Chapter Two – The Trials of Eight

  Igniday, 9 Tamihr, Year of Folivor the Restful Sloth, 489 AWA

  Meri’s Cove near Afa Masina, Andovarra

  Kere grinned. “I didn’t recognize the name either. Apparently it’s one of the island nations in the Confederated Islands of Matalis. Didn’t Andovarra start one of the nations in that group?”

  “Not exactly,” replied Jori. “A bunch of people from Andovarra settled the island nation of Takatari, which was responsible for getting the Confederation going in the first place, but the Crown wasn’t involved in that.” He then paused for a moment, thinking. "Not to change the subject, but do you remember my mentioning an old girlfriend named Jyssandra?"

  "The one you were hiding out from when we first met? The crazy one who wouldn't leave you alone?"

  He nodded, his jaw tightening slightly. "That's the one. She's back in Candibaru, and she's not just targeting me this time." He ran a hand through his hair. "She's been spreading lies about me to the Sapphire Society—claims I'm working with poachers, harvesting protected coral. Director Galaren's investigating me now because of her."

  Kere's expression darkened. "Jori, that's serious. Your reputation—"

  "Gets worse," he interrupted, something harder creeping into his voice. "She's pushing Galaren to fast-track the Afa Masina auxiliary port expansion. You know, the one that would destroy Whispering Tide Cove."

  "The cove where you've been building the case for the underwater nature preserve?" Kere's voice was barely above a whisper.

  "Three years of work. Twenty-three coral species, the kelp forests, the turtle breeding grounds—all of it gone if that expansion goes through." His hands clenched into fists. "She left me a note. Said even when she's not around, she can still touch everything I care about."

  Kere was quiet for a long moment. "So what are you going to do?"

  The old Jori would have had an immediate answer: run. Find another organization, another country, somewhere far from Jyssandra's reach. The words were right there on his tongue. But when he opened his mouth, what came out surprised him.

  "I don't know. Part of me wants to leave Andovarra entirely—get as far away from her as possible." He met Kere's eyes. "But if I run this time, she wins. The Society loses someone who actually cares about conserving nature, and Whispering Tide gets destroyed. All those species..." He shook his head. "Some things might be worth standing and fighting for."

  "That doesn't sound like the Jori I know," Kere said gently, but a warm smile curved her lips.

  "Maybe it's time I stopped being that Jori." The words felt strange in his mouth, but also oddly liberating. "Though I'll admit, the idea of actually confronting her makes me want to dive to the bottom of the deepest trench I can find."

  “Jori, I will help you however I can,” said Kere, placing a supportive hand on his forearm. “And while I know this really isn’t the way you prefer to roll, I want to make a case for the idea that having a plan the first time you face her is a good idea, only because this is a situation that does make you want to dive to the bottom of the deepest trench you can find. Having a plan can help keep you on task even though you might feel like running. Once it gets to where it’s less scary for you, you can roll with more of the spontaneity you prefer.” She paused a moment, thinking. “In fact, I think you should ask Neric for help.”

  Jori’s brow furrowed, unsure why Kere would suggest this. “Neric? He’s my best friend, sure, but he’s no expert at this kind of thing.”

  “That’s not the reason I think you should talk to him,” said Kere patiently. “I think think you should talk to him because he knows how to play a role and get into the head of people other than himself.”

  Jori gave Kere a perplexed look. “I’m not going to be telling a Jyssandra story.”

  “I know you’re not. What I’m saying is that Neric has an ability—the ability to put himself in the shoes of someone else and get into their head a little bit. He uses that ability for sake of story-telling. You need to get into the head of someone you’re not—someone able to stand up and fight for what you care about. You’ll be using that ability in a real situation. See if Neric can help you figure out how to adopt the necessary mindset.” She gazed into his eyes. “Neric will want you to succeed—you know he’ll be in your corner. The worst that can happen is he’s just busy with other things right now. And if that happens, we’ll figure something else out to help you.”

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  “I’ll think about it,” Jori finally allowed. “But speaking of Neric, that reminds me of the other thing I wanted to ask you.”

  Kere tilted her head curiously. “And what’s that?”

  “Have you heard anything about the Trials of Eight competition that’s been going on this week?”

  “I’ve heard about it and used the subject to distract people who were trying to talk to me about how horrible I am for taking up with my own half-brother, but honestly, I haven’t paid it much mind. Why?”

