Page 157 of A Touch of Stars and Stones
“What’s going on? Why are you down here? Why am I here?”
“I wanted to find you. It’s been hours since you were taken down here. The Court is a buzz with it. There’s never been a trial halted before.”
“Has there ever been a trial where one of the trainees brought the dead back to life, and one of the monsters attacked another trainee?” I ask her, but immediately realise I sound too harsh.
She shrinks back a fraction.
“You didn’t do it alone, Ever.”
Has someone told her what happened?“I appreciate that, Kyra. But why are you here? Won’t you be in trouble? You can’t risk that for me.”
“We’re under attack.”
“What?” My heart is in my mouth. “You didn’t think that was the most important part to lead with?”
“There’s no need to worry. The Warriors have it handled. The Court is going through the drill. It’s a little skirmish, really.” It doesn’t sound right, her describing fighting in her light and joyful tone.
“What about the others? Are they okay?”
“Ten,” she gives me a pointed look that even I can see in the gloom, “is fine, but confined to the residence. All the other trainees, too, apart from Calix and Crimson, who are with the other Warriors.”
“Fighting?” I question.
“Yes. That’s what they do.”
“But we’re training. They aren’t part of the army or whatever protection The Court has.”
“They’re Warriors. They’ll fight. All of them will.” As if that’s explanation enough.
“Ascella? Is she… alive?”Please say yes. Please say yes.
“Yes, she’ll be fine. She’s recovering in the medical wing. I have to go, but I didn’t want you to worry. You’ll be safe here.” She smiles as if telling me any of this is just another part of any other day.
She races off, the candle flickering on the stone wall as she passes.
And I’m left to listen to the sound of people running overhead and hope that she’s right.
thirty-nine
. . .
Aten
I’m going fucking insane!
The door won’t budge. It’s never locked—we don’t lock our doors in the residence, but someone has fucking locked me in and away from whatever shit is going on out there.
The perimeter alarm sounded as the guards shoved us into our rooms. So not only did the trial go to shit, but we were now under attack.
Helplessness has never been, nor will it ever be, something that sits within me, and every part of my body rebels at this feeling as it snakes over my skin.
I pace and then sit, shoving my hands through my hair as I sift through the known facts in my mind. They halted the trial. That’s never happened, and worse, I don’t know the details of what went on in the forest after Crimson and Ascella decided they’d like the opportunity to mess with Ever. They were going to take the win but wanted Ever as collateral damage and happilyleft me and Azur behind. I still don’t know if Calix went for their benefit, mine, or his own.
Clenching my hands into fists and visualising the frustration leaving in puffs of smoke does nothing to help the simmer inside of me, but it does allow my mind to still and focus. There’s a way out of this. There has to be.
Because at the heart of all my worry is Ever. I haven’t seen her, and not knowing if she’s alright is my own brand of torture. Every muscle, fibre, and molecule of my body is crying out to know she’s safe. And it fucking ruins any other thought.
Taking a deep breath, half in frustration, I try to search for the answers. Why did the alarm sound? Was it linked to the trial? A false alarm, or because of what happened? To Ever? A coincidence?
