A Trial of Sorcerers: Book One by Kova, Elise (universal ebook reader .txt) 📕

else had read, for years, every limited scrap of information there was.

No wonder her uncle had tried to convince her to throw it. There would be no way she’d be culled, otherwise.

“Mister Levit, this simply isn’t fair,” Noelle said. “We are to be measured on our skills as sorcerers, aren’t we?”

“The details of the tournament have yet to be decided,” he reminded them. “As I was saying, the best thing Solaris can do is send well-rounded competitors who have exceptional skill, grace, knowledge, courage, determination, and, of course, people who won’t put their feet in their mouths the moment they arrive on Meru.”

“I told you,” Alyss whispered and slapped Eira’s leg. “You were made for this.” Eira gave her friend a small grin. “And now you’re going to have to help me study. I only have five days to get all of what’s in your head, in mine.”

Eira held back a snort of laughter.

“If you’re worried about your scores, Noelle, might I recommend you pay closer attention in today’s lecture. We will be discussing the end of the War of the Crystal Caverns, which will lead us nicely into a discussion on the opening of Meru…”

Eira listened attentively to Mister Levit. But it was all information she already knew. The Crystal Caverns fell with the end of the short reign of the Mad King Victor, and the location where the Caverns once stood became one of the first sites dignitaries from Meru had demanded to visit.

The Crystal Caverns had been a place of mysterious and powerful magic. Magic that, in Eira’s opinion, the world seemed better off without. Based on the stories, exposure to the crystals turned men into monsters and unlocked other impossible, evil magics. After the Mad King Victor had been defeated, the crystals of the caverns were said to have turned dark and collapsed into a fine black dust—like ash. It was a page in history well before her time, and one that read more like Imperial propaganda for how great the emperor and empress were in bringing about the fall of the Mad King Victor and the Crystal Caverns.

When the lecture was finished, two whole hours later, the majority of the room departed in a swarm that trailed after Noelle’s poor attitude like flies on scat. Eira and Alyss packed up slowly, giving ample time for everyone else to depart. They didn’t have to discuss why—the last thing either of them wanted was to run into Noelle and Adam in the hall when they were already in a poor mood.

“Eira,” Mister Levit called as she was just finishing putting her journals away. “A word?”

“Yes, sir?” Eira walked down the short stairs to where he was.

“Privately, if you please, Alyss.”

“Sure thing.” Alyss squeezed her shoulder lightly. “I’ll wait outside for you.”

Eira nodded, and her friend left. “Yes?”

“I have something for you.” Mister Levit held onto his worn leather satchel with both hands. He was a young man, Eira suspected a mere ten years older than her. His dark hair had yet to be peppered with salt, and his deep brown skin showed no signs of wrinkling. “Though, now I feel I shouldn’t give it to you.”

“What is it?” Eira asked, trying to keep any emotion from her voice. She was curious, but she wasn’t going to pry.

He sighed, clearly making up his mind, and shoved a hand into his bag. Mister Levit held out a leather-bound book to her. It had a symbol emblazoned in gold on the front—shining circles, interconnecting with woven lines in a pattern that was magical simply to look at.

Eira let out a gasp, taking the tome reverently with both hands.

“This is not favoritism,” he insisted, though Eira wasn’t sure if it was to her or himself, “as I have been sharing my collection with you for years now.” Every time Mister Levit got his hands on a book from Meru, he lent it to her. After he was finished with it, of course.

“Are you sure? You just got this one, didn’t you?”

He nodded. “Two weeks ago, when the ambassador returned. They brought back a small chest of books again. There’s more, but they’re still circulating between the Tower, Imperial Library, and imperial family. This is the only one I’ve managed to get my hands on so far.”

“Are you really sure?” she repeated, clutching the book to her chest. “I don’t want to prevent you from getting other books by holding onto this one.”

He shook his head, wearing a warm smile. “Give it back to me when you’re done and you won’t.”

“Thank you, thank you!” Eira could hug him. She didn’t. But she could.

“Of course.” He chuckled and slung his bag over his shoulder. “If there’s any new information in there, there won’t be time for it to appear on the test. And any old information, you likely already know. But…I’d still recommend you keep it private. Otherwise it may complicate things during the trials with claims of unfair advantages.”

“Yes, right, I will.” Eira peeled the book off her chest and put it in her bag. She peeked, twice, on her way to the door, as if it might somehow disappear.

“One last thing.” He paused right before the door. “Good luck, Eira. I’ll be cheering for you. No one deserves this more than you do.” Mister Levit clapped her once on the shoulder and left before Eira could say anything else.

8

Five days later, Eira sat in the risers that overlooked the Sunlit Stage alongside other Tower apprentices, instructors, palace staff, and Commons that she presumed came from the city to watch. Today, the stage truly looked its name. Every banister, column, seat, and slab of marble was polished between each day of testing, and they glistened in the morning light.

Below, where the masses usually gathered, tables had been set up. Tower apprentices sat several paces apart as three sheets of parchment were placed in front of each. Eira and Alyss had come to watch the trial take place