Page 12 of Silverbow (The Godsung Saga #1)

“Yes.” It was the first word she’d manage to push out, and it emerged with more bite than Enya intended. Louissa gave her a long look that held a hint of amusement and she had to scrounge up the strength to meet her stare.

“Their papers are in order?” She asked Master Lorry.

“All in order,” the scribe squeaked.

“Recruit Trakaw, if you please.”

Enya eyed the polished white rod that was extended to her over the back of the sofa. This is it. Her hand trembled as her fingers closed around the cool, glazed ceramic. She stared at the Testing rod in her hand, holding her breath.

Please gods, let the bow be enough.

The first heartbeat felt like an hour .

And then...

Warmth suddenly blossomed beneath her fingers. Enya nearly dropped the rod in surprise. Never had it felt like anything but cool ceramic.

Oh, light. This is it.

She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to look at the walls closing in on her.

The warmth built to heat and the heartbeats stretched on.

Please.

The heat was becoming unbearable. Her hand trembled harder as the ceramic began to scald her skin. She clenched her jaw against the cry that wanted to escape her lips. She would not be one of the screaming Recruits from the stories.

But if she held on much longer…Any second now, someone would notice.

Louissa Adler clicked her tongue.

“Next.”

What?

Enya was so stunned, it took her a beat too long to register that the wielder was passing over her.

But when she handed the red hot rod to Liam, he would know.

He would give her away, even if he didn’t mean to.

But she couldn’t hold it any longer, so she extended it carefully, hoping he would read everything she was trying to convey in the look she gave him.

I’m sorry. It’s not your fault.

His hand closed around the rod without blinking. He didn’t flinch, he didn’t rip away. Enya marveled as Liam held the rod out at arm’s length as if it might bite. Oh, light. Liam. She quietly curled her fingers to obscure the evidence that throbbed in her hand, and placed it gingerly in her lap.

It felt like a banner declaring her guilt. Any moment now, someone would notice it was as red as the crimson lion. Or perhaps they had, and they were saving the collaring for the end. Sweat ran down Enya’s back and bile rose in her throat. Get out. She needed to get out, but she couldn’t move.

“Pity,” Louissa sighed, setting her teacup back on the table. “We’re finished here.”

What?

Master Lorry bent over his lap board, scribbling furiously on a small sheet of parchment. His apprentice waved it around to dry as he carried it to Liam.

“Liam Marsh, you have completed your final Testing. You must keep your papers on your person at all times and present them to any king’s man who requests to see them.

Your name is written in the seventh scroll from Westforks.

Remember that, because if you lose them, you must report to a wielder’s outpost to hold the rod again and have them reissued. ”

Liam nodded, handling the parchment like he might a newborn babe.

There was some mistake. How hadn’t they noticed?

The wielders swept out as abruptly as they swept in, the scribemaster on their heels. His apprentice was taking too long to pack up.

Get out.

Enya couldn’t wait any longer. She lunged for the bowl of sugar on the tea tray, clumsily dumping its contents and bringing it up just in time to stop herself from vomiting onto the drawing room rug. The apprentice let out a squeak and darted from the room.

“Vile,” Liam muttered, leaning away from her, but his hand patted her gingerly on the back.

“Sorry.” Enya looked up to see too many faces peering at her. “I...I need some air.”

“Wait just a minute,” her father said gravely.

He and Marwar followed the scribe’s apprentice out. Mistress Alys collapsed in an armchair, fanning herself with a hand, so it was Griff who pried the bowl from Enya’s fingertips and carried it away.

She sagged back into the cushions. Where her bones had been stone moments ago, now they seemed to melt away, leaving her in a heap. She was safe another year. She would only have to hold the rod once more. But she’d come so close...

When her father declared the wielders gone, he led Enya by an elbow out onto the front porch and deposited her in a rocking chair. She sucked in gulps of air as he threw a blanket over her lap.

“It’s alright, En. They’re gone.”

She nodded, unable to speak. How had no one noticed it was burning her, branding her as gifted? Could she manage another Testing? She didn’t have a choice. To flee the wielders would mean disaster for her family.

“The rod only responds to the pure godsongs, not the other godsung gifts.”

Enya swallowed, but she couldn’t find the words to tell him it was a lie. It was all a lie. Thunder rumbled and rain began to fall over the yard. “I...I think I’d like to sit here a while.”

“We’ll be just inside. ”

Enya heard the door click shut behind him.

Only then did she draw out her hand to inspect it fully.

Every bit of skin that touched the rod was flaming red and angry blisters were starting to rise on her fingers.

She settled it in her lap and let the cold, damp wind that blew across the yard try to soothe it.