I huff out a laugh at the absurd thought. “I’ll try my best for you, A.” After swallowing the lump in my throat, I add, “I’ll visit you. I promise. I’ll find a way. Walk if I have to.”
She smiles, giving me one final hug before waving as I head down the alley. Standing to her feet behind the Fort, she shouts, “This is not a goodbye, only a good way to say bye until I see you next!”
It’s the same cheesy line she’s said for years, and yet, this is the first time it’s sounded like a goodbye. “You’re my favorite, A!” I call back to her, voice breaking without my permission.
“And you are mine, Pae!”
Smiling, I finally tear my eyes from her and begin hurrying down Loot, considering running away from the Imperial, the Trials, everything.
But the reckless thought is gone as quickly as my feet pounding against the cobblestone. I’ll be hunted down and killed if I run. At least with going to the Trials, I have a fighting chance at survival. Sort of.
Panting, I make it back to the Imperial who is now joined by a small girl assessing me timidly. “Ready to go?” he says, looking between the two of us. I humor him by nodding, despite having no choice in the matter.
We head down Loot in silence, passing crowds of people as we walk, all clapping and shouting their congratulations at us. As we near the end of the long street, I see a dark coach awaiting, paired with an Imperial sitting atop the driver's bench with his white uniform nearly blinding in the sun.
Our redheaded Imperial opens the door for us before he too joins the guard on the bench. The girl scrambles in and I follow, peeking my head out the door for one last look at Loot Alley before the coach seals me inside, separating me from my former life.
Cushioned black seats await us, and I’m almost too busy admiring the fanciest thing I’ve ever seen to notice the boy sitting across from us. His brown hair is neatly styled on his head, just above his dark green eyes that are currently pinned on me. By the condition of his clothing, I can tell he comes from a nicer area of the slums and likely falls into the Defensive tier of Elites.
The coach lurches forward, and I cling to the wall. I already don’t like small spaces, let alone small places that move. I steady my breathing, forcing myself to calm down before I look back at the bored boy.
“Hi,” I say, trying to ease the tension. “I’m Pae—”
“I know who you are,” he cuts me off, immediately deciding that staring out the window is far more interesting than our conversation. “You’re the girl who saved Prince Kai.” His tone suggests that this is not, in fact, precisely what happened. As if dozens of people didn’t see it happen.
I open my mouth, allowing words to spew out before I can think better of them. “Correct. And clearly you don’t have a reputation, or I would have heard of you by now.”
His eyes snap to mine, nostrils flaring. “I’m Ace. Ace Elway.” He says this proudly, straightening the collar of his shirt as he continues, “I’m an Illusionist. Rare. That’s why I’m here.” His smile is as cold as his eyes. “And I’m going to need those twenty thousand shillings to finally get me out of these slums, so I’m sure I’ll be making quite the reputation for myself soon enough.”
I’ve never encountered an Illusionist, but I’ve heard enough about them to know he’s dangerous, even as a Defensive.
“And who are you?” he asks the girl beside me. “What can you do?”
She glances between the two of us, looking as if she wants to disappear.
And I almost laugh when she does.
She’s there one second and gone the next. I stare at the empty seat beside me before her form reappears, materializing in a matter of moments.
Veil.
“I’m Hera,” she says shyly. Her deep, brown eyes meet mine as she brushes a strand of silky black hair behind her ear. Something about the action seems vaguely familiar, making me wonder if she’s one of the popular Veils that perform street magic.
“I’m Paedyn,” I say over the rumbling of the coach rolling over uneven cobblestones.
“What’s your power?” she asks curiously.
“Psychic.” I shrug casually. “I mostly sense strong emotions that give me flashes of information. It’s not much, but it’s all I’ve got.”
Liar. You haven’t got anything.
“Really?” Her eyes go wide, probably shocked that someone with such a weak Mundane ability could make it into the Trials, let alone defeat a Silencer.
“It’s an uncontrollable mental ability, and the only reason the Silencer wasn’t able to get into my head when I saved Prince Kai.” I toss a pointed look at Ace. “I guess that’s why people want me in these Trials at all.”
Ace the Ass snorts. “They only want you in the Purging Trials to watch you die, Mundane.”
I stare at him, and after a long moment, a small smile tugs at my lips.
“Oh, most definitely. But at least they will be watching me at all.”
Chapter Eleven
Paedyn
Silence is the only sound for the remainder of the ride, leaving the window beside me to be my only source of entertainment.
We pass dozens of streets crowded with smiling strangers, all waving and gawking. Some cheer and run next to the coach as we pass, trying to get a glimpse of us before we roll away to our dooms.
As we get closer to the palace, the houses grow larger, finer, and the streets are no longer riddled with homeless shuffling about. I spot the tips of the daunting towers before the whole daunting palace comes into view below them. It’s huge. Even with its gray stone and cold exterior, it’s breathtaking. Grassy hills and vibrant gardens filled with brightly colored flowers I didn’t even know existed surround the castle walls, softening the intimidating structure.
I hear the clopping of hooves hammering against smooth stone as we head into a courtyard, passing a large fountain residing in the center while white statues scatter around its perimeter. When the coach finally slows to a stop, I peek through the window to see a large, stone staircase leading into the palace and surrounded by beds of flowers.
The Imperials hop from their cushioned perch and open the doors to the coach, allowing warm sunlight to pour into our small compartment. I practically tumble out in my hurry to escape the cramped coach and the company inside. Once my feet are on solid ground again and swallowed by open air, I take a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent of flowers and sunshine.
The other two stumble out to stand beside me, both wide-eyed and staring. A voice startles us from our gawking when the red-haired Imperial clears his throat and says, “Follow me.”
We file up the stone steps behind him, passing dozens of Imperials lining the staircase. When we reach the top, two more guards step out and join the redhead leading us before walking through the giant doors.
If the outside was beautiful, it pales in comparison to this. Every wall is ornately decorated with glittering paintings and intricate molding that climbs up the walls and clings to the ceiling. Everything is dazzlingly white with the occasional pop of emerald that dots the hallways we trudge down, showcasing Ilya’s kingdom color.
I’m too mesmerized by the sheer size and beauty of this place to even realize that the redhead is speaking to the three of us. “—rooms are this way, in the East wing of the palace.” He gestures to the many hallways that I’m assuming are filled with equally embellished rooms.