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“It was unlikely you would triumph,” Caspar Lennox went on, rubbing salt in an already open wound. “Regardless of whatever skills you might possess, all the training in the world would struggle to put you on equal footing with one of my race.”

“‘Footing’ being the emphasised term here,” Alex couldn’t keep from saying. “I knew they would travel through the shadows and I knew it would be tough; Ididn’trealise they would be allowed to take me along for the ride. And after that first sucker punch, I was already disoriented.”

“If you seek vindication, I offer none,” came Caspar Lennox’s uncaring reply. “I was against you attempting the trial in the first place.”

“I’m not trying to justify my failure,” Alex said, annoyed he thought so. “I told you all that so you’d consider what I’m about to say next.”

He arched an eyebrow in question.

“I want to do it again. I want to fight again.”

Caspar Lennox barked out a startled laugh—a sound she’d never heard from him before.

“I’m serious,” Alex said. “I can’t wait a month to warn them, to find out if they’ll help us. Too much hangs on this.”

His laughter died. “You do not appear to be jesting.”

“That’s because I’m not.” Alex crossed her arms but cringed at the renewed pain from her burn and dropped her uninjured one to her side, keeping the other protectively cradled aloft. “I need you to talk to the elders. I need you to convince them to let me have another go.”

He was shaking his head before she even finished speaking. “I cannot do that.”

“Maybe not, but she probably can.” Alex tipped her head towards the door where Shirez had been lurking in the shadows for almost the entirety of their conversation.

Unapologetic about her eavesdropping, the Shadow Walker, now outed, strode forward.

“And why would I do that?” Shirez asked. “Why would I help a human?”

“Because I’m asking you to,” Alex said openly. “And because I’m hoping you trust Caspar Lennox enough to know he wouldn’t have brought me here unless he strongly believed I needed to be brought.”

Shirez’s dark eyes peered intently at Alex. After a long moment, she said, “This Aven Dalmarta, is he truly the threat you claim?”

Alex’s eyes flicked to Caspar Lennox, figuring he must have shared part of her story while she’d been unconscious.

“He is,” Alex confirmed.

Shirez continued staring at Alex until she finally nodded. “I will speak with my grandfather. See if I can convince them to let you fight again. If you hadn’t done so well for yourself, they would never consider it, but I’m counting on them being intrigued by what else you might do, especially when you recovered so quickly from that initial surprise attack.” She paused, before adding, “That was poor sportsmanship on Trell Roven’s part.”

Alex only just held back a snort and a sarcastic, ‘Gee, you think?’ Instead, she quietly thanked the Shadow Walker.

“Do not thank me yet, human,” Shirez said. “Even if they do agree, you will not win.”

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Alex thought, but she couldn’t blame Shirez for her opinion.

“Indeed, you are lucky you’re not more gravely injured from the battle you endured,” the Shadow Walker continued. “You were touched bydaarvae—the Shadow Flame. It is an excruciating burn, one that, for most, robs the ability of reasoning and sound thinking. That you were able to continue on after being wounded is unfathomable.”

Was that actual respect in her tone?

“It is an injury that will not heal without treatment,” Shirez went on, tipping her head towards Alex’s bandaged arm. “But we have no remedies to safely offer a human. You will have to endure it until you can seek medical aid at your academy.”

“I’ll be okay,” Alex said, ignoring the throb of objection. “I still have business to see to in Graevale before heading back to Akarnae.”

Shirez’s brows rose.

“She intends to visit the Lumeniia,” Caspar Lennox said.

At that, it was Shirez’s turn to laugh—another surprising sound to Alex’s ears.

“A wasted journey,” the Shadow Walker said, her features transformed by her humour, making her seem like someone much more pleasant to be around. “The Dayriders will assist you no more than we.”