Chapter 34
MANDATORY GUILD TRIAL
ALL INITIATES MUST PARTICIPATE IN A MINIMUM OF TWO TRIALS:
Arcane Guild: Incramancy Proficiency
Note: Diagrams of incras will not be provided or permitted.
Echinacea Guild: Elixir Proficiency
Note: Failure to create an effective elixir in time may result in serious injury or death.
Forge Guild: Bladesmithing Proficiency
Sabre Guild: Combat Proficiency
Note: Death of opponent may result in docked points.
WINNERS OF EACH TRIAL WILL EARN:
Two days’ leave from all classes and assignments
One afternoon to explore Green Barrow
Three silver crowns
Note: Prizes allotted per trial win, multiple prizes may be awarded to one initiate.
DATE: Y29 D316 DESOLATE WINTER, CY14570
LOCATION: ROSEN HOLYVERE AMPHITHEATER
The Mandatory Guild Trial (already coined the MGT by the time Audra, Wilder, and Lottie had even reached the dining hall the following morning) was on everyone’s lips.
The scholars had been alluding to it since the start of the term, but they’d been tight-lipped about the details.
Now, they finally had a date. Initiates breathlessly posed questions to fellow initiates, who didn’t know the answers any more than they did.
All desired the prize. Four trials, four prizes to the first-place winners—a break from endless lessons and lectures, an afternoon in Green Barrow, three Zenaidan silver crowns.
The trial may have been at the forefront of everyone else’s mind, but Audra didn’t have that luxury.
She still had to ascertain the truth about the Heir’s ritual.
According to Twyla, only a fraction of people knew the exact details of the rite.
However, if Audra knew anything, it was that secrets, especially ones that spanned thousands of years, were hard to keep and were often stored within legends.
Especially if they were forbidden from being discussed.
There had to be legends or stories somewhere, she just needed to find out where—and she bet the answer wouldn’t be found on Holyvere grounds. They would’ve combed the entire property to prevent potential Heirs from stumbling upon the truth.
Her best bet, she’d decided while chatting with Wilder last night, albeit distractedly, was that children’s stories might have the answer.
She might find one with a kernel of truth …
Maybe they’d changed the Heir to a hare, the ritual to a party, and now you had a children’s tale with the truth hidden within.
Or a bard, if she found a Zenaidan bard and inquired about their long list of songs …
The only problem was, there were no children’s books on Holyvere grounds. And no taverns.
But there might be in Green Barrow.
Audra laughed to herself as she took a bite of her chocolate croissant—buttery, flaky pastry and rich, decadent dark chocolate—as it seemed like the trial was at the forefront of her mind after all—because the only way she would get to Green Barrow to explore any potential shops with books or maybe even a possible library would be if she won a trial.
“Can you believe him?” Wilder huffed as she dropped onto the chair beside Audra, bringing one trousered leg up to press to her chest, and waving the other hand at Noel.
“Absolutely, I can,” Audra replied, voice exaggeratedly dry, as her eyes flicked toward the noble sitting on the table, his boots on the chair where his ass should be. “But what has he done now?”
Wilder laughed. “Ugh! Bragging at the top of his nasally voice to that group of barnacles he calls friends, just being so … Noel.”
Audra tilted her ear to better eavesdrop on the conversation.
“You truly think you’ll win every trial, Noel?” Chlove, an Echinacea Guild initiate with a sparse mustache, asked, voice filled with pitiful and misplaced awe.
Audra and Wilder rolled their eyes in unison.
“Well, I haven’t decided to enter all four because I don’t think I can win them all,” Noel responded, his voice confident and too loud. He wanted everyone to hear this so badly. It was tragic.
“That will show them for sure,” Shayla, Noel’s possible girlfriend from Forge Guild, said, squeezing Noel’s arm tighter. “That you’re the Heir. I don’t see how it could be anyone else.”
Shayla and Noel’s relationship hadn’t been confirmed, but Audra and Wilder had caught them in the music room, Shayla on her knees before him, Noel’s fist gripping her hair as she bobbed back and forth.
Audra had wanted to claw her eyes out at the sight.
And Noel hadn’t the decency to even pause or let Shayla know that she and Wilder had just opened the door—he’d just smirked.
But now, at the speculation that he could be the Heir … Noel looked uncomfortable for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. He wanted to be the best, but did he want to be the Heir?
Audra would’ve thought it would be his goal.
Or maybe like her, he wasn’t swayed by the promise of riches and fame—he, too, would like to know what it all entailed, what the ritual actually consisted of, before being crowned the Heir.
Either way, Audra hoped he didn’t win a single trial. Hoped his overconfidence would be his downfall. Audra would laugh in his face when he failed, and all his blustering was for nothing.