  “The day before the competition started, which was two days before we got the news about being related, I bought an entry for two people, which is the minimum you can buy. I asked Neric to go with me, but he wasn’t sure he could get free. He said if he could, he’d get his own entry for two and find someone to bring. My slot is in two days, the last day of the competition, and I need someone to go with. You’re the only other person I’m actually interested in going with.” He turned hopeful eyes to her.

  “What does the winner get?” Kere asked him.

  “The winners split the prize pool, which should come down to 1000 gold each plus some other prizes. Magic items, I believe. And, there’s something I overheard while I was waiting in line to buy my entry that isn’t common knowledge.”

  Kere knew Jori wasn’t prone to idle gossip, so it made her curious. “What’s that?”

  “I think the winners are going to be taken before King Eldoran. Or at least before one of the King’s representatives.”

  “Don’t you think that’s likely just a commendation of some kind? You know, a ‘Congrats on winning the Trials of Eight’ kind of thing?”

  “Besides," Kere continued, "isn't it all just an illusion anyway? I've heard they use some kind of wildshard magic to create the combat scenarios—the Thought-Weave or something?"

  Jori nodded. "That's what makes it so interesting. The way I understand it, these wildshards tap into our minds somehow. You aren't actually fighting, but your body thinks you are. A merchant I overheard said it's like the shared dreams people sometimes have near wildshard deposits the Mahiyim are said to have, but controlled and focused." He looked genuinely excited for the first time since that awful dinner. "Can you imagine? Being able to test your combat skills without any real danger?"

  "I've heard rumors that what you experience in there feels completely real," Kere mused. "A fisher in Maraeva said his cousin participated last year and swore he could feel the heat from a fireball spell even though there wasn't a mark on him afterward." She frowned thoughtfully. "It does make you wonder why the king would be interested in a glorified entertainment event, though."

  “I asked my mother about it since she works at the Royal Palace. She didn’t know anything about it, and that’s odd, because she usually hears things like that before they become common knowledge.”

  “When will the audience with the King happen, once the Trials are over?”

  “I believe right afterwards,” replied Jori, “if what I overheard is correct. The King is supposed to be present when the prizes are awarded. But he’s not coming to the trial grounds, the winners are to be brought before him.”

  “And didn’t you say our slot is the last day of the competition?”

  “Does asking about ‘our slot’ mean you’ll do it?” he asked with a sly smile.

  She sighed. “I suppose. I’d rather keep working with Meri, but it’s not like I don’t want to keep on good terms with my favorite half-brother.” She grinned playfully up at him.

  “I’m your only half-brother not to mention your only sibling, but I’ll take what I can get. And thanks, Kere.” He smiled at her.

  “Should we bring some nice clothes to change into afterwards? I’d hate for my combatwear to be taken as a sign of disrespect to the King.”

  He shrugged. “Beats me. I suppose I could ask my mother.”

  “I still have the two hats of disguise we used for that benefit party for the Sapphire Society we both went to. I have no idea why I didn’t return them to you at the time. Speaking of, were you aware your mother sent a servant over to our house the day after we got the news about being related to retrieve your things?”

  “No, I wasn’t. I’m sorry about that.” He ran a hand through his hair, grimacing.

  “It’s not your fault. I told him I would prefer to return your things to you personally, and with support from my stepmom, refused to budge from that position. He finally left around nightfall.” She smiled with a sort of malicious pleasure at the memory, then immediately felt guilty. The man had only been trying to do his job, after all—Jori's mother had been the one in the wrong. “Anyway, the point was, I’ll bring those two hats so we have something to change into after the competition if we win.”

  “Only you would have a plan for something like that,” he grinned at her.

  "And you know you love me for it," she grinned right back, the familiar phrase slipping out before she could stop herself. An awkward silence fell between them, the words hanging in the air like storm clouds.

  Kere cleared her throat. "When are you picking me up?" she asked, deliberately changing the subject.

  “Thirteenth bell?” suggested Jori. “Our slot is at 14 bells, and that should give us ample time to get there if we splurge on a transport portal. Do you have the two gold?”

  “I think so. I’ll see you then.”

  As they gathered their things to leave, Kere noticed Meri had returned to staring anxiously toward the southern horizon, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something important had changed today—something beyond their newly discovered siblinghood. The sun was beginning its descent toward the mountains, casting long shadows across the cove, and for the first time since she could remember, Kere felt uncertain about what tomorrow might bring.