Page 84 of The Throne Seeker

“This is an outrage!” Lord Martin cried, barging towards the seer. “What are you not telling us, witch?” He reached out to seize the seer, who stood her ground.

But Tristan stepped forward, intercepting Lord Martin’s path, crossing his powerful arms as he silently confronted him—daring him.

The king stood up at once. “Enough, Lord Martin!” he thundered. “Lay a hand on the seer, and I’ll throw you into the dungeons myself for manipulating a succession trial!”

The veins in Lord Martin’s temples bulged as his hands balled into fists, but he was wise enough to contain his fury. Hesauntered back to his seat, not bothering to hide his outrage, which matched the rest of the high council.

Lord Martin’s deranged gaze shifted to Rose.

A few days ago, her weaker self would have shrunk. But now? Now she’d mined her inner strength and held her head high. He had aimed, shot, and missed his opportunity to uncover her secrets.

“Tristan, Rose, you’ve completed your challenge,” the king grumbled, his frame still shaking with fury at Lord Martin’s outburst. “You are to speak to no one until we meet back in the grand hall to announce the placements. We’ll follow after we’ve made our decision.”

Her shoulders slumped with relief.

By the grace of the sky and sea gods, she had evaded their trap.

At least this time.

CHAPTER 37

Rose’s mother and Zareb joined her at the far table in the grand hall as she continued to shake from the extreme temperature drop from the hut. The rest of the contestants were all already sitting at separate tables, waiting for the deliberation of the placements.

Her mother wrapped a blanket around her, rubbing her shoulders to warm her. Rose gripped it tightly, shivering in the pink dress she had slipped back on. “Well, if Lord Martin didn’t already think we are hiding something, he does now. It’s only a matter of time before he finds a way. Ugh, I can’t wait until this is over.”

Zareb placed his foot onto the bench, resting his forearm onto his propped-up thigh, leaning in. “We have more enemies than just Lord Martin. The entire council was furious; if they didn’t want Rose as queen before, they definitely don’t now.”

She admitted publicly challenging the council on rally night might not have been the wisest decision. That night, she knew she had gained a few enemies—but she had hoped the majority, including Lord Barron, were on her side. However, it seemed that even his support was diminishing.

“Bless the gods above, the seer didn’t ask any questions,” her mother said in relief. “I can only imagine howthatwould’ve gone.”

Her mother was right. It was a stroke of luck, plain and simple.

Her gaze settled on Tristan at the front table alongside the queen, Harriet, and Roman. “Do you think Tristan and I did as well as the others?”

Zareb was the one to answer. “We won’t be sure until the high council makes their decision.”

A few minutes later, the doors opened, revealing the king and the high council—they had decided.

The grand hall fell silent.

The king wasted no time in announcing, “It is my honor to reveal the placement for the second challenge.” He opened the small parchment in his hands. “In fourth place, we have Rose with thirteen points. In fourth place, Tristan with twenty-eight points.” A wave of surprised murmurs came from the court. “In third, Emmett with thirty-one points. In second place, Dawnton with forty-eight points, and in first place, we have Grant with fifty-four points!”

A loud applause filled the grand hall as Grant stood to bask in his victory, flashing a broad, self-assured grin.

Rose’s gaze fell to her drink. She’d come in dead last. She should have expected as much. If she needed any more confirmation of how the council felt about her evasion of the challenge, this was it.

Nonetheless, she clapped alongside the rest, careful to keep her face free of disappointment. But she understood now she was fighting an uphill battle. How was she supposed to have any chance of winning this if the entire council was against her?

Across the room, Tristan’s solemn face frowned grimly, gazing downward.

“He must be so disappointed with himself,” her mother said with pity. “You should go talk to him.”

She would, but something more urgent pressed on her. The phoenix had warned her she’d have to face an ancient enemy to protect the future of Vallor. And now, the seer had mentioned this Blood King. She had no recollection of reading or hearing such a name, but she couldn’t help but wonder if they were interlinked somehow.

“I’ll talk to him later,” Rose said, shoving the ache for Tristan aside. “But I haven’t told you everything that happened in the hut.” She lowered her voice, fully aware Zareb was listening. “The seer… she spoke into my mind—I don’t know how, but she warned me I was in danger and that I should leave.”

Her mother stilled. “In danger from who?”