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

“Because, as far as I saw it, you have been my only competition from the beginning. You and I had to stay on a level field. Otherwise, I couldn’t feel like I earned my spot. I wanted to beat you fairly.”

He chuckled and pulled her close. Eira gave her brother a tight squeeze. “I don’t deserve a sister like you.”

“No, you don’t,” she teased.

He laughed softly, not releasing her. “I should tell you something. I should have told you a while ago but I didn’t…because I’m not as strong as you, apparently.”

“What is it?”

“Why I didn’t graduate the Tower.” He straightened and looked her in the eye. “It was because Fritz knew the tournament was coming. He wanted to keep me close, where he could train me and prepare me for it. He also thought I’d be a more compelling candidate if I were an apprentice still. So, yes, I was looking out for you, too. But it wasn’t always about you, Eira.”

Her smile was bitter. The confession gave new clarity to what she’d heard in the library months ago when he’d been speaking with Cullen.

“Thanks for telling me,” Eira said softly. “I guess you were always the one destined to win this.”

“We’ll see. Destiny isn’t written by mortal hands.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” Eira looked out over the snowy slopes and forests, back toward Solarin. “You know I’m still going to fight for it, right?”

“I’m counting on it.”

“Good.” She gave him a small smile.

“Then let’s fight for it together; let’s make sure it’s you and me at the very end.” He patted her shoulder. “I’ve felt the same. You were my only competition from the start.”

“Really?” The wind nearly washed out her word. He’d seen her as his only competition? That meant Marcus had seen her as his equal or better? Her perfect brother that she’d held on a high pedestal for years thinking she could never reach him…all along they’d been standing together.

“Yes, really.” He nodded. “So, let’s go back, you and I. We’ll overcome this fourth trial and get to Solarin together. And then, we’ll fight it out at the very end. Let the best Landan sibling win.”

Eira beamed. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

23

They hadn’t been skiing for a good month or two. Springtime brought the best snowfall to the mountains, but getting out to the slopes was tedious and the clinics had kept them busy this year. Eira hadn’t realized how much she’d missed it until now.

Racing down the mountainside, swerving back and forth around each other, Eira couldn’t stop smiling. The wind tangled in her hair like a lover, threatening to loose the ties on her braids and knot it hopelessly. Her traveling clothes—carefully chosen to be mobile for the trial—were plastered against her skin by snow and speed.

It felt as if she were speeding toward her destiny—racing to a land of infinite possibility that was now suddenly in reach. She traded grins with Marcus as she went on ahead. They’d stop soon. The tree line was looming. But for now, she’d go as fast as she could. She’d fly.

She crossed the first tree and twisted to the side, digging in with the sides of her ice skis and magic until she slowed to a stop. When Eira straightened, the ice was gone and Marcus came to a stop as well. They stared, breathless and grinning, before bursting out laughing.

“You’ve been sneaking out to the mountains without me.”

“I have not!”

“You’ve never been that fast.”

Eira shrugged, starting through the snow into the forest. “I’ve always been faster than you, though.”

“But not that fast. What’s your secret?” He approached wriggling his fingers.

“If you even try and tickle me I swear I will freeze you to your marrow.” Eira shot him a glare. He roared with laughter.

“The last time I tickled you was before you were even a Tower apprentice.”

“Let’s keep it that way, shall we?” Eira regarded his hands warily before continuing to walk. “And the trick is to use your magic to smooth out the snow in front of you. Less resistance means you go faster.”

“See, you are brilliant.” Marcus swept a hand through his hair, shaking frost from it.

“I always knew it; you were the one who had to catch up.” What she said was a lie. She hadn’t always known it. Maybe part of her had. But the other part of her was so good at doubting herself that it had been able to speak the loudest words in her mind for years.

“I’m glad you knew—know it.” Marcus slung his arm around her shoulders.

“Don’t get sappy on me.” She pushed him away. “And you’re too heavy; I can’t walk like that.”

“Fine, fine.”

They continued making conversation for the rest of the day as they trudged through the woods. Eventually, they came to a small game trail that Marcus swore he recognized from one of his maps as a hunter’s thoroughfare from Solarin to Rivend. After only a brief discussion, Eira agreed to let him lead them, insisting it was a shortcut.

The sun was now hanging low in the western sky. So they knew for certain they were heading eastward. If Eira was right, they were headed to Solarin. If she’d been wrong about her initial placement then they’d end up in Oparium and the fact that his shortcut was wrong wouldn’t matter anyway. They would’ve already lost the trial and she’d have to face their parents. Their navigation had better be right, because Eira wasn’t prepared for either.

As the last dredges of sunlight were slipping away, Eira paused, knocking her knuckles against her tired thighs.

“Do you think we should make camp for the night?” she asked.

“You want to get back before everyone else, right?”

“Yes, but…would they have put us so far out if they hadn’t intended for us to take shelter out here?” Eira looked over her shoulder at the molten sky. If they were going to set up camp, they needed to do