[2016] The Bride Trials Read online

  On the far side of the arena, several people sparred, but they were far enough away that Keyla couldn’t see their faces. Emre walked to the closest wall and hit a metal panel. It folded down to reveal a variety of weapons.

  “Today I’ll show you some stealth weapons, but you have to prove yourself at hand to hand before you’ll get to try them.”

  “Not fire?”

  “Heir Ditran will be by later to help you with that. This training has multiple advantages. If you become a princess, enemies will infiltrate and attempt to kill you, Heir Ditran, and the King. In the meantime being one of the candidates, and a noble thanks to the title from the Plumes, other noble families will put a target on your back. You aren’t one of them, and they don’t like competition, for either marrying or elimination. Lastly, if you don’t win the trials, you will need to complete your two year military servitude.”

  He didn’t say it, but he didn’t need to. This training would also help in any missions for the rebels.

  He grabbed a piece of wire from the display. “This is small, and easy to hide or disguise in jewelry. You approach someone from behind, loop it around their throat and pull. When done properly, it will cut the wind pipe and arteries, and can be completed without raising an alarm.”

  “Brings a whole new meaning to ‘killer dinner party.’” He put the wire back and pulled out a dart with a pipe barely bigger than a straw. “This is used to shoot darts. You simply place the dart in and blow. It’s great so long as they don’t see the attack coming, or don’t have powers. Depending on the poison or coating on the dart, so long as it pierces the skin it will work. But make sure you research the coating prior to ever using it.”

  Keyla pulled her hand back from the purple dart she’d been about to touch. “Understood, what else?”

  “Let’s see your skills. That will determine the best type of weapon to give you. Hit me.” “And break your pretty nose?”

  “Just try.”

  Keyla made a fist and launched it at his stomach. He deftly moved to the side and grabbed her arm to force it to the side before it could make contact. Still holding her arm, he twisted and forced her to her knees.

  “Nice verbal misdirect, but you need to work on your body language. I knew which fist you were going to use which made it easier to react.” He let go of her.

  Keyla stood up, shook out her arm. She and Emre circled each other as they walked farther out into the yard.

  Keyla spun and kicked out towards his face. He ducked, while knocking her legs out from under her. “Saw that coming from a mile away. Who taught you, a corpse?”

  Keyla dusted herself off and began punching as fast as she could at him. He dodged, but with each punch she gained speed, and he wasn’t attacking back. Frustrated, Keyla felt her hands heat and

  soon small sparks were lighting their way up her body.

  Emre grabbed her hands. “No powers.” Keyla head butted him and heard a crack.

  Blood squirted from Emre’s nose, while he dropped her hands.

  “Got you.” While Emre was busy finding something to keep the blood from going everywhere, Ditran came out. Three knives rested on a cloth on the table. Emre grabbed the rag, dumping the knives unceremoniously onto the table.

  “Sorry I’m late. I had to rearrange some meetings. I’m afraid I don’t have much time before—Emre what happened to your nose?” Ditran looked at Keyla then back to Emre.

  “She cheated.” Emre’s voice came out with a nasal twang.

  “I did not.” Keyla folded her arms.

  “You used your powers.” Emre had his head tipped back, but he still managed to glare at her. “Emre, go get cleaned up while Keyla and I move on with the training.”

  Emre bowed as best he could while holding a rag to his face. He gave Keyla one last glare and strode off. Keyla stepped towards Ditran. “I am so sorry for my behavior at dinner last night.” “It’s alright. I’ve already explained the situation to Uncle. The power manifestation, healing sleep, and journey took their toll. The alcohol was simply the last straw. Now let’s go through how to draw on your fire. Last night you summoned it out of anger, but you need to learn not to.”

  “Emre said something about that in the forest. Why?” “Emotion is easier in a lot of ways. But if you are always angry, how will you be able to use it when you’re scared? Or happy? Or any other emotion? On the other hand, by depending on emotion, you won’t be able to stop it from manifesting every time you feel angry. Say you are having a dream that makes you really mad. Your house would be burned down before you woke up.”

