Page 102 of A Court of Thralls and Thorns

Her hand hovered near her dagger, but she relaxed as the door swung open, revealing a court courier. The man’s dark uniform was crisp, his expression stoic.

“You are requested in the Ascension Grounds,” he announced, voice flat and impersonal.

Naia shot me a look, and we both grabbed our gear. We walked together in silence, the cool morning air biting at our faces. Something felt... off.

When we reached the courtyard, my stomach tightened. There were no other guilds. The sprawling yard was eerily empty. No soldiers training, no recruits sparring—just Major Ledor standing on the podium, arms crossed like he’d been waiting.

He gestured for us to gather. “It is time for you all to enter the Runebound Threshold.”

I blinked. “Where are we going?”

Major Ledor’s sharp gaze landed on me. “Call your dragons. As soon as they arrive, we will begin.”

Kaelith,I sent through our mental link.We’ve got another trial.

She grunted in irritation.I swear I will eat that fool, if he keeps summoning me for these pointless games...

Despite her complaints, I spotted her moments later, streaking from the tree line of the Dragon Isle, her massive form a flash of purple among the other approaching dragons. They emerged from the forest together, their scales gleaming as they soared above the castle walls before circling down toward us.

I noticed my squadmates instinctively touching their pendants. Cordelle’s scale was fully emerged—a burnished brown set solidly in the gold. Naia, Jax, and Ferrula’s pendants had distinct patches where their scales peeked through, gleaming faintly. I reached for my own and pulled it from beneath my shirt.

A spec of purple glimmered beneath the gold.

It wasn’t like the others, as Kaelith couldn’t quite bring herself to fully commit. But it was something.

The dragons landed in unison, shaking the ground beneath us. Kaelith huffed, arching her neck away from Hein’s smugly watchful gaze.

“Your trial begins now,” Major Ledor announced, stepping forward. He raised his hand high above his head.

The air shifted.

The stone courtyard beneath our feet trembled, the ground rippling outward like someone had dropped a pebble into a pond. The walls of the castle blurred at the edges, the sky twisting into unnatural hues.

The landscape itself began to change.

Rocks pushed up from the earth, jagged and uneven. Trees curled and gnarled, their branches blackened and twisted. Faint lines of glowing runes spiraled across the ground, crackling with blue and white energy.

“This place is bound by magic,” Major Ledor warned. “The Runebound Threshold is a realm of illusions, traps, and trials.Your dragons will guide you—but you must trust them.” His gaze hardened. “Those who fall behind… will not return.”

The warning settled like a rock in my chest.

Kaelith’s voice slid into my mind, sharp and cold.I do not like that human.

The world was unnervingly quiet.

I turned in a slow circle, my breath curling in the chill air. The air shimmered before twisted trees and jagged rocks replaced the Ascension Grounds. There was no sign of my squadmates or the trial’s starting point. Just endless, uneven terrain that stretched upward like a mountain swallowing the sky.

Where are the others?I sent the question to Kaelith.

Scattered,she replied with irritation.The human who created this illusion is a reality weaver. He’s siphoning your power to maintain this trick. Follow the path so we may be done. I find his magic irritating... and unworthy of my time.

Typical Kaelith—unbothered by the danger and annoyed to be involved.

A narrow path snaked upward through the jagged peaks, and I stepped forward, ignoring the dull ache in my limbs. Kaelith padded silently beside me, her scales darkening to a muted violet beneath the shadow of the mountain.

The climb was steep—sharp rocks shifted beneath my boots and gusts of wind lashed against my face. Kaelith stalked beside me, her gaze flicking up the mountainside like she expected something to attack.

About halfway up the slope, the air shifted. The wind stilled, the world holding its breath.