Page 23 of Starside

Is that what happened to Stellan’s cup? Did the king … take it?

A single drop of magic from Starside can make a field fertile for a century. It can revitalize a village. It can heal the sick.

It can also extend a life.

At once, the challengers in front of me start to bow, and I would rather die, but Kira pulls me down beside her. “What are you doing?” she snaps at me, and I don’t know. I shouldn’t care about the king. He’s just a step toward my fate. I’ll never see him again.

Still, kneeling before him feels wrong. Especially now that I wonder if the Questral is truly meant to serve our people …

Or him.

“Please, rise,” he says, his voice easygoing. We do. “Sit.”

We do that too, each of us shuffling toward a chair. Kira drags me toward the two right in front of the plate of turkey legs.

Once we’re all seated, the king’s eyes roam over us, and they are not casual at all. No, now they are calculating.

The king is no fool. I can see it in the way his eyes immediately linger on who I’ve already marked as my greatest competition.

Cadoc, if only because he seems to have endless resources and his friends under his thumb. He might not have guards anymore, but he has a handful of challengers willing to kill for him. Two of them are archers. I wonder what he’s promised them.

The Enders, who look like a mountain range, sit side by side at the same table. They have weapons forged from shreds of Starside steel. I never thought that such a small quantity could be dangerous, but I was wrong. Whoever made that chain was ingenious in how they got so much out of so little. Their swords are all bronze, the lowest of the high metals, but strong, all the same.

Valen. The archer I watched kill dozens in the forest with her bow and iron-tipped arrows. Her tan skin is covered in glimmering chain mail. It’s iron too, a lesser metal, but any type of armor is costly. Her dark hair is cut short. She turns sharply to look at me, and I glance away.

Then, of course, there is Harlan Raker, who sits at the end of the last table, as far from the king as physically possible.

The king nods at the head of his guard. Raker gives the slightest tilt of his head in return.

He does not lower his hood or mask, even inside. Even at a feast. Even in front of the king. I wonder if he’ll be ordered to.

But the king doesn’t say a word. Is he afraid? Has he ever seen beneath Raker’s famous mask or his battle helmet?

For the first time, I realize Raker must be making the quest on the king’s orders. Of course. It’s the only way the king would allow someone so valuable to take the risk.

Why? To get the king more magic?

Is the king finally after immortality?

If so … chances are good he’ll get the opportunity to make the Turn. If any of us is making it back with a full cup of magic, it’s Harlan Raker.

The king continues speaking. “You have already survived several obstacles to be here. The platform. The journey. You have been culled from two hundred and twenty-six to just one hundred and fifty.” His gaze sweeps over us once again. “Tonight, you will know peace for perhaps the last time. Killing is forbidden. You may wander these halls as you please. You may eat your fill. You may sleep soundly. And sleep you should.” His eyes glisten with amusement. “Because tomorrow, the Culling begins in earnest.”

Next to me, Kira swallows.

The king looks around at us, brown eyes lingering on each challenger. “You each have a reason for leaving your lives behind and going on this deadly quest.” He lifts his chin. “But the Questral is not just about individuals … The magic you bring back helps us all.”

Him especially, it seems.

“Some of you have survived by pure luck. But luck won’t get you through Starside. Neither will alliances. Every day on that side will test you, and you alone must be strong enough to fight, if you are to take one of the coveted fifty spots. Bravery is admirable. But skill is better.

“You can only survive a quest across ancient, unforgiving lands by being resourceful and ruthless. The Culling is simple. At sunrise, you will leave this castle and race to the gates. The first fifty through them will embark on the quest.”

I blink. That’s it?

I just have to beat most of the other challengers there. It seems almost simple.

As if sensing relief from most of us, the king frowns. “The way to the gates is laden with challenges.” Of course it is.