  “Okay. So how do I do this?” “Start with your breath. Emre guided you to breathe the energy in and the heat out. You simply reverse it. In with the heat, out with the fire.”

  In. Out. The tingling started again. This time it prickled along her skin like a crawling bug. She shuddered.

  Ditran laughed and stepped closer to her. “Try closing your eyes. Feel the warmth from the sun, the air, your skin” With each word his voice became softer, a caress on the wind.

  She felt his hands take hers. A tingle that had nothing to do with her powers spread where her skin touched his. In. Out. In. Out. Heat centered in her middle and rose up then down.

  “Open your eyes.” His voice was barely a whisper.

  Her fingers were covered in a blue flame, turning white where they met Ditran’s. “It burns brighter, hotter, when coming from a place of control. Now turn it into something useful.” He pulled his hands away and clasped them behind his back.

  “Like what?” “Armor. When we were attacked, if you had had a shield of flames, it wouldn’t have hurt you as badly, if at all. Pretend you are putting on a pair of gloves.”

  “Really? That’s it?”

  “Easier said than done.”

  With her left hand, she pretended to pull a glove onto her right. The Flame spread a little bit before disintegrating. It now resembled a bunch of

  strings wrapped around her wrist.

  “Keep trying.” The process was slow going, but by the hundredth try, Keyla finally managed a glove of flames on each hand extending to her wrists.

  Ditran looked at his watch. “Time for a break. I unfortunately have to leave. You are welcome to continue practicing when Emre returns.”

  Keyla watched him leave and groaned when she saw Emre approach with a happy smirk.

  he weeks were speeding by. Ditran spent his days going back and forth between meetings and spending every spare second with Keyla. She was learning how to use her fire remarkably fast. When she joined some of the trainings with the guards, on days Emre and Ditran weren’t available, she was able to match them on every strike. Would it be enough for her to win?

  After that first dinner with both his uncle and Keyla, Ditran had tried to keep any conversation between the two of them directed at anything that wouldn’t cause an argument. He was tired of talking about the weather. Even then, Sonovo was offended by her opinion of it.

  Ditran rubbed his eyes and drank another sip of

  the drink in front of him. The coldness snapped his senses awake even before he set the cup on the clear table in front of him. He shared the table with six others. Sonovo on his left at the head of the table. Gon Solus and the other four Gons sat across from Ditran, each dressed according to their element and Kuil they were in charge of.

  Solus was in his typical emerald green. Calder wore a dark blue tunic, while Faxon, seated next to Calder, was dressed in a simple grey suit. Vanhi’s shirt was made from a dark red colored fabric that glinted whenever he moved. Vesta, the first female to ever sit on the council of Gons, wore brown.

  Meeting with Uncle Sonovo and the Gons, at dawn was a bad idea. Late morning sunlight streamed through the window on the far wall. At the rate things were progressing he’d miss the special lunch he’d planned to surprise Keyla with. He’d stayed up the night before perfecting the design of the ring he’d promised her.

  He looked at the green envelope next to h
is drink. Letters arrived every day from women Drake selected around the Kingdom. The green ones though, those were from Nixie. Careful not to rip the paper too much, Ditran opened the envelope. Her familiar scrawl of straight, tight letters greeted him.

  He glanced over her message, nothing new. She described how the world was losing color and warmth without his presence. He wanted to tell her

  fall approached, and to get a jacket.

  “Captain Drake returned late last night after successfully finding the last candidate. While traveling he was able to discover the assailant of Ditran in Cryssal. However, he brought distressing news as well. The assailant’s information indicates that the rebel faction has grown larger than any of us anticipated. I have approved the construction of one factory for every four cities, starting immediately.”

  Ditran’s mouth dropped. “Uncle, they torture innocent people there.”

  “The sacrifice of a few for many. We can’t afford the enemy force getting larger.”

  “There has to be another way.” “We can revisit the subject after the Bride Trials. They start tomorrow.” King Sonovo turned towards the Gons. “Is the Air Kuil prepared, Gon Faxon?”

