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

other competitors who followed the letter of the trial, I would propose a motion to disqualify Eira and remove her pin.”

“You can’t be serious. What she did was incredible!” Ferro’s defense of her was the only thing that broke through the ringing in her ears. Sound began to slowly return to Eira and she realized the people in the stands were beginning to murmur in protest as well.

“He does have a point.” Ambassador Cordon regarded her warily, as though he was looking at a completely new person. “Perhaps it would be more fair.”

You just didn’t like what I heard. Eira bit back the angry words.

“I am serious.” Fritz doubled down. “Moreover, in the last trial she circumvented the rules with her illusion. She was already given a second chance.”

“You didn’t say that was against the rules before the trial began. I didn’t know! I followed the rules you laid out then.” Eira couldn’t keep quiet and it earned her a glare from Fritz.

The emperor and empress shared a look, an unspoken conversation flowing between them in a way that only deeply bonded partners could manage. But as they debated silently, the crowd began to rally.

“You can’t disqualify her!” someone shouted. “Not on a technicality!”

“Let her be scored!” That was Alyss. Eira looked up, searching for her friend.

“Let her compete, let her compete!” A chant was rising from the masses. They were behind her, rallying for her. Eira stared up in awe.

“Give her a fair chance.” Marcus. Somehow, she found him out of the hundreds of people. She heard his voice out of the rising cheers. “She deserves to be scored like the rest of us!”

Fritz looked as though he’d been wounded. He’d no doubt heard Marcus’s defense of her as well. Something in her cracked and tears threatened to ooze out. But for the first time in days, they were not tears of despair. Things weren’t perfect. But Marcus was still on her side. Marcus was fighting for her to stay in the trials, even though it meant they were pitted against each other.

Nothing could’ve cemented her forgiveness of the way he acted during the revelation faster.

“Enough.” Vhalla stood and the crowd fell to a hush. “The emperor and I have decided that Eira Landan will not be disqualified. While she did not follow the letter of the trial, she followed the spirit. She showed us something truly special that only her magic could do. She returned to me a memory I have not thought of in years and more than anything, for that, has my gratitude.” The empress’s gentle gaze landed on Eira.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Eira forced herself to say. She didn’t know how to handle random people defending her, approving of her. Having the empress also stand up for her was more than she could process.

Perhaps this was how Cullen felt all the time. Perhaps that’s why he acted how he did.

The crowd erupted in cheers as Eira bowed. Their jubilance at her victory gave her the strength she needed to turn her back to her uncle and walk out of the Sunlit Stage with her head held high. Her parents, her uncle, Marcus, none of them were in control any longer.

She was the one in charge of her own destiny; and, now that she knew this feeling, Eira would never let anyone take it from her again.

20

Scores were posted later that night at the base of the tower. Once more, Groundbreakers erected a stone tablet, stamping names one by one. Once more…Eira’s name was at the top.

She stared, stunned. Everyone had been giving her a wide berth. No one had even spoken to her following her display in the trial.

No one but—

“You amazing sorcerer, you!” Alyss threw her arms around Eira’s neck. “You did it!”

“So did you.” Eira gave Alyss a squeeze and then promptly began her retreat up the Tower. There was another dinner tonight for the candidates and she couldn’t handle the stares and side-eyes of the other apprentices. Some were clearly regretting cheering for her not to be disqualified.

“I got third place.”

“You’re still continuing on.”

“Only four Groundbreakers competed in that trial and three are moving on. I basically got last.” Alyss rolled her eyes. “I should have done something more creative, like you.”

“It doesn’t matter. I got last in the second trial. All that matters is that we keep making it through.”

“You and me, on our way to Meru!” Alyss jumped up and down, letting out a squeal.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Eira scolded lightly with a laugh.

“We just have two more trials. I can’t wait to find out what—”

“Excuse me, sorry for interrupting, Alyss.” Fritz seemed to materialize out of nowhere, stopping them both. “Eira, may I speak with you a moment?”

“I…” Her uncle’s face had become the face of betrayal, and it stung just to be in his presence.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Alyss said quickly, stepping away. Eira shot her a glare but Alyss was impervious to it. “You two should talk,” Alyss insisted. It must be easy to insist such things when she got to retreat down the Tower.

Eira folded her arms. “Yes, Minister?”

“Eira, please, it’s Uncle and you know it.” He sighed. “Come, we have a bit of time before dinner. Let’s speak in my office.”

“I don’t have anything to say to you.”

The wounded look that crossed his face nearly set her off. How dare he get to look wounded after what he’d done to her?

“Please?”

“You’re going to keep hounding me until I do, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Fine, let’s get this over with,” she grumbled.

The march up the Tower was over all too quickly. Eira settled in the chair across from her uncle’s desk, running her hands over the familiar, worn leather arms. Whatever comfort they might have once given her was gone.

Fritz sat heavily. His shoulders slumped and he folded and unfolded his hands several times.

“I owe you an apology,” he said, finally.

“I think you owe me several,” she snapped.

He rubbed his temples. “I’m