No one brought out her competitive streak like Noel.
“Does that fucker truly think he’s going to beat me in Sabre?” Callum slid his tray onto the table before sitting across from Audra and Wilder.
Wilder sucked her teeth. “You’re assuming that he’ll beat me in Sabre, you mean.”
Callum laughed, the sound loud and cheerful. It warmed Audra to hear it.
“Wilder of the Shadow Class army may have had a chance at winning Sabre’s trial, but you’re in Arcane now, sweetheart; none in your guild have a shot at winning against us in the sparring ring—all we do is train while you sit on your asses and practice drawing pretty symbols all day.
” Callum smirked, before shoving an entire croissant into his mouth.
Wilder, feigning offense, kicked out her leg, slamming both boots on the floor. “You and me, Callum, first thing after temple, next Sanctum. We’ll see about that.”
“You’re on.”
“I’ll mediate,” Audra offered. “Just to make sure neither of you cheats.”
“So, Wilder, you’re doing Sabre’s trial? As your choice?” Lottie asked as she joined them, choosing the chair beside Callum.
“Of course, I hadn’t even considered the other ones, honestly. It seemed a natural choice for me—if Holyvere Academy hadn’t designated me for Arcane, I would’ve picked Sabre.”
Audra wasn’t surprised that Wilder chose Sabre as her trial choice; that was obvious if one knew anything about the woman, but it surprised her to hear that she would’ve chosen to join Sabre Guild over Arcane.
Arcane, to Audra, was the obvious choice.
Despite her own personal failings, Arcane was just …
the most interesting, the best fit for Audra, through and through.
All Audra’s luck must have been wasted on being placed in Arcane guild then.
“Okay, Callum, since you’re in Sabre, you have to do that one … So what are you thinking for your choice?” Lottie asked.
“Forge,” Callum, Wilder, and Audra all answered at once.
Lottie laughed. “I figured as much, you look the part of a smith.” She blushed.
Forgotten gods, did Lottie have a crush on Callum?
What did Callum feel about that? Callum enjoyed both men and women, and Lottie was pretty and relatively tall. They would look cute together.
Callum blushed right back. “I actually was. A smith, I mean.”
Wilder narrow her eyes, glancing back and forth between Lottie and Callum while Audra snickered behind her hand. Callum glared. He knew he was in for it the moment Lottie left for class.
His playful glare turned serious, suddenly. “Audra, what are you thinking? For your choice trial?”
“I … don’t know yet.”
“After Sanctum tomorrow, join me in the foundry. I can acquaint you with the intricacies of the smithy—the bellows, anvils, the essence of the craft.”
Audra’s response, swift and sharp, cut through the air like a whip. “No, Callum.” She winced internally, a pang of guilt. “Thank you. I’m, um, frightened by fire.”
A lie. But she couldn’t tell him the truth. That the foundry held an Aithne demon. She hadn’t been able to get his face out of her mind; even now she was thinking of it—no, she would stay far from the smithy.
His brows crowded in concern. He knew this was a lie; she wasn’t afraid of fire. But bless him, because he chose not to question her in the crowded dining hall, instead inquiring, “Okay, afraid of fire … so Forge is out. What about Echinacea? I’m sure Cersha will help you.”
“Cersha is tired of her brother volunteering her all the time,” Cersha said from behind Callum. She sat down on the other side of him. Lifted a mug to her lips but paused just before taking a sip. “What are you volunteering me for?”
“I just told Audra you would help her study for Echinacea’s trial.”
“Oh, that’s all? Yeah, of course I’ll help you, Audra.”
Audra, inwardly flicking Callum in the forehead, smiled at Cersha. “Actually, I won’t be joining Echinacea’s trial either …”
Cersha widened her eyes. “Why not? Everyone knows how good you are at memorization. People are still talking about your test last week—you recognized every incra on the board by sight alone and filled out your paper faster than anyone else. Memorization is half of Echinacea.”
Audra groaned. “How did Echinacea hear about that?” She was trying to stay under the radar, which was the direct opposite of her desire to win and be the first at everything. She would slow down next time. Let Noel win … No, she couldn’t let him win—the bastard.
Cersha shrugged. “Noel Carda was complaining about it to Chlove, who’s in my guild. Chlove talks incessantly. Don’t tell him anything unless you want the entire academy to know.”
Callum huffed an annoyed breath. “Fuck Clive or whatever his name is. Audra, why won’t you do Echinacea’s trial for the MGT? If you won’t do Forge or Echinacea …” His tone turned incredulous. “Don’t tell me you’re really considering entering Sabre’s trial.”