48. Rorax
People slowly filtered from the ballroom into the Great Hall, most of them drunk and loud.
It took a long time, and Rorax stood at the front of the crowd awkwardly, rubbing her thumb across her ring over and over.
The murmur in the crowd only died down when the Guardian stood up from her throne. “Emissaries, line up next to me here on the left in order of who won the Tournament of Houses and then the Selection will begin.”
The Contestars lined up on the opposite side of the Emissaries.
Rorax’s heart thumped wildly in her chest as she made her way over to the Contestars’ side of the room.
Isgra took one look at the line and chose the opposite end away from Rorax, which suited Rorax just fine. Enna came to stand next to Rorax, and Rorax gave her as confident of a nod as she could. There was still time for the House of Death to change their minds.
The Guardian stood in front of her throne; her arms wide as she welcomed the crowd into the Great Hall. Her hair was long and straight, draping around her face. She was dressed in a long golden gown with wide sleeves which made her eyes seem even more bright and yellow than they really were, making them look almost feline.
“Welcome,” the Guardian called out to the crowd, “It is time for the Choosing to begin. Tonight, the Realms will make their selections according to their placements in the Tournament of Houses. While the Contestars are alive, the house that choose them are charged with the protection and wellbeing of their Contestar. At any time, any house can remove their protection from a Contestar, or choose to support a different Contestar as a supporting house. When a Contestar dies, the House can choose to stay at the Choosing to continue to protect a living Contestar. They can switch as many times as they like.”
The Guardian turned to the Contestars. “Sit on that bench until you are chosen.” She pointed a long finger to an empty bench to the right side. “We will start with the House of Death and conclude with the House of Life.”
The Guardian sat down and waved her hand impatiently at Milla, who stood in front of the emissary line. Milla stepped forward and offered the Guardian a polite bow before turning to the Contestar line.
Milla’s blue eyes burned into Rorax, and relief spread thickly within Rorax’s chest. “We have decided to select Rorax Greywood as the House of Death Champion.”
There was some clapping, more than a few confused whispers, and a few loud angry bellows from the crowd as Rorax bowed her head and crossed the room to sit with Milla on the long bench.
Some of the Contestars eyed Rorax, and she held each of their gazes until she made it to Isgra. Isgra sneered at her, and Rorax forced herself to give Isgra a flat, uninterested look before she turned away.
The Guardian motioned for Kiniera to step forward, and she did. “The House of Ice has decided to choose one of the relatives of an Ice hero. We would like to choose Isgra Torvik, sister of the late Volla Torvik, as the House of Ice Champion.”
The crowd erupted into cheers. It was expected that Ice would choose a Highborn.
Rorax stared at Isgra as a dark look passed over her face, right before she shook it off and beamed back at the crowd, waving as she crossed the floor. Kiniera sat down next to Rorax, and Isgra sat down on the other side of Kiniera.
Elios and the House of Fire were next, and he shot Rorax a brief defeated glance, before turning to the Contestars.
“The House of Fire is choosing Enna Mistvalley, for her courage, thorough knowledge of politics, and good heart,” Elios stated.
Enna’s mouth dropped, before a wide, beaming smile overtook her face. The hall erupted into whispers, and the Highborn Contestars looked at Elios, their expressions ranging from shock to anger that they had been passed over for a Lowborn.
When it was House of Life’s turn, at the end of the Selection, Ren stepped forward. There were no more Contestars to choose from because Roo had died before the Choosing had even begun in order to find Rorax. It seemed like everyone in the room seemed to remember that at once, and Rorax could feel the heavy weight of a thousand angry stares.
“House of Life chooses to support the Contestar Enna Mistvalley. We are honored to take our position as her Second House.”
The crowd was unruly, confused, and loud about their confusion on why the House of Life would choose to back a Lowborn, but Ren held his broad shoulders tall as he went and took his place next to a bewildered-looking Enna.
When the Selection was over everyone stood and dispersed into their new Houses.
Enna went with Fire and with Life. Milla led the way over to where the House of Death contingent was seated.
The lieutenant turned to Rorax and crossed his arms over his chest. “Don’t make me regret this, Little Crow.”
Rorax snorted, looking up at him with narrowed eyes. “Don’t make me regret this, Lieutenant.”
The lieutenant narrowed his eyes, but Rorax turned away to face the Prince of Death, who smiled at her, his golden eyes twinkling. “Glad to have ya on the team, Spine Cleaver.”
Rorax rolled her eyes and gave him a cocky grin.
“Let’s go play cards with the men on their last night here,” the prince said, slapping the lieutenant on his broad shoulder. “I don’t remember the last time I robbed you.”