Page 57 of Golden Star

Unfortunately, before I can think of something snarky to throw back at Riven, he steps aside and gestures for us to follow. “Now, if you’re done stalling, it’s time for your first trial,” he says, and the icy wall around the tent melts, allowing the three of us to exit.

Zoey and I exchange a look, then step out of the tent.

The lake shimmers under the early morning light, its surface reflecting the sky like a perfect, deadly mirror.

It reminds me so much of the lake Zoey fell into when we were kids that I can practically see the two of us as children in the center of it, me reaching for her beneath the surface to save her from a frozen, watery death.

As I’m staring out at it, one of the knights approaches us.

“All is well, Your Highness?” he asks Riven.

“Better than expected,” he says with a low chuckle. “Breaking their spirits before the trials is half the fun. Now, let’s see how much more they can bend before they snap.”

He and his knights make their way to the edge of the lake, and we follow, knowing we don’t have much else of a choice.

Zoey walks unnervingly slowly—timidly—beside me.

She hasn’t stepped foot in a body of water since falling through the ice that day. Not even to go into a pool. Or a hot tub. Or even a bath.

I reach for her hand, squeezing it, trying to give her strength.

She doesn’t acknowledge me. The only thing she’s focused on is the lake, its icy surface unnaturally smooth. Like it’s something out of a dream—or a nightmare.

Once we’re at the edge of the lake, Riven turns to one of his knights—the tallest one with blond hair, who seems to be higher ranked than the rest of them.

“Time to give them their weapons,” he says.

“Really?” Zoey asks. “You’re going through all this trouble to put us through these death trials, and you’re giving us weapons?”

“Your deaths will come too quickly otherwise,” he says simply. “Given that we came all the way out here, we should at least be able to watch you suffer.”

I want to ask if that’s why he gave us the amulet and whisper stone—to get more of a kick out of what we’re about to go through. But I know better than to reveal that information to the knights.

Riven nods to the blond-haired knight, who reaches into his weapons belt and pulls out two daggers. There’s nothing ornate or magical about them. They’re weapons, but I have a gut feeling they’re not enchanted ones. Just cold, hard steel.

He hands one to Zoey first.

She takes it, testing the weight in her hand, turning it over as if she’s handled one before.

“You’re looking at that thing like you know how to use it,” I tell her.

“Dad taught me a little when I helped him whittle wood.” She grips the handle tighter, her eyes focusing with just as much seriousness as they did on the day in gym class when she was preparing to attempt a complicated back handspring twist dismount off the balance beam.

She succeeded, of course. She always does.

Zoey’s still studying her dagger when the knight steps forward and offers me mine.

I’ve never held a weapon before—minus the icicle I used to kill that deer—so its weight is unfamiliar. Heavy in a way that makes my arm feel awkward. And I’m not a natural at gripping it like Zoey apparently is.

Standing there, staring down at the blade, the reality of what we’re about to face sinks in. I have no idea what kind of trial we’ll be up against, but one thing’s clear—I’m out of my depth.

And I haven’t even jumped into the lake.

Sapphire

Riven,with Ghost by his side, leads the way to the center of the lake.

As we approach, something beneath the ice starts to glow. It’s a pale blue, eerie glow—like a warning from another world.

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