From the Ashes

CHAPTER NINE

Today is the day.

We're heading out of the Uncharted Lands to the first Trial.

I stand in front of the full length mirror in my room, pulling my hair back into a French braid. Kavi taught me how to do it a few years ago. I can't do it as well as she can, so a few strands of hair fall out when I finish, but it'll have to do.

There's a jitter in my hands, but I do my best to keep them steady. Excitement surges through me, running wild like waves in a hurricane. My stomach tingles with anticipation.

I finish quickly and walk out the door. Xana's already waiting for me, and Luci makes her way over to us.

"Did I miss anything?" she asks.

"No more than I did," I reply.

She glances at the approaching boys.

"Here comes the circus," Kavi moans. "Get ready for another long and tiring day."

I laugh. If it weren't for the boys, we wouldn't have half the problems we're having on this team.

"What's so funny?" Liam asks arrogantly.

"None of your business," Xana shoots back.

"Come on, guys," Dragon says. "Enough of this. We've got to get down to the main training room in five minutes."

"He's right. Let's go," I order.

It's strange having people follow my orders. I'm not used to such authority and never fully expected it to be granted.

The last person in our line is Dragon, and I wait for him to pass me like the rest of the team did. Instead of heading out in front of me though, he waits. We lag behind the team in silence. My throat closes in as I rack my brain for something to say. My heart pounds in my ears, and I pretend to take sudden interest in the floor of the hall.

"Are you ready for this?" There's a slight tremor in his voice.

"I think so."

"It's going to be a lot harder than you think."

I raise an eyebrow. "And you know this from experience?"

"It's not only the Trials. If we win, we've still got the Crystal City to worry about."

"If we win, we won't have anything to worry about. The Imperial Alliance will take care of us," I whisper.

"Yes. Very good care of us." Dragon rolls his eyes then looks away.

"What are you trying to say?" The whole point of going into the Trials is to get to the Crystal City, but it's almost like he doesn't care. Why would he try out?

He glances at me, and our eyes meet. "Nothing. I don't know. Just enjoy this while you can. It might be the most we have."

"Dragon...are you all right?"

"Yeah. I'm fine," he murmurs. He averts his eyes to the ground, and his jaw tightens ever so slightly. "Sorry."

My heart aches, knowing his pain, and I so badly want to reach out and touch him on the arm. Something's bothering him, hurting him. I wish I could ask him what's wrong. I wish he'd tell me things like he did before. But I refrain. The strength doesn't exist within my shy soul to ask him. Sure, I can fight three warriors and still come out on top, but the battle of our friendship is one I'm afraid I can't win.

We reach the training room behind our team.

Shirez greets us then begins the lecture. "Now pay attention. The rules of the Trials are very strict and the punishment for violating these rules is severe. Rule number one: bring as many weapons into the arena as you can carry. Two: don't leave the marked boundaries of the arena. They're almost impossible to escape anyway, but if you do leave the boundary, you will be disqualified and punished accordingly. Three: you may take prisoners. Four: fatalities will occur, but terminating another contestant isn't encouraged. Five: please don't die."