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

heartbeat.” Ferro looked up from the book he was reading as she rounded the chairs.

“My…heartbeat?”

“Yes, it has a flutter unique to you. I think I’d notice it anywhere.” He motioned to the seat she’d assumed last time. Eira sat once more.

“If you could hear it from across the room, then—”

“I noticed when you sneaked out of the court…and I heard you before Prince Romulin and I reached the end of the hall.” Ferro didn’t mince words. It was what she’d expect of a dignitary. But that didn’t stop Eira from cringing inwardly. She quickly vowed to tackle the situation head on.

“About that…”

“I wouldn’t judge someone for a kiss in the shadows.” Ferro chuckled. His eyes shone intently in the firelight, accented by the orange like a purple sunset right before nightfall. “However, all week I’ve been mulling it over. I can’t seem to escape the image.”

“Why?” Eira’s throat felt tight. He’d been thinking about her all week—more specifically, her kissing Cullen. What did that mean?

“Because you do not strike me as the sort of woman who scampers into the shadows to steal kisses.”

“What kind of woman do I strike you as?” she dared to ask.

“A woman of purpose and goals. A woman who wouldn’t be afraid to kiss whomever she chose in the open.” Ferro rested the book on the table between them and settled back in his chair. Eira noted the title of the manuscript—History of the Crystal Caverns. Ferro continued before she could make note of his topic choice. “Which led me to investigate, and I think I found the answer to my question of why Eira scampered off the moment court was distracted by my arrival.”

“Which is?”

“You were looking for a leg up on the next trial.” Ferro’s mouth curled into a grin as Eira felt panic crash down on her. “And I think you found your advantage in an old court viewing room that overlooks the training grounds.”

Her stomach churned around the dinner she’d eaten, turning it into bile that threatened to escape. She’d known cheating had been a terrible idea and she’d done it anyway. But he didn’t have to know that she’d already told Marcus of her findings. She could take the fall and Marcus would still have the edge he wanted. He’d take her as some kind of page or assistant to Meru. She could salvage the situation.

Eira stood, pulling the pin from her breast. She held it out to Ferro. He dragged his eyes from the offering to her face.

“What do you expect me to do with this?” He arched his eyebrows.

“You’re right,” Eira admitted. “I went and saw the course. I know some of what’s waiting for me tomorrow and because of that I have an unfair advantage. I acted—”

“As I would expect a candidate to act,” Ferro interrupted firmly. A mischievous glint had spread from his grin to his eyes. “Put your pin back on. I’m not going to disqualify you.”

“But—”

“Let me assure you, I haven’t told anyone else of this discovery.” He chuckled as Eira returned the pin to her breast and sat. Ferro leaned in his chair, resting his elbow on the armrest, chin on his knuckles. “You amuse me, dear Eira.”

Dear Eira. The words swirled around her. She wanted to duck her head under and spend forever in the currents of this feeling. A game of pretend was beginning—Eira knew it was. She would pretend that Ferro had a genuine interest in her. She would bask in this fantasy as long as he would let her, knowingly or otherwise. Doing so wouldn’t hurt anyone, so why not?

“I suppose I could say the feeling is mutual,” she said. “I would expect anyone else to revoke my pin.”

“It is part of my role here to make sure the Trial of Five Kingdoms is an impressive display of power, and is entertaining to watch for the gathered masses. To that end, I do not want to see competitors be chosen who are unwilling to fight. I want competitors who are resourceful, cunning, and hungry. Competitors who want victory or nothing and will do anything to get it.”

Eira turned the words over in her head. Would she hunt victory at all costs? She supposed she already had her answer. She’d made that choice at court.

“To that end, I want to help you.” Ferro ran the tips of his long fingers across his lips in thought. Eira was fixated on the unintentionally sensual motion. “How about we make another exchange tonight? What do you know of the forests and mountains around Solarin?”

“A good deal. My grandparents live in the woods on the outskirts of Rivend.”

“Rivend isn’t far from where the Crystal Caverns once were, by my recollection.”

“They’re not.” Eira glanced to the fire, distracted by a memory she hadn’t thought of in some time.

“What is it?” Ferro, of course, caught the motion. She wondered if his pointed ears could hear her thoughts almost as well as her heartbeat.

“A family story… The mention of the Crystal Caverns made me recall something my mother told me once. After the rise of the Mad King and the sacking of Solarin, Empress Vhalla—though she was still a commoner, then—and Emperor Aldrik actually took shelter in my grandparents’ home.”

“An impressive page to have in the tome of your family’s history.”

“I thought so when I first heard it. But it seems normal now.”

Ferro chuckled. “It’s funny how quickly things can become normal. I have already grown accustomed to the mountain chill and Solaris cuisine.”

Eira nodded. “In any case… Yes, I know about the rebuilding. My grandparents are still in that home. One of my aunts is in Rivend. And I grew up in Oparium, which is to the—”

“Southwest,” he finished. “You mentioned last time that you hail from Oparium.” Eira couldn’t recall if she had or hadn’t. But she must’ve. How else would he have known? “I took the liberty of reading up on Solarin’s port and that’s what prompted my fascination of the time following the downfall