A Trial of Thorns: A Fae Beauty and the Beast Retelling (A Court of Fairy Tales Book 2) by Helena Rookwood & Elm Vince

Author:Helena Rookwood & Elm Vince [Rookwood, Helena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-06-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

The five remaining champions stood at the edge of a vast, frozen lake, our breaths clouding in the air. I gripped a wooden oar tightly in my hand, trying to quell my nerves as I squinted at the bright, white vista. The morning sky was the palest cornflower blue, weak sunlight still burning through the lingering mist.

A smattering of snow covered the ground, flurries whipping around our ankles. I pulled my fur-trimmed cloak around me, trying to keep the insistent breeze from slithering up my sleeves.

My knees shivered beneath my tight pants. My ears were frozen, the tip of my nose red. Vanna had been apologetic that the armor she’d promised me wasn’t ready, but honestly, I was glad to be wrapped in layers of wool and fur instead of steel.

Even if none of the other champions were bundled up like I was. The fae were so warm-blooded, the cold didn’t seem to bother them at all.

I pushed down my discomfort, focusing on the challenge at hand, trying to glean what I could from the setting of the Trial. The icy lake was huge, a glassy, flat sheet running all the way up to the horizon.

In front of each of us sat five beautifully carved boats, each with a different color sail—mine the pale-blue of the Sky Court, Morven’s a deep russet brown, Thorne’s forest green, Neve’s snow white, and Kage’s black as night.

I chewed my lip, which had turned numb in the cold. The wooden vessels were far larger than the simple rowing boat I’d encountered at the Cursed Court. We could have all fit into one of them if we’d tried. They were crafted with all the beauty and grandeur I’d come to expect of the Sky Court, the carved wood painted a creamy white and decorated with flecks of gold leaf. Each of the colorful sails draped like silk from the masts, stirring only slightly in the crisp, wintry breeze.

I glanced to my right to find Thorne watching me.

He raised his dark eyebrows a fraction and spoke in a low voice, “Are you all right?”

I forced my shoulders to relax and nodded in return, reaching out to link my fingers through his. “I’m fine. Concentrate on winning.”

I hadn’t told him what Faolan had threatened me with if I failed—taking one of my sisters. Thorne needed to focus on getting through to the next round.

And while I had my own important reasons for needing to perform well in this challenge, it was crucial Thorne left these Trials as the next Alder King. He was the only one among the fae standing here who would protect humans’ rights if he took the throne.

“Any sign of trouble,” he murmured, “and I’ll come straight for you. You don’t have to worry.”

“There won’t be any trouble.” I squeezed his hand. “You just focus on winning this thing.”

I looked to my other side, trying to gauge how the others were feeling about the impending Trial. We didn’t even know what the task was yet, but Neve appeared completely at ease.

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