Page 35 of The Throne Seeker (Vallorian #1)

Z areb and Rose stayed in the fields until dusk, the sky splashed with a lovely blend of blue, pink, and orange that spanned the horizon.

It was the kind of evening she’d loved as a child—the perfect time to catch fireflies while crickets chirped gently in the background.

By the time they reached the castle, darkness had nearly settled in.

They had just entered the darkened halls when her mother appeared. “Rose! There you are. Where have you been?” she huffed, peering over Rose’s shoulder to glare at Zareb.

“We went for a… ride ,” she explained, emphasizing what they had actually been doing. “What’s going on?”

Her mother pulled her arm, bringing her closer, peeking over her shoulder as if someone in the empty corridor could hear them. “The king and council have just called for a meeting for all the candidates. They’ve been waiting for you in the high council chambers.”

She began walking at once. “How long have they been waiting?”

“About an hour. I managed to buy you some time.”

“What’s the meeting for?”

“How should I know? No one bloody tells me what’s going on,” her mother said as they strode through the shadows of the torches. “I’m worried we are biting off more than we can chew. Are you sure you want to continue with the succession? You can always drop?—”

“Drop out and be tyrannized by a bunch of old men? No, I’m not going to give them the satisfaction.”

Perhaps that’s what the council wanted. Her triumph in the first challenge must have unsettled them.

It got her thinking… What if the arrow had been intended for her instead?

What if it hadn’t been Xavier in the trees, but an assassin hired to murder her?

These were all questions she feared she’d not soon gain an answer to. Not without paying a steep price.

They reached the council chambers just as Grant appeared, coming from the opposite direction.

He held the door open for her, allowing her to enter first, giving her a playful wink as she passed—ever the optimist. She refrained from an eye roll.

Her mother and Zareb waited just outside as Grant shut the door behind him.

King Henrik, his council, and the contestants had gathered on the large red rug in the center of the room, creating a close-knit circle. The open windows let in the sea breeze behind them, forcing the torches to work overtime to avoid being snuffed out.

“Ah, here they are now,” the king said, nodding at her and Grant.

All heads turned to the pair, including Tristan’s, whose eyes skewered Grant as he remained beside her.

The king started by saying, “I know you’re all wondering if we have caught who was responsible for the attack. We scoured the entire forest, questioned everyone in attendance, and looked for any possible escape routes on the roads. But unfortunately, whoever was responsible escaped.”

Tension rippled in the air. The more she thought of it, the more the question begged how the man had even gained access to a black market commodity like Dragonshade.

Given that dragons had been extinct for centuries, it shouldn’t even exist. It would have had to come from somewhere long forgotten to the north.

But who would know where something like that was hidden?

“The good news is that Roman should make a swift recovery,” the king continued. His eyes flickered to her, still filled with gratitude. “But due to this unfortunate event, we have decided to move the second challenge to tomorrow.”

Their eyes grew wide. The next challenge? So soon? It was customary to have at least a week or so between. Tristan and Grant hadn’t even recovered from their wounds.

Lord Wellington stepped forward. “This next challenge will be a psychological challenge of sorts. Each of you will be questioned under the influence of the salvia lotus, to see if you are equipped to handle the mental strain that comes with the challenge of ruling.”

Rose fought a shiver—the salvia lotus, another black market item.

The council must’ve paid a pretty penny to get their hands on a substance like that in Cathan.

It was prohibited under any normal circumstance.

Its effects were often considered unpredictable, which was exactly why they couldn’t use it for Xavier’s tribunal, or anyone else’s for that matter.

Xavier—he had likely ignited this challenge. They must be aiming to test whether the contestants would falter under pressure and if they could be manipulated, controlled. If she partook of the lotus, she’d be opening the floodgates of her mind to the high council.

Fear encroached upon her like a snake slithering up her leg. They would find out everything she’d worked so hard to keep hidden—about her financial situation, about that night with her father, about everything.

She glanced at Lord Martin, whose beady eyes attempted to flush her weakness out. His smug face leered, glad to see fear planted on her own. No doubt it was him who had suggested this challenge in the first place.

It hit her then. They weren’t just doing this because of Xavier. No, they wanted the opportunity to look into her head specifically. To find a way to weed her out of the succession—and they’d just found a means to do it.

Tristan and the others were equally stunned—even Grant was lacking his usual permanent smile.

“This is outrageous,” Dawnton said. “It is a highly potent, unreliable substance. It is not within your right to force us to partake of an illegal drug.”

Emmett chimed in. “I don’t see how it could give an accurate depiction of us as candidates. If it cannot be held in court, it cannot be used for succession.”

“It is only unreliable and unsuitable in court because of how it responds to each subject,” Lord Martin interjected.

“The drug works like any medication or food—effects can vary for each individual. The same goes for the lotus. This is not to find truth, like in a courtroom, but to see into the workings of a mind. Which is exactly what this drug can achieve… Anyway, as long as you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.” His gaze landed on Rose.

“So you’ve all taken of this lotus, have you?” Tristan said with a polar glare at the greasy lord.

Lord Martin didn’t falter as he replied, “No… but neither have we aspired for the throne.”

Lord Barron stepped in. “Your concerns about the lotus are heard, but the king and the council have agreed only because the questions distributed will be solely targeted to your capabilities of being a leader and no others. Lord Martin is right—if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.”

Knowing the questions would be censored didn’t make her feel any better. She had been expecting physical challenges like the first trial, but this… this wasn’t something she’d ever anticipated.

“The choice is yours,” King Henrik said, breaking the tangible silence. “Partake of the lotus or drop out of the succession. Those are your options.” His words were as sharp as blades.

Everyone understood the beaten horse was dead. The contestants’ eyes raged, but arguing was futile.

King Henrik took the silence as submission. “We will gather in the great hall tomorrow morning. And fortify your minds… this challenge isn’t for the weak-hearted.”