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Not enough.

She adjusted the settings and fired again. This time as the smoke cleared she saw half the post had been disintegrated.

The fourth bell tolled. Kara didn’t bother to see who it was. She threw the blaster aside and kicked at the pole with all her strength. Then again. And again.

It took five savage blows before the thing teetered and fell. It came crashing down like timber, the end snapping off as it hit the ground.

The fifth bell sounded but Kara was already diving for her own. She grabbed it off the sand and rolled onto her back, waving it with fierce determination.

It rang out.

And the crowd went wild.

Forty

“She should be disqualified,” snarled Baelon. “She broke the rules.”

“With respect Lord Vantrax, technically she didn’t.” Ela stood to attention with her hands clasped behind her back, trying to sound logical. “The Potentials were told they had to ring the bell. They all assumed they had to climb up to it, but that was never stated as fact.”

“That’s absurd.” Baelon’s coloring was mottled, a sure sign of fury. “It’s obvious what the trial entailed and that… thathumancheated.”

“Calm down, Baelon,” interjected Rhyn. “I actually thought it was a genius move. And isn’t that what the Zhaal is looking for? Someone clever?”

“She failed the test,” Baelon said angrily. “I demand she be thrown out of the competition.”

“Quiet, all of you.” Vahn stood from his throne and began to pace. “Let me think.”

“There’s nothing to think about.” Baelon refused to back down. “She did not complete the challenge.”

“Yes, she did,” insisted Ela. “She just did it differently to the others.”

“Careful, general,” remarked Rhyn. “You almost sound like you’re supporting her.”

“I’m entirely neutral, which is what you should be.”

“It doesn’t matter what you think,” snapped Baelon. “You’re merely a soldier. Your view carries no weight so you would do well to hold your tongue.”

Ela started to apologize and was cut off by Rhyn.

“Her opinion counts as much as anyone’s in this room,” he said, his tone uncharacteristically sharp. “And on a politically sensitive issue like this, surely it’s prudent to hear from the person to whom the entire military answers.”

Ela didn’t know who was more surprised; her or Baelon.

Vahn held up his hand and everyone lapsed into silence.

“The question is, why?” he said. “Why did she fall? She started to climb like everyone else, then she simply let go.”

“Because she is anedekhuman and doesn’t have a fraction of the strength of a Vraxian,” Baelon said.

“I happen to know she’s an excellent climber,” said Vahn. “Why would she just let go without a reason?”

“Perhaps a problem with the pole?” hazarded Rhyn. “Maybe it should be examined.”

“Unfortunately that won’t be possible,” said Ela. “The damaged pieces have already been removed and destroyed.”

“That was fast,” commented Rhyn.

“Indeed. Surprisingly so.”