer rose from the crowd as everyone straightened. More than a few bounced on their toes as excited grins split their lips.
Sir Featherton gave a final bow to the king before waving an arm out in dramatic fashion. “I’m sure you’re all wondering what test we have in store for our future queen?”
Cheers rose as fists pumped in the air.
Meegana and I shared another anxious look. I entwined my fingers through hers and squeezed. She squeezed me in return just as hard.
“The first test in the Rising Queen Trial will be conducted right here in the castle courtyard.” Sir Featherton made a sweeping spin.
The crowd looked around, as though searching for contraptions or mazes or some obstacle course for us to survive.
Nothing presented itself.
Sir Featherton’s grin broadened. “May I have all of you look toward the sky?”
All of us tilted our chins back. A gasp came from the crowd, then another. Some began pointing as whispered murmurs erupted through the gathered fae. Even the princes shared a concerned look before Norivun’s gaze cut to mine.
My heart beat harder, but I still saw nothing.
“Mother Below, look!” Meegana pulled me to her side, and I followed her outstretched finger.
My eyes widened when I beheld a hovering flag high up in the atmosphere, and my stomach immediately plummeted.
An amused snicker came from Georgyanna, and she cast me a mockingly sympathetic look. “Looks like we’ll need wings for our first test.”
The stone in my stomach sank even more, and my fears were only amplified when Sir Featherton said, “The flag hovering in the sky is five millees above the ground. The first female to reach it and deliver it to the king will be the winner of our first test, and remember, no one is allowed to intervene or assist the females in any way. If anyone is found to be aiding our next queen, you shall suffer a lengthy stay in the dungeons or the Death Master’s wrath.”
My brow furrowed as confusion filled me. “So it’s a flying test?”
Meegana squeezed me, her tone sorrowful. “It appears so.”
Disappointment filled me. Why have I been working my backside off if all they care about is how quickly we fly?
The crowd seemed to share my sentiment since surprised murmurs erupted along with a few disgruntled snorts.
“You might be wondering why the test is so simple.” Sir Featherton twirled toward the crowd again. “And that’s because it’s not that simple.”
He spun toward us and spread his arms wide. “Daughters of the Solis continent, be sure to keep your wits about you. This isn’t a test merely to engage your flying skills. It’s also a test to determine the range of your skills along with your ability to see beyond what meets the eye.”
Leaving us with those cryptic words, he dipped back to face the crowd and grinned wickedly. “May the strongest female win.”
The four of us were ushered to the center of the courtyard. I tried to wish Meegana and Beatrice good luck, but the guards positioned us away from each other so quickly that I didn’t get a chance.
The entire time I felt Norivun’s gaze, like a predator prowling against my back. His aura rose more and more, the sheer power of his affinities like a cloud around us. The intensity of his energy completely dwarfed the crowd’s excitement. More than a few citizens drifted farther from the dais, giving the crown prince wary side-eyes before positioning themselves out of his sight.
King Novakin didn’t reprimand his son, though, and the king’s smug look made me wonder if he’d chosen this test intentionally to rile the crown prince because the king knew that the prince had taken an interest in me.
Despite Norivun trying to keep his obsession with me a secret, and despite no one knowing of our secret nights together, anyone with eyes could sense how he watched me.
And with a flag over twenty thousand feet above us hanging in midair by some unknown magical force, the king knew I would surely lose, because the other females would fly as fast as their wings could carry them, but I couldn’t. I didn’t have wings.