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

Eira took away from the Tower she felt lighter. When they emerged into the city streets, she inhaled as deeply as possible, trying to exhale every last bit of torturous air that was trapped in her. The palace was toxic now. Every moment within would be poison.

Margery’s Bakery was between the Tower entrance and the western clinic, if one took the long way. It was a quaint shop that was only large enough for three stools inside at the countertop. Outside, the patron, Margery, set up two wooden folding tables to accommodate the occasional rush. Today, it was blessedly empty.

They made small talk with Margery while they ordered. The rosy-cheeked owner was pleasantly surprised to see candidate pins on both of their breasts. So much so that their sweet buns were on the house. The exchange made Eira realize that she hadn’t been out in the month since the trials began. It also made her realize that the last time she’d even thought about the bakery was when she’d made Marcus promise her two sweet buns before the trials were even a notion.

The memory filled her with an indescribable sorrow.

“Is something wrong with it?” Alyss asked from the other side of the table. The street was quiet, and the only other noise was the faint strumming of a lute lofting out of one of the high windows of a nearby home.

“No, nothing,” Eira murmured, tearing a piece of the pillowy, glazed roll and popping it in her mouth. The creamy, sweet cheese center melted on her tongue. But Eira seemed to have lost all sense of taste.

“Are you going to tell me what’s up now? Because something obviously is and please don’t insult me by denying it.”

Eira shook her head. “Yes. Sorry. I couldn’t tell you in the palace. I had to get out of there.”

“I could tell.”

“You know me too well.” Eira gave Alyss a weak smile.

“I’m your best friend, it’s my job to know you well.”

“I…I found out something after the trial…” Eira proceeded to recount everything that had transpired with her parents. Herron had asked her not to tell another soul and Eira had promptly told two people. Then again, if her family really knew anything about her, they wouldn’t count Alyss anyway, since it should be obvious Eira would share her deepest secrets with her best friend.

When Eira was finished, Alyss leaned back in her chair, expression blank. She proceeded to poke at her own sweet bun for several moments as she mulled it all over. Eira gave her friend space and took her own. They both finished their rolls at the same time.

“I have thoughts,” Alyss declared. “But first, all this necessitates the need for another sweet bun.”

After the second round of buns were secured, Eira finally asked, “So, what’re your thoughts?”

“That they made a terrible error in how they handled all of this. And when I say ‘they’ I mean everyone in your family who knew—your parents, Fritz, Gwen, Marcus if he knew. Did he know?”

Eira shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“You need to talk to him after we finish here,” Alyss decreed. “You need to first apologize to your parents and then find him.”

Eira groaned and sank her face into her palms. “I can’t.”

“You can.”

“I don’t want to.”

“You must.”

Eira busied her mouth with a hunk of roll. Chewing slowly bought her a minute or two of time. “I don’t know what I’ll do if he knew…”

“Stewing over it isn’t going to help.” Alyss sighed. “And, if he didn’t know, he’s as blindsided as you. I’m not saying it’s the exact same feeling of betrayal as you. But you two might be able to help each other through this.”

“Marcus is likely still sour I didn’t throw the trial today.”

“Forget the trials! This is your family.” Alyss said those words with such conviction that, for a fleeting moment, Eira almost completely believed them. This was the reason why Cullen had known to get Alyss, and why Eira had stolen away for a moment with her friend. Only Alyss could scatter the clouds in her world so well.

“All right.” Eira swallowed the last of her sweet bun with force. Just like accepting her next plan of attack, it didn’t go down easy. “You’re right. I’ll talk to them in a day or two.”

“Tonight.”

“Tomorrow.”

“Tonight,” Alyss insisted.

“Fine.” Eira sighed and slumped in her chair.

“We’re going to go back and get changed. You’re going to find your parents and then go to the dinner with your head held high, like the future competitor in the Tournament of Five Kingdoms that you are. You’re going to sit and savor good food we rarely get; I don’t care how full those sweet buns made you—you’re going to eat. Then you’ll listen to the details of the next trial with the rest of us. And then you’re going to pull Marcus aside.”

“I don’t have a choice in all this, do I?”

“Nope,” Alyss said cheerfully. She was an adorable dictator.

“I’m in your hands,” Eira said, resigned. She was tired, emotionally spent, and weary in body and soul. The last thing she wanted to do right now was think. So she’d forfeit independent thought and give in to Alyss’s demands.

* * *

The rest of the afternoon progressed exactly as Alyss had decreed. Despite not feeling ready in the slightest, they returned to the Tower. The entire walk up to their rooms, Eira could feel phantom eyes on her. The magic whispers were louder and harder to control.

It felt like everyone and everything knew her secret.

Alyss followed Eira to her room as they collected her things, and then Eira to Alyss’s. The bone regrowth had finished mending Alyss’s arm and she left the sling and bandages behind. After, they went to the Tower baths. Eira scrubbed herself within an inch of her life. She scrubbed until her skin was red and splotchy—until Alyss had to command her to stop.

When she emerged from the bath and stared at herself in the mirror, slowly