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Who knew what this next challenge would bring?

Once more, the landscape changed. Water drained from the ocean as if it plunged down a drain—along with anyone who’d failed to reach the beach. Gurgling screams rang out, ending with aslurp.

Around us, trees erupted from the ground. Sandy beaches turned to forest. Earth cracked and trembled. Kronk reached for Runa, holding her tight to his side. She might claim him as her brother, but they certainly weren’t blood. At the sight of his thick arms circling her frame, a low growl rumbled in my chest.

Laughter rang in the distance, the king taking far too muchpleasure in his creation. The crowd exploded in applause, praising their monarch for his latest design.

Keeping Runa and her brothers in my peripheral, I scanned our new surroundings. Thick woods surrounded us. Overhead, a mystical image shimmered into view. Pictured was a ravine with another one of those infernal red flags on its opposite side. The picture faded, becoming a map. Beside it was another timepiece. This round, we had thirty clicks.

I was really beginning to understand the bandits’ hatred for their false king. How dare the bastard run us around like lab rats for his amusement?

“Let me guess,” Drazen drawled. “We have to find our way to the flag, through who knows what, and over the bottomless ravine all in thirty clicks.”

“Apparently.” I dusted sand from my damp clothes.

Thick woods obscured the other competitors from my view, though I picked up the low rumble of their voices, along with the crack of snapping branches. “The others are moving forward. We need to as well. Only better. Faster.”

“I will lead,” Kronk commanded, barreling through the underbrush. Twigs snapped against his brawny frame. He plowed through Idris’s illusion like a mighty bulldozer.

The block-headed athos did have his talents. The rest of us followed in his wake, stepping over fallen trees. Once more, I brought up the rear. Runa stomped through the brush in front of me, the sway of her hips hypnotic. I shook my head, in need of a distraction.

“Do you recognize this place?”

“What?” Runa cast a glance over her shoulder.

“The false king claimed that Carcerem would determine our fates. By chance, is he recreating varying aspects of the kingdom?”

Runa slowed, walking to my side. “It’s possible.” Shequieted, deep in thought. “The ravine he showed us could be the Devil’s Throat.”

“Which is what, precisely?”

“Deadly,” Drazen contributed.

“While I’ve never visited,” Runa said, “it’s said to be a bottomless chasm. Those who tumble into its depths are rumored to fall for eternity.”

“And to reach the flag, we need to cross this insurmountable obstacle,” I surmised.

Before us, Kronk came to an abrupt stop, forcing Drazen to collide with his unforgiving back.

“What is it?” I demanded.

“We’ve reached the field.”

I glanced around Kronk’s massive girth. Blood-red flowers carpeted the area ahead, their blooms bobbing waist-high.

“It’s too easy,” Runa murmured.

Drazen pointed to the far edge of the clearing where some of the other competitors had gathered. They uttered curses, turning in a circle and swinging claws at the foliage.

“They are being attacked,” Kronk said.

Fending off their unidentified attacker, they bolted into the meadow.

Runa shifted on her feet, growing restless. “They’re getting ahead of us.”

“Let them.” I clasped her forearm.

Halfway across the field, the others began to slow. Screams rang out. They slashed and clawed at the surrounding blossoms. Blood gurgled from their lips, and they tumbled to the ground, obscured by the flowers. Cries and bellows of pain rent the air. Over the sounds of agony, our invisible audience cheered. Then, suddenly, all fell silent.