Page 17 of Death’s Kiss (The Order of the Tide Raiders #1)

V ash and I are pulled from the dining chamber just as breakfast is ending.

I barely feel the squeeze of reassurance Kleio gives my hand before standing from the table and leaving for our impending task. Northern raiders shout words of encouragement as I pass by but I’m so distracted that their voices all sound muffled, like they're coming to me from under water.

Beldham marches us both swiftly across the open-air bridge, past the outdoor lyceums, and down to the rocky pathway leading to the bay. The three of us are quiet and Vash looks uncharacteristically pale. I’m fervently glad to have stuck with a bit of toast this morning.

We make our way down the cliffside, rounding the hilly pathways until we’re welcomed by the sight of a wrought-iron stadium that has seemingly been erected overnight.

The towering metal structure lines the circular edge of the bay and faces out towards the incoming waters, where dark storm clouds can be found forming along the horizon .

Our regent freezes and turns on a heel to face us. She studies Vash and myself for one brief moment before stating, “The two of you are remarkable raiders. Among the finest we’ve brought into the fold. I trust you’ll bring honor to our cardinal today."

My tongue suddenly feels like sandpaper against the roof of my mouth. That’s the closest thing to kind words I’ve ever heard spoken by our Grand Regent. Vash and I manage to nod at her by way of a response.

The unease that’s been sitting in my chest since morning tightens its grip, coiling like a vice around my ribs.

“We’ll flatten them,” I assure her with false bravado.

Beldham inclines her chin with a tight-lipped smile in acknowledgement of my earlier promise.

A violent clap of thunder rumbles across the sky and I wince beneath its otherworldly edge.

Our regent indicates to the bottom level of the newly erected stadium where a line of coverage has been crafted from sage-colored tarping.

“Those are the captain’s quarters,” Beldham explains.

"Go in through there and wait until you’re given further directions.

Once inside, you’ll stay put until it’s your turn.

The TideLords, the other preceptors, and I will oversee everything from the stands with the rest of your peers. "

“Thank you, Regent Beldham,” Vash and I say in unison.

Beldham purses her lips and nods tightly for us to move along.

I begin to follow Vash when Beldham's voice stops me. “Captain Boreas, a word?”

Pausing, I glance over my shoulder and then again towards Vash, who is now already too far down the path to hear. With the wind that’s begun to rip through the air and the constant ominous thunder, I don't think he’d notice even if I shouted at him.

“Yes?” I ask, turning back hesitantly .

Surely my crew hasn't gotten into more trouble already. Have I done something?

Beldham looks at me almost uncomfortably, her weight shifting with uncharacteristic unease. The unusual sight of her discomfort makes my stomach plummet in trepidation.

“I just wanted to say—” Her piercing blue eyes, so startling against the umbra tone of her skin, find a spot above my head to focus on instead of my face.

"The hardest trials often disguise themselves as the simplest. From what I’ve seen, wit and tactics hold more weight than sheer ability, but you seem to possess all three. "

I remain frozen as those startling eyes meet mine.

“I do suspect that your unusual origins will only prove to make your success all the more spectacular,” she concludes with an air of finality.

My stumbled words of gratitude are swallowed up by another clap of thunder.

The hair on my neck stands on end as the sound reverberates out across the darkening clouds.

Then the rolling boom morphs into a higher and higher pitch until a primal chilling wail echoes around us.

I look back at our regent in alarm, but she appears distracted.

Beldham clears her throat, advising, “Best to get going.”

I don’t argue before jogging down the rest of the path and rejoining Vash just as he’s entering the tarped-off captain’s quarters.

“About time,” he snaps, green eyes wide.

“I heard that siren go off, and when I turned around, you were gone. Thought you must have stopped to re-lace a boot or something.”

Ducking under the lifted canvas opening, I enter behind Vash. “Is that what that was? A siren or some sort of alarm signal?”

He looks over a muscled shoulder to glance down at me in confusion. “What else?”

“I don't know—nothing. I’m just a little on edge,” I surmise, shaking my head.