  “When did the trials get moved to the Air Kuil?” Ditran asked. “While you were traveling, we decided the trials should be held at each of the Kuils.” Sonovo stared at the Gons until each of them nodded.

  “Kuils are places of worship and contemplation. Is it wise to risk Dovesti’s wrath?” Ditran replied. “We are honoring Dovesti and the great Dragons. Each challenge was carefully crafted so that only one who displays knowledge, clarity, steadfastness, fierceness, and trust will pass. Had you been present, you could have made your concerns known. As it stands now, there isn’t enough time to make other arrangements.” Gon Solus’s patronizing smile made Ditran feel like a child.

  “At over a hundred feet above the palace, the cloud isn’t the best place for those who aren’t air elementals. Or the water Kuil. How do you expect anyone who isn’t a shard to get there?” Ditran looked at Sonovo.

  “They’ll be escorted. Of course we can’t prevent every accident, but that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”

  He can’t be serious. The longer Ditran looked at Sonovo, the more apparent it became that he wasn’t joking. First the factories, and now sacrificing a person for the trials, too. What kind of deal have I made?

  anny woke Keyla early the next morning like she always did. However, this time she brought a red dress with her. This was it, the day the Trials began. Nanny fussed over Keyla’s hair and makeup.

  An hour later Keyla stood in the Palace court yard under the hot sun. The crowd of bodies pressed up against her, as all of the women selected for the Trials waited together. Penned inside the spiked stone court yard walls like sheep for the slaughter, there were well over three hundred of them separated into their respective elements by thick ropes and lines of guards. Each group dressed in the color of their element.

  A balcony to the north was decorated with a single large banner, with the King’s royal crest, hung from the railing. A dozen guards surrounded a raised platform with a big black rock.

  Keyla glanced down at her red dress and smiled. She hoped she stood out despite the dozens of girls surrounding her, also wearing red. Other girls near her shifted nervously as they waited for the grand welcoming.

  A blast of sound, resembling some type of horn, came from the front end of the courtyard. Keyla strained along with every other girl to see what had caused it. Ditran stood on the top of a balcony.

  Keyla felt the butterflies start in her stomach as she looked at him. Nothing in the magazines could have prepared her for him. From his devastating handsomeness to his even more impressive goodness, Ditran is a gentleman in every sense of the word. He wore white armor with silver embellishments lining the edges. His image a striking contrast to the black curtains behind him. When his gaze found hers, he smiled.

  It was as if her insides melted, a feeling she still wasn’t used to, despite feeling it every time he looked at her.

  “Welcome, Ladies.” He spoke without yelling or needing a microphone. A warm feeling swept over her with his words. While she knew she shouldn’t be able to hear him because of the distance, he sounded like he was right next to her. Whispering caresses in her ear, a warm tingle went down her spine.

  King Sonovo came up next to him, dressed in black armor with gold spirals. His mouth was a straight line as he stared at a fixed point in front of him above all their heads. It was the same look he wore at dinner. During every meal, he made it clear that he hadn’t forgiven her for her drunken comments. His heart was as black as his armor and she doubted it ever held good.

  “Ladies, I'd like to welcome you to our home.” Sonovo said. “This marks the beginning of the trials for Heir Ditran’s bride. This year many things will be different from the Bride Trials held for Heirs in the past, including the trials for me, before I became King. However, there are some formalities which must be performed before we continue.”

  He motioned for Heir Ditran to place his hands on a large black stone. “This stone is the Heir Stone, also known as Dovesti’s stone. Dovesti, in his Godly wisdom, created the fountain from which all powers spring. In the Divide, this stone is all that the Great Dragons were able to save. Each generation of the five Gons guard it until the Great Dragons return.

  A piece of the stone will be used to forge the next Queen's crown. It is more valuable than the gems mined from the darkest pits, or pearls from the deepest oceans. It is more precious than a newborn to its mother, and more powerful than even I, your King, for it is a piece of the very creation. It will bless Heir Ditran for following in this noble tradition, for a contract forged with the stone cannot be undone.”

