Page 65 of The Last Syphon

A few of them clapped along with the cheering crowd—Lady Niya, Lord Odami, and Lord Julius. The rest, however, just sat there staring down at her.

Their Shielders were no longer behind them. Instead, they stood in the middle of the arena, facing the crowd and High Council members.

There were twenty-three of them, and with Inara, twenty-four.

“Our final competitor in the Shielder Trials, Inara Tempest,” a voice announced.

Princess Phaedra led her over to the centre of the field. Inara took note of the order the Shielders stood in, remembering Princess Phaedra’s earlier words. They would be organised in a line according to their scores.

It was no surprise to Inara to see that Larissa stood at the front. Her hands were behind her back, posture strong and confident, though Inara could see through the front she was putting on, clear as day. The woman was nervous. The number forty-two illuminated above her.

Inara recognised a few of the other Shielders. The identical twins she’d seen practicing with Larissa—one was in seventh place, and the other was ninth. And also Na-Ri. She had moved up since the last trials. She was now third from the bottom.

“What’s with the numbers above their heads?” Inara asked Princess Phaedra in a whisper.

“It’s their scores,” she replied, coming to a stop. “In order to win, you will need to beat Larissa’s.”

Forty-two points out of forty-nine.

It would be a very hard score to beat.

“Good luck.” A flicker of panic hit her when the princess walked away, taking Felix with her and leaving Inara to stand on her own. Her friend gave her a nod of encouragement and two thumbs up as they left.

“Lady Niya, please reveal your score,” the same voice that announced her echoed into the arena.

Inara tried not to fidget. She didn’t think she had ever been so nervous before in her life. It was a crazy thought, considering all the death-defying stunts she had committed over the years.

Lady Niya pressed a button on the table in front of her. The number seven appeared above her head, illuminated in a bright, almost blinding gold.

Inara exhaled a sigh of relief.

The High Council woman smiled warmly at her.

“Lady Ophera, please reveal your score.”

The woman brushed a lock of her silver hair out of her face and looked directly into Inara’s eyes. Even from such a distance, Inara glimpsed the slight wrinkle in her nose. The disdain in her expression.

So, it surprised the fuck out of her when Lady Ophera showed she had also scored her a seven.

“Woohoo! Fuck yeah!” Felix cheered, clapping his hands.

It made the situation all the more awkward because he was the only one to applaud in an arena full of absolute silence.

“Lord Tevi, please reveal your score.”

Inara’s gaze shifted to the man in question. She would always remember him purely for his eyes. Pure black. Cold. Emotionless.

Much to her shock, the number seven appeared above his head.

Three perfect scores.

Maybe she could really win this.

“Lord Villani, please reveal your score.”

Inara did not have high hopes for his grade. She already knew he didn’t like her. She’d stolen his son’s chance to soul-link with a Guardian. Stolen Lord Villani’s chance for even more prestige.

With a smirk on his arrogant face, he pressed his button.