We walk further into the tarped enclosure to find the captain’s quarters have been sectioned off by the colors of our cardinal. We pass by a sector of tan-trimmed emerald, then one made from shades of charcoal, next a division of pure crimson, before finally one of deepest navy.

Entering our private section reveals a table and two chairs have been provided.

The table is chock full of plates with food and cups of steaming liquids.

My attention travels from the seating arrangement facing away from the bay and over to the opaque panel lining the back of our sector.

Moving to the edge of the small space, I lay my hand flat along the solid vinyl fabric.

Even though I can't see it, I can feel the storm brewing on the bay's horizon as it journeys ever closer. A traitorously craven part of me wonders if they’ll have to call off the first trial.

The sound of ruffling canvas has me spinning back around to find Raider Dornon’s strawberry blonde head sticking in through the makeshift opening of our northern captain's sector. “Larceon, Boreas, let’s go!” he barks in that gruff voice, motioning his head backwards.

The excited light in his blue eyes does little to calm my nerves as we follow his command and leave the sanctuary of our designated area.

We aren't the only ones to have been ordered out.

The other six captains have left their sections as well, and we gather in the long, sage-colored passageway connecting them.

A rumbling of boisterous noise sounds from overhead.

It contains the movements of hundreds of feet along with nervous laughter and excited chatter that rains down upon us.

It’s an unnecessary reminder that our peers, in addition to the preceptors and the TideLords, are all here to watch us.

The weight on my chest grows impossibly heavier.

Scanning the faces of the other captains, I’m secretly grateful to find they look nearly as nervous as I feel.

All except for Captain Agni, whose expression of unease comes across much more flustered than anxious.

I can't help but wonder if his demeanor has anything to do with the small groups of girls I’ve seen starting to follow him and his crew about.

I’ve caught a few of them lingering after our lessons and even some dawdling down near the wharf where their ships are kept.

The groups vary in levels and even cardinal orders.

It seems as though the customarily divided raiders have apparently all come to a consensus in finding a new heartthrob, vile and callous though the prick may be.

Poor Corvina.

I suppose with the way the raiders cherish cruelty, it should come as no surprise to me that others would find him desirable.

But all I’m able to see when looking at Olsson Agni is pure, incomprehensible loathing.

Even so, it’s hard to picture him truly concerned about a few admirers when the weight of our looming judgment rumbles overhead.

There’s a twisting in my gut that worsens each time the shrill, otherworldly thunder breaks through the noise of the assembling crowd. I have a sickening feeling that it isn’t any sort of siren or alarm bell.

Agni’s gaze catches mine before our instruction begins, and I find those amber eyes of his brimming with amusement. My own eyes narrow on him in confusion. His lips twitch upwards in response, like he might actually laugh out loud.

What in the depths?

“Alright captains!” Raider Dornon calls to our group, stealing my attention with an excited clap of his hands.

“As previously mentioned, this first task is meant to test the first pillar of knowledge instilled in you by the Order: endurance and survival.” The crookedness of his nose makes our officiant’s eager grin appear more sinister than enthusiastic.

“In order to test this knowledge, we’ve come up with a trial that I think you’ll find to be quite unique .

But first, how do we decide the order in which you’ll participate?

” he questions us before answering himself.

“We’ve made it simple. You will go in order of arrival of the cardinals, beginning with our hosts.

So we’ll start with the north, then east, west, and lastly south. ”

My insides take a nosedive with the news.

This means Vash and I will be the first captains tested. Best-case scenario: I'll get a few extra moments to panic within the confines of our sector. The worst case …

“You will all flip a coin to determine who goes first within your cardinal. Here—” he rummages in the breast pocket of his sage-colored uniform, pulling out four golden coins and gifting one to each of our captain pairs. “North, you go ahead.”

Vash turns to face me. “You call it.” He nods to the coin in his open palm.

“Heads,” I call not daring to watch as the golden piece flips in the air and lands back on Vash’s hand. He covers the coin before turning it over into the opposite palm.

Raider Dornon leans over to inspect. “Tails!” he announces, and I feel the bit of dry toast begin making its escape. “Captain Boreas, you have the high honor of opening up the Pillar Trials.”

Wonderful.