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“Well, of course we are.” I press Ry’s hand and smile at the twins. “And I promise not to be terribly demanding of you all when I’m queen.”

Marcus rolls his eyes. “Assuming this ever begins. Ara, aren’t you forgetting something?”

“Oh, gods!” I run off after Mother and Father.

Their opening speech won’t be particularly moving if no one can hear it.

***

The crowd feasts upon Mother’s words—now that they’re properly amplified. It’s sad to think this is all about finding her replacement. I’m not sure any of us are truly up to the task of stepping up to her place. From the shadows of the tunnel, I close my eyes and let myself feel the air I breathe work through me to the tips of my fingers and toes.

“Almost show time,” Nina says.

“… The Princes and Princesses of Alchos.”

The crowd roars at Mother’s crescendo, and I allow the full force of the noise to wash over me as the four of us step into the sunlight. Indistinguishable faces crowd the seating which surrounds and towers above us. My gaze follows Mother and Father to the box where Jamys and his family await. Jamys dips his head to me, and I give him a slight smile. Next to them are both sets of our grandparents. The Highbluff box is the next one over. A breeze brushes around Tomas’ neck, and I gasp, not having intentionally done it. The gesture earns me a cocked eyebrow and an incredulous look.

I didn’t mean to tease him, but the air pulls back so I can breathe in his warm scent. It soothes me as I take in the monolith in the center of the arena. Narrow steps wind around the stone tower, banners of four colors streaming from various places along it—forest green, azure, maroon, and white, matching our tunics. At its top sits a spire, sporting the banner of our house—a ring made of the four elements on a stormy gray background. One could almost think it’s only three-quarters of a ring, the pale wind blowing through its quarter subtly.

Mother’s voice booms again. “As rulers must strategize how to gather their resources, each contestant must collect all five banners of their respective colors. Their competitors will challenge them and drive their motivation, and the magic of the elements shall be set against each other in a way no one has ever seen.”

The cheers are renewed with greater vigor.

“All five banners must be collected prior to a contestant retrieving the banner at the apex of the tower,” Mother says in conclusion of the rules.

Marcus smiles and speaks through his teeth to hide it. “Which means you can’t simply fly to the top to take the prize.”

“Oh, Marcus. Don’t you know I’m above all this?”

“Begin!”

The crowd erupts again at the Queen’s command, and I do fly to the top. Not to the spire, but to the highest of the colored banners as Rylan, Nina, and Marcus dash toward the tower. The other banners seem easy enough to snatch off their perch, but the white one is tied on. Clever, Mother. This way, I can’t simply blow them off to myself. I take the fifth white banner and begin the descent, collecting them in reverse, going fast enough to look like I’m trying, but not as effective as I’d be if I wanted to win. A delicate balance.

As I round the tower stairs, Rylan is rising to the first banner on an out-cropping of rock until a wall of water sends him tumbling back down to the ground. I pad his landing—it’s unnoticeable, but it’ll save him some bruises. He searches and finds me up above. He winks at me, and I nod as I continue down.

These reflexive utilizations of my magic are fine. It’s defending and protecting, the way I’m used to my magic working.

Nina and Marcus tuck the first red and blue banners into their respective belts below me as I nab my fourth—or second, as it were. Rylan runs up to his first flag and leaps off the steps onto a rapidly growing tree. It takes him up to the third set of banners where we meet.

“Well, this is fun,” he says.

“Consider yourself fortunate it wasn’t Nina who attacked you.”

He smiles and nods. “Thank you for catching me.”

“Any time.”

As we tuck the banners into our belts, a fireball explodes into the wall next to us. I shield Rylan and myself just in time to avoid being battered by rock.

“Nina!” Ry shouts.

She isn’t the first one to come into our line of sight, though. Marcus rounds the bend, and I throw a shield up in time for him to pummel it with a wave. It isn’t enough—Rylan and I remain dry, but the pressure of a towering waterfall presses against my barrier. My feet slide back on the step as I try to hold against it. Ry supports me from the back of my shoulders.

“No, just go!”

“Ara, I can’t—”

“Go!”