Galactic Gale

Chapter Nine

The First Trial

The first of Telion's tests was held in the Assembly Building in the city centre. The chamber, like the rest of the Uterca, was bathed in light from the sun, the golden walls illuminated and long centre table glittering in the warmth. Glasses of water were scattered around the chamber. As were, Kael noted, various beings he recognised.

There was Leh Lena O'Frien, draped in the best of silks, with Myteor by her side. Not too far away Kael saw his mother's closest friends, then his distant cousins (whom he had not seen for years). He silently named each ambassador he could. At the end of the long list was Traen. The Sorii stood apart from the rest with a concerned expression clouding his handsome features.

At the head of the table, Nona and Kael stood side by side, neither looking at the other. Kael was desperately searching the crowd for Amara's face when the judges came in. More people than he had believed possible had been interested in seeing the newly reinstated prince go head-to-head with the princess. It was making finding Amara rather difficult.

Finally, he spotted her at the back. She was leaning against one of the pillars, arms crossed. Although onlookers might have interpreted her stance as the opposite, Amara was far from relaxed. Kael swallowed and gave a reassuring smile, but her expression did not budge.

"Step forward, Prince Kael," the first of the judges said. He was an elderly man, blue skin spotted with dark freckles and long hair down his back. One of the Fellen. The species was known for their enhanced sense of hearing.

Kael did as he was told.

One step closer to the judges, he gave the remaining two a look over. Each was as human as he was, but the second had dark make up dragged down her face in uneven lines, giving her a somewhat frightening appearance.

These people had been chosen for a reason to sit in the high back thrones. The Fellen for his hearing, the woman for her sharp eyes no doubt, and the last, a man barely managing to sit upright, was a scholar in royal history. Kael had passed each of them before in the palace, yet he could not recall their names.

"Do you swear upon the crown that you stand here today with the intentions of participating in these Trials?" the female judge said. Her voice bounced through the chamber, loud and chirpy.

"I swear," Kael nodded.

"Do you swear upon the crown that should you win; you will not seek to drive Uterca into ruin or the hands of her enemies?"

"I swear."

"Step back."

Making sure he stumbled on the step as he went, Kael returned to his sister's side. He kept his smile to himself while watching the Fellen raise his patchy eyebrows. No one wanted a clumsy king.

Mark one, Kael thought proudly.

They called forth Nona and asked her the same questions. With a bright smile she answered them all, bowed to the judges then spun on her heels. She did not so much as glance at Kael as she went, keeping her gaze hard and distant.

There had been no time to speak with Nona before the Trials. Kael had been escorted to his old room, given time to wash and rest, then called to the assembly hall for testing. He had not even managed to catch up with Amara since they had hatched their plan.

He could not help but think this was all a terrible mistake.

A prisoner in his family home, forced to act against his sister – his closest friend – for something he did not want. Should he somehow manage to pull this off, Kael could not see himself ever forgiving his mother for putting him in such a position.