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“So that’s why she asked me about that,” his matron said in amusement. “Swimming across is not against the rules.” She shrugged.

It wasn’t, but it certainly wasn’t expected. Osivoire loved their estuaries, however they weren’t swimmers and sank like stone in deep water. While it was very apparent Nadzia lived near lots of water.

She’s not just gorgeous, she’s ingenious. Aculus smiled smugly as Nadzia swam across the estuary.

His gaze darted between Nadzia swiftly cutting through the water and the candidates fighting to cross the bridge.

“Come on, ivory beauty,” he quietly cheered her on.

She was climbing ashore when Axilla touched his arm.

“She’s going to make it. Come, we must go.” Axilla subtly gestured to the broadcast showing him. It was beyond obvious he was enamored with Nadzia.

Axilla was right. Nadzia was sprinting toward the nearest pedestal to grab one of a dozen disrupters and flasks, while the bulk of the candidates were still fighting to cross the bridge.

Aculus forced himself to turn away from the action as the conveyance lifted off the ground and headed toward the arena. Nadzia was doing her part to get through the Trial, now he needed to do his.

He adjusted the volume on his earpiece. “Captain, status,” he murmured low, so none of the broadcast receivers picked up his voice.

“The team is in place,” Scala reported.

“Good,” he replied, while nodding to the Conclave that all was in place.

He’d handpicked his team from members of the Paladin and crew that had served by his side. Even Payim was aiding in sussing out these assassins. They were all people he trusted with his life. And he needed the best. With the citizen broadcast of the Trial, getting his team into location was no small task. If it was apparent extra precautions were made, they could very easily lose the assassins. It would be as simple as shifting guises. And the technology the damn reptiles were using wasn’t something they could easily identify by scanning the citizens in and around the arena.

Still it killed him that he wasn’t behind the scenes rooting out the enemy. Instead he was smiling like a fool, riding the conveyance as it entered the crescent-shaped stadium. His gaze diverted to the projection screen, hoping to see Nadzia, except it was focused on him instead. His fists clenched as the sense of being helpless swamped him.

This will be over soon.He shoved down the sensation. But it couldn’t come soon enough.

The platform landed on the far edge of the concentric rings. Before he stepped off, his patrem grabbed his arm.

“Don’t forget this.” Tellar passed him the chalice of sacred water.

He nodded, took the ornate cup, and was again about to step off the conveyance when Axilla grabbed his arm. He took in her concerned expression.

“Scala personally checked the field for incendiaries and the arena has been cleared,” he assured his matron.

“I know that. You are efficient.” Axilla waved off his comment. “I just wanted you to know, she will be all right, and whatever the outcome today, the Conclave will accept it.” She nodded him on.

Stunned, he stepped off the platform. He’d just been given the Conclave’s blessing regardless of what happened with the Trial. When this was over, he planned to formally cement his bond with Nadzia either way, but having the Conclave’s approval meant the world.

Aculus smiled in earnest as he walked toward the concentric rings, divided by two moats which made up the arena playing field. As he stepped onto the first bridge the stands quieted, the music began and he grew solemn. It was the oldest of songs, an instrumental tale of the ancients. The droning bass notes of the zuitar burrowed into him and quickly his breath and cadence matched the deep beat. Unlike all the times he’d done this before, each step around the circle felt sacred. This was the journey of his ancestors as they begged forgiveness and pleaded for the one they loved.

After completing one full circle he stopped and addressed the crowded arena.

“We never knew how blessed we were. We took for granted the blessings of this planet while fighting among ourselves. And then those blessings were taken away.”

He poured half of his cup onto the bridge he’d crossed and it rose, symbolically cutting him off from the past.

“And then we fought each other for what resources remained,” he spoke while making another pass around the primary ring, then crossed the second bridge to the inner circle. “As Osegrin completed the grand estuary to honor the goddess, he saw what it had cost him.”

Aculus dropped to his knees and lifted his face to the sky. “Unda, goddess of water, goddess of life, please show mercy on us, show mercy on me and my weakness,” he earnestly begged.

The crowd was deathly quiet, sensing his sincerity, as he poured the remaining water from the chalice into a central basin. A deafening roar erupted from the stands when water poured from the base of the inner circle, filling both moats. The music picked up and performers emerged, leaping and dancing in celebration.

He turned away from the grand spectacle and anxiously watched the projection screen, steeling himself for the longest wait of his life.

Nadzia