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

go on around them. Not caring for any passersby they might inconvenience. “You will always be my sister. Even if you’re stubborn, or annoying, or too clever for your own good, or more gifted than me with magic.”

“I’m not more gifted than you with magic,” Eira muttered.

“You are and you know it.” He gave her a squeeze. “You’re still figuring yourself and your magic out, that’s all. But once you get it down…” Marcus pulled away with a whistle. “You’re going to stun the world.”

“The trials?” she dared to ask.

“Perhaps you’ll stun the world tomorrow at the trial.” He grinned. There was still pain and a bit of frustration in his eyes. But Marcus was clearly striving to put on a brave face.

“You don’t want me to throw them?”

“I want you to do what you want. I guess that’s something else I need to apologize for.” Marcus slung his arm around her shoulders. “Mother above, I have been a terrible brother lately, haven’t I?”

“You had room for improvement.” Eira grinned up at him. She realized this was the first time she was seeing her brother as less than perfect. In a way, it made her sad. “I’m glad we’re okay, though.”

“You and me both.”

Eira didn’t mention anything more on the trials as they entered back into the Tower. The truth remained that only one of them could progress to take the final spot as Waterrunner. Unless they were both knocked out. Perhaps that would be the best option?

Still, Eira couldn’t bring herself to hope for it. Regardless of her prospective parentage, Meru called to her and she was going to do whatever it took to get to it.

19

In the Tower library there was a clock hung over the mantle of the fireplace. It was a large, iron thing—an early prototype from Norin, likely over a hundred years old. The exposed gears whirred and ticked loudly, marking the agonizingly slow passage of time.

Eira paced, alone.

The Tower was silent. Everyone—instructors, apprentices, and candidates—had gone to the Sunlit Stage early this morning to watch the trial. Times were posted last night. But, like the last trial, Eira’s slot was the very last of all the Waterrunners.

“You’re trying to spite me, I know it,” Eira muttered to the thought of her uncle. She could just see him scheduling her last in the day to try and make her nerves work against her. She wasn’t going to let him win. She would keep a cool head and stay focused.

“Who is?” Cullen’s voice startled her from her thoughts.

“You could’ve killed me from shock.” Eira gripped her shirt over her heart. “What’re you doing here?”

“It’s the Tower… I’m allowed to be here?” He grinned, leaning against one of the bookshelves and exuding an air of arrogance like he owned the whole palace.

“That’s not what I was asking and you know it.”

“You’re asking why I’m not with the rest of the masses at the Sunlit Stage? I had some business to attend to with my father.” He motioned to his formal clothes. “I was going to change and then see who I could. Have you gone yet?”

“No…I’m the last one.”

“Good, then I should see what you have decided to present.”

“You seem happy about that.” Eira had kept fairly tight-lipped with everyone about what her creation would be. She didn’t want anyone to talk her out of it—wouldn’t take much to do so.

“Should I not be?”

“I thought you wanted my brother to take the Waterrunner spot.”

Cullen mulled over his next words, holding her in suspense. “I want the best Waterrunner to have the spot. I thought that was your brother.”

“But you don’t anymore?” Eira asked hesitantly. She was unexpectedly nervous about what the answer might be.

“I’m going to let the trials play out as they were meant to.” Cullen pushed off from the bookcase and strolled over to her. His eyes turned serious, intense. “How are you, Eira?”

“I’m fine.” She glanced away.

He lightly touched her exposed forearm. The contact sent shivers up her spine. For some reason, she couldn’t stop herself from remembering the day at court…his fingers in her hair…his mouth on hers. The memory shifted and suddenly it was Ferro kissing her.

Eira shook her head, scattering the thoughts. She couldn’t allow her focus to wane now.

“Are you?” he asked, clearly misinterpreting her expression. “Given the shock you had, it’s all right if you’re not.”

“I am as fine as I can be.”

“Ah, so not fine at all.”

“Don’t impose your perceptions on me,” she cautioned.

“You’re right. I shouldn’t layer my family problems and tensions over yours.” He stepped away with a grin. Cullen said the words like a joke, but there was real pain in his eyes. He hovered, halfway between the entrance to the library and her.

“Yes?” Eira finally asked.

“Speaking of my family…” he said thoughtfully. “I have a favor to ask of you.”

“What is it?” Eira resisted remarking that the mighty Cullen needed her for something. He’d made it clear how much he disliked that sort of talk. She would respect his wishes.

“Would you come to court again with me next week?”

That was the last thing she wanted to do. Yet… “I guess I can. I suppose I owe you.”

“You know what, forget it.” He backtracked quickly at her hesitancy. “No one wants to go to that horrible place.”

“Cullen, stop.” Eira rushed over to him. When he kept moving, she grabbed his hand. Cullen turned to meet her eyes. “I’ll go. It’s an excuse to wear that pretty dress you gave me again, if nothing else.”

“You’ll need a new pretty dress. We can’t let the ladies of court see you wearing the same thing twice.” He chuckled softly and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The movement was so natural that both of them seemed to realize it happened on a delay. They stared at each other in a second of stunned silence that he had willingly touched her in an almost affectionate way.

“You don’t have to get me another