Page 54 of Taste of Thorns (The Firestone Academy #3)

Chapter Fifty

B riony

As I hurry across the field, I feel okay about this trial. Possibly even quietly confident.

I may not have mastered the three spells Fox has attempted to teach me, but I can at least give them a good go. Two out of the three I can even conjure pretty consistently.

The swimming lessons with the Princes have paid off and I am definitely a much better swimmer than I was three weeks’ ago.

And now I have an in-built tracker which means the Princes and Fox can find me if they need to.

I join the group of Slate Quarter kids, waving to Fly and Clare when I spot them in among their groups.

I give Fly the thumbs up and shrug my shoulders.

He nods, then pinches his nose, puffs out his cheeks and mimics sinking to the bottom of a pond.

Both he and Clare have reassured me that they are good swimmers so I’m not sure if that mime is meant to be reassuring or not. I simply cross my fingers for him.

The stands are already full, only a few empty seats remain in the front row.

I chew on my cheek, then peer around at the other students gathered in the four different spaces.

I feel something like sympathy for them (well, most of them anyway; I don’t give a shit what happens to Odessa’s group of ex-friends who put me in the clinic).

Unlike me, these kids have no idea what’s coming their way.

They’ll have no time to prepare or to form a plan.

It puts me, my friends, and the Princes at a massive advantage.

Is that fair? I’m almost tempted to start spreading a rumor through the crowd that we’ll be swimming across a lake today, but that might instill just as much panic as it will actually help people.

Plus I don’t want Fox to get into any trouble.

I spy him, taking his seat, along with most of the other teachers.

He’s talking to the potions teacher next to him and doesn’t spot me peering his way.

I wait for him to turn his gaze my way, but then the blast of trumpets reverberates around the field, the air cracks and the Empress, dressed in all her finery, appears on the raised platform in front of the usual erected fence. Next to her stands the Madame.

The Empress says her usual words of encouragement, words I do not hear because I’m too absorbed with the Madame.

If everything goes according to plan, I’ll be facing her head on very soon.

If everything goes according to plan, I’ll be exposing her and her crimes to the entire realm. I bunch up my fists, ready.

When the crowd applauds, I snap out of my reverie and am all ears as the Empress takes her seat and the Madame steps forward.

“Welcome, students, for your fourth trial. By now, I am sure you are well versed on how things will run. Your name will be called. You will step forward. You will enter the trial and you will have one hour to complete it.” Around me, students nod their heads.

We’ve heard all of this before. “However, this time things will be different.”

The gathered students were not expecting that and murmuring ripples through the four groups. The Madame lifts her hand for silence. I wait for her to tell the academy students that today we’ll be swimming across a freezing-cold lake.

However, those aren’t the words that flow from her mouth.

“As you know, usually, while in a trial, you are forbidden to give or receive help from another student. For this fourth trial, this rule will be altered somewhat.”

I peer over at Fox. This wasn’t what I was expecting, but maybe we’re going to be allowed to help the non-swimmers in the group.

“For today’s trial, you will be working in pairs,” the Madame continues. “You are not only allowed to help your partner, you are encouraged. This is the only person from which you can receive help or that you can give help to.”

I frown. Working in pairs? How exactly is that going to work when we’re trying to swim?

I glance at Fox a second time. He’s frowning too, right at the Madame, which fills me with a sense of dread.

Something is wrong here. It’s not what we planned for.

“The names of the pairs and the order by which they will undertake the trial will now be displayed on the board,” the Madame says, pointing to the giant fence behind her.

Immediately names appear and I squint, running my eyes down the list, crossing all my fingers and toes that I end up with Fly or Clare so that I can help them out.

On the first sweep of the board, I miss my own name. Around me other students have obviously found theirs, either groaning or cheering.

The second sweep I locate my name. My trial partner? Linette Smyte.

I don’t know whether to be elated or disappointed.

It isn’t Henrietta or Odessa’s old best friend which, considering both have tried to kill me, is a plus.

Then again, I’m pretty sure Linny hates me as much as her sister does.

After all, she was the one who trashed my room.

She just hasn’t chosen to express her dislike for me through acts of attempted murder.

I’m still staring at my own name, when a voice next to me says, “You’re paired with a shadow weaver. There’s a surprise.”

I turn my head to find Stanley scowling at me.

“So what?” I challenge.

“You’re the only commoner to be paired with a shadow weaver. That’s a massive advantage.” I scan the list. He’s right. I am. “It’s ’cause you’re fucking the Princes.”

I don’t want to waste mental energy on this. Plus I’m trying to embrace who I am and the situation I find myself in. I’m going to own it.

“Probably,” I say with a smug grin.

A couple of people overhear this. Some roll their eyes or start whispering but a couple more snigger. I don’t think they care. Or they’re not busy being consumed by jealousy and actually respect me and my choices.

“Slut,” Stanley spits.

“Wishing you all the luck you deserve, Stanley,” I say, the smile not slipping from my lips.

He huffs and moves away and then the first names are being called.

Thorne and Beaufort have been paired together which seems way more of an advantage than me with Linny.

Dray gets called up with one of the other shifters.

Henrietta Smyte is paired with Kratos and the other two Hardies with each other.

Linny is the last shadow weaver to be called and when my name is read out with hers, there are stunned gasps among the students as well as some members of the crowd. I’m guessing most people were so focused on their own partners, they’d paid no attention to mine.

I’m used to being called last for the trials and so it’s strange to walk out of the Slate group towards the giant fence with all the other students watching.

I try my best to bear Beaufort’s words in mind, smiling at the people I pass and not scowling.

When I reach the fence, Linny is already there.

“Hi,” I say, in my most friendly voice. We may not be actual friends but we are going to have to work together.

Linny ignores me, staring straight ahead at the fence with a look on her face so sour it could curdle milk.

All my preparation, plus that last-minute scramble, and I’m stuck with a mute and uncooperative partner. Great!

The whistle blows, I follow Linny through the doorway and find that everything we thought we knew about this trial was wrong.

We are not by the side of a frozen lake.

We’re some place else.