Page 33 of Their Trials

Each of us glanced around, taking in the magnitude that surrounded us. However, there was only one thing my mind could truly process. We were out of the maze. My shoulders started to slump in relief, but I quickly stood at attention, pulling my military bearing back into place. We might have survived, but we still couldn’t let down our guard. We were still on display, and how we reacted would be picked apart and dissected by the people until they decided which contestant to throw their weight behind.

I reached over and wrapped an arm under Baer’s shoulders, helping to support his weight. He was still weak from the blood loss and would need time to recover, so I’d carry him until he could walk on his own. We were in this together, for better or worse. So, if I needed to support his near limp body, I would.

A loud clap rang out around us, drawing our attention to the Queen. She glided from her glittering seat in the stands until she stood before us all. Master Jude followed behind her quietly, his head ducked and hands clasped together.

“Congratulations, Chosen and Consorts.” Her voice rang out loud and clear, amplified by magic to reach everyone watching. “You have completed the first trial, beating all the other competitors to the center.” She paused as the crowd erupted in applause and screams, enjoying the show before them. She smiled broadly at them all, basking in their adulation, before turning back to face us.

“I see that your Chosen is currently indisposed, but I wanted to announce at this time that we will be having a ball tomorrow evening to reward your accomplishments, at which time I will present your reward for having been the first to complete the trial.”

We all bowed in acknowledgement, not rising, our muscles tensed in preparation for an attack. “Thank you, Your Majesty. We would be honored to attend,” I spoke for us all.

She narrowed her eyes at me as the screams rang out again, another group arriving behind us and distracting the crowd from our group. However, the Queen’s focus only intensified as she spoke softly, her voice no longer amplified. “It seems that somehow your Chosen was able to compete without any injuries. I wonder how that could be. Surely you were wise enough to have followed my orders.” Her interrogation had begun and must be navigated carefully if we were to avoid any fallout from the choices we had made.

This time, Lennox spoke up, his mask fully back in place. “Rhowyn was able to heal herself fully after we completed the bonding ceremony.”

“Is that so?” she questioned further, her brow raised, an indication that she wasn't buying the explanation. “She must be quite powerful to have mastered the healing magic so quickly. You are truly blessed, son, to have a Chosen who is so strong.” If that wasn't an underhanded threat, I didn't know what was.

“She's a quick learner,” Lennox said, trying to ensure that the Queen didn't find Rhowyn more of a threat than she already did. He was best suited to navigating her mercurial moods, so I let him speak for us.

“Indeed.” She glanced up, her eyes scanning the crowd briefly before coming to rest back on us. “However, if I find out otherwise, I will ensure the punishment is sufficient to discourage further half-truths from my subjects.”

She couldn't do anything without proof, and at this time, she had none. Too many people watched as we spoke, putting us all further on edge while we waited for her attention to move elsewhere. “We would expect nothing less, Your Majesty.” I bowed again, fully aware of the dangerous road we were now walking.

She beamed at us, the expression not meeting her narrowed eyes as her mind tried to find out how to get the truth from us. “Perfect. Now that we have an understanding, I'll be on my way. I must congratulate the other competitors.” She ended the conversation with a clap of her hands before gliding away.

Immediately, we all relaxed, ready to return to our rooms. Baer stood next to me, my arm still holding him up, and rubbed at his chest, his brow furrowed in thought. His jovial nature was nowhere in sight. Lennox's shoulders slumped, but he didn't relax his hold on his control.

Callum stood silent and stoic with Rhowyn still draped in his arms. He shifted slightly, the only indication that he was ready to leave and be away from all these watching eyes. We had much to discuss and needed to be safe within our suite to do so.

I glanced back up at the crowd, finally noticing the translucent images that were before them. There were fifteen individual images, each one following a different Chosen. A low drone of sound was coming from the images. This must be how everyone was watching the trials.

Master Jude approached us, pride glowing from his eyes and face as he met us with a wide smile. “Congratulations!” he said as his eyes darted to the Queen's current location, where she was greeting the other group that had entered just behind us. Genevieve heaped adulation on the Queen as her Consorts stood beside her.

“I think I have stumbled across some interesting information, although I'm not quite sure what to make of it,” Jude whispered to us, drawing us closer to him. His hand patted Baer on the shoulder as if he was praising us and not divulging the secret information we had requested.

“What do you mean?” I questioned, keeping the concern from my face so as not to give away the real purpose of this conversation.

“Not here. I'll come find you all later,” he whispered, his eyes darting to all the other priests that were gathering around as more groups started to arrive, each one looking worn and disheveled. I was sure we didn’t look any better.

“We'll be in our suite letting everyone recover. We have no plans to leave until tomorrow's ball,” I told him.

“Perfect!” he exclaimed loudly. “Again, Congratulations!” He finally drifted away from us, leaving us free to escape the growing crowd and return to the safety of our rooms.

“Let's get back and get Rhowyn in bed,” I told the guys, turning my head to glance over the other competitors that surrounded us. I noted Charity, looking rumpled but whole. I knew Rhowyn would ask about her, so I was glad I could give her a good report.

Callum led the way with Rhowyn, Lennox following behind him, looking somewhat dejected. We needed a meeting after we got Rhowyn settled, to clear the air about everything that the trial had brought to us.

A debrief would help us come together and determine our next course of action and how to prevent our mistakes in the future. I pulled Baer along with me, his weight leaning on me more and more as we marched through the massive castle. Not a single one of us spoke to each other, our thoughts engulfed by the trials that we had faced in the maze. Things that would weigh on us until we could clear the air.

Once back in our suite, Callum took Rhowyn directly to her room. I led Baer to the couch and helped him sit. Lennox ran off to fetch food and drinks for us all. Still, no one spoke, we just went about our tasks as if we had worked together for years. If nothing else, the first trial had managed to bring us together in this way.

Sitting in one of the chairs, I watched the fire in the fireplace and tried to prioritize everything. After the chaos that we had clawed our way out of, I needed order. It was the only thing that had kept me going in times past, and it was what I fell back on now.

I stood, going to pour myself some whiskey. I glanced at Baer, holding out the bottle and asking, “Want one?”

He rubbed his chest, lost in thought, his head drooping and forearms resting on his knees. Not meeting my eyes, he answered, “I'm good.”

It seemed this trial had shaken us all, even our resident optimist. This was just the beginning of what we would have to face, and if we had any hope of succeeding, I needed everyone at their best. Which meant I would have to help the others sort through everything.

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