Page 14 of Home Is Where the Witch Is
The huge bear-like candidate from New Zealand walked straight through the crowd to the podium like he was on a mission. Once there, he turned to face Chaoxiang, as though indicating his readiness.
“Aata, your dilemma is a situation where you must take the life of a magical creature or forfeit your right arm. Which do you choose?”
“I’d kill the creature.”
The response was given with such conviction and without a moment’s hesitation. There was a momentary recoil from the crowd, as though they had been robbed for air by the way Aata had delivered his answer. But the strangest part of all was the way Aata was staring straight at Alain when he said it.
The Frenchman’s face told a different story. Rosie supposed it was only natural he’d be upset by Aata’s answer, but the set of the Frenchman’s jaw went past annoyance and into the realm of out-and-out anger. He glared back across the room at the Australian Line candidate, his jaw flexing as he fought to keep his composure.
Even Chaoxiang looked surprised, and he waited for a couple of moments to see if Aata wanted to expand on his answer. When the candidate remained silent, he opted to regain control of the situation.
“Thank you, Aata. Our final candidate for this Ordeal is Tya Yarran.”
After the awkwardness of Aata’s response, Tya didn’t seem as though she wanted to take the stage. She walked past her fellow candidates with her eyes on the ground in front of her, and even though she still bore the grace of the strong young woman Rosie had watched speak the day before, there was definitely something different about her. Chaoxiang gave her one encouraging nod.
“Tya, your dilemma is to choose between fighting fair even though you know your opponent is not or deciding to take the advantage even if you had to use underhanded tactics to win.”
A wild whisper spread through the onlookers as they waited to see which of the two options Tya would choose. To the young woman seemed to struggle with the choice, pressing her lips together as she turned her possibilities over in her mind. When she looked back to Chaoxiang, it was with the calm serenity of a person who was sure of their decision.
“I would continue to fight fairly,” Tya replied. “Stooping low isn’t my style.” She spared a glance in Aata’s direction, earning herself a glare in response.
Oh dear,Rosie thought.
After the Ordealof Pure Heart had been concluded, the Council pressed on with the next. There was no time like the present, Declan had said with a shrug, while Hella had pointed out they might as well strike while the iron was hot. Rosie was definitely feeling a little tired and her feet were a lot sore, so she hadn’t had any clever retorts to add into the mix.
A short recess allowed her to take a bathroom break, and she stopped by the snack table on the way past for a little pick-me-up. She wasn’t sure who was doing the catering, but the food seemed fabulous. There were delicate sandwiches, some kind of individual puddings that looked quite exotic, and noodle cups.
Heading down the makeshift corridor that led to the backstage area, Rosie sighed. She wished she could tuck into the charcuterie board and made herself a promise that she was going to eat nothing but deli meats and soft cheese the week after the baby was born. She reached for the black curtains that were acting like a privacy door when hushed angry voices made her stop in her tracks.
“Youneedto tell the Council.” Female, soft-spoken, but determined and with an Australian accent. It had to be Tya. “They have a right to know!”
“Why do they?” The answer was gruff and deep, and not too dissimilar in terms of accent. Aata.
“Because it could affect the vote.”
“The color of my underwear could affect the vote,” Aata scoffed. “This is personal.Private.”
“Do you reckon Medea and Alain will see it that way?” Tya countered pointedly. A snort of derision interrupted the few seconds of silence.
“I don’t care what either of them think,” Aata snapped. “Or whatyouthink for that matter.”
“You tell them,” Tya warned in a low voice. “Or I will.” Tya huffed. The next moment the curtain in front of Rosie’s face was yanked out of her grip. Tya blinked to see her standing there, glancing over her shoulder at Aata as if to say ‘Told you so,’ and then muttered an apology as she slipped past Rosie.
With her need for snacks overriding her awkwardness, Rosie made her way over to the table. Stacking up a plate with some fruit, crackers, a noodle cup and a chocolate biscuit, she was about to head back out to the stage when a firm grip captured her elbow. She spun to find Aata standing close to her in the darkness, his eyes burning into hers as she looked up at him in shock.
“Excuse you!” she barked, twisting out of his grip. If this guy thought he’d picked the shrinking violet of the Council, he’d soon find out he had the wrong girl. “Can I help you?”
“You need to listen,” he said, his quiet voice suddenly menacing. “If you don’t, then this will end badly.”
Rosie gaped at him, unable to believe what she was hearing. “Are you threatening me?”
“No,” he said, glancing over his shoulder as someone else walked behind the curtain and made their way over to the snacks to grab an apple before heading off again.
“Good,” Rosie snapped, “because I would hate to think that you just threatened one of the Council members—who just so happens to also be a heavily pregnant lady.”
“You need to listen,” he repeated. His jaw was set like concrete, teeth locked together in anger. “Just hear me out. I?—”
“Welcome to the commencement of the Ordeal of the Five,” Chaoxiang announced, stirring up a buzz of excitement from the crowd.