  King Sonovo turned to Ditran. “Heir Ditran, do you enter the covenant of the Bride Trials as follows: Once entered into, no woman outside those selected before you can be chosen as your Bride. They will be purified through the Five challenges of Dra. Only one will prove worthy. Just as the Great Dragons of old, you will be faithful to her and this covenant as long as your heart beats, even if hers does not.

  The Bride Trials will only be conducted once and will begin immediately after this ceremony. Failure to complete, tampering, or interfering with the course of the trials, will subject you to the judgement of Dovesti’s Stone. Abide by these terms and you will be blessed with the sight of Zrak Dra, the clarity of Voda Dra, the steadfastness of Zem Dra, the fierceness of Vatra Dra, and the healing of Dus Dra, the Five Dragons. Heir Ditran, knowing the laws of our Kingdom, do you enter into these trials of your own free will?”

  “I do.” “Let the Bride Trials begin.” Sonovo clapped his hands together. As he drew them apart, a swirl of growing magic appeared. Holding a dancing mix of fire, water, earth, air, and life, he flung it at the stone.

  A bright light flashed and the black stone turned a white milky color, almost as if the very rock had trapped a cloud inside. It swirled and swished.

  “In a few moments,” Ditran spoke despite the murmurs of wonder from the crowd. “Sections of you will be escorted to rooms where you will be given information. You will receive fifteen minutes of instruction before you are tested.”

  Several girls exclaimed at how unfair it was. Ditran ignored them. “Before she died, my Mother designed the exam. If you wish to discuss this further, please raise your hand. An attendant will see to you.” Ditran exited the balcony.

  Keyla was unsure how many girls raised their hands, but there were dozens from the red section. “Stupid.” The girl in front of Keyla muttered. She had long black hair with streaks of red woven through it. The red perfectly matched the suit the girl wore.

  “Why?” asked the girl next to Keyla. “They’ll be disqualified and sent home. I guess I shouldn’t care, though, since it’s less competition. I’m Arcis by the way.” She flicked a piece of imaginary lint off her shoulder.

  “How do you know that?” Keyla asked. “My mother
was part the trials for Heir Ditran’s father. She told me to do anything the Heir instructed without question, or I’d be sent home.”

  “Oh.” “She made it to the top three. I plan to make it to the top one. Heir Ditran is so dreamy. I heard he picked out one girl by hand before bringing her back to the Palace.”

  “I heard it was three.” The blond girl by Keyla said. “I’ll have to find out who they are and crush them. If you get in my way, I’ll crush you too.” Arcis said to Keyla with a glint in her amber eyes that left no doubt as to her honesty.

  Keyla found herself being ushered away with a dozen others, thankful she didn’t have to respond. Her group was escorted into a room without a ceiling and instructed to sit on grey discs. A man with bright orange hair and a black suit entered the room. He placed a large book on the table at the front of the room.

  “Ladies, we have only a short time together. I have with me a book about the appropriate conduct of a queen.”

  “Do we need to know it all?” A small brunette girl asked from the front.

  “We’ll cover the basics.” The man then proceeded to state the rules for Queenly behavior. As he continued speaking, Keyla found she already knew what he was teaching. Suzenita had spent all summer teaching her these things.

  “And that concludes your first lesson, Ladies.” The man snapped Keyla out of her thoughts. He slammed the book shut.

  Another man with red hair, dressed in a suit identical suit to the first, entered the room. He was followed by a dozen guards dressed in grey the color of storm clouds. The guards proceeded to spread out until one stood with each woman on a grey disc.

  “Ladies, please take a digitized paper.” He passed out papers to each of them. “One last thing before you take the exam.” He smiled as he looked at their panicked faces. “Only twenty Fire Elementals will move on to round two. Your exam starts now.”

  Still dazed by his announcement, Keyla’s thoughts were elsewhere. When she looked down to see the paper’s screen blinking with the first question.