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“Don’t you mean ‘we’?”
Nope. The creature flung me out of her reach, and she was on her own for that one.
“Double wonderful. What about the—”
Focus on silence. Quiet your thoughts.
“Is meditation supposed to help?”
The trident doesn’t respond. Probably doesn’t want to be the bearer of bad news. Doesn’t want to be the one who chips away at my confidence.
Too late for that.
Just stop thinking. That’s all you have to do.
I hold back a snarky thought and try to not think. It’s a lot harder than my weapon gives me credit for. Thankfully, before long, the car comes to a stop. I hope it’s because we’ve arrived and not just because of traffic or something.
The engine cuts, then my pulse drums in my ears. I’m crazy for agreeing to this. Trials in an arena that I’m not only completely unprepared for but that are based on a legendary queen who nearly nobody knows anything about.
Ahem.
I don’t respond, and fortunately the trident doesn’t have time to say more because the door opens and the driver appears.
“We have arrived, my lady.”
I take a deep breath then exit, weapon in hand. We’re on the back side of what looks kind of like a football stadium—but they don’t play that sport in Valora.
“Let me show you to your room.”
“I have a room here?”
“A dressing room.”
I glance down at my outfit. “I’m already dressed.”
His only response is to close the door and make his way toward the building.
My heart thunders as we approach. It seems to get louder the closer we come. The driver knocks on a nondescript door, and a moment later, a lock clicks and the door opens. A merwoman with a tight bun and tiny glasses appears and immediately starts speaking a mile a minute, barely allowing me any time to keep up with what she’s saying. The driver leaves, and she leads me down a hallway. She opens another door—my dressing room. It has a couch, a rack with several outfits, a table full of refreshments, and a large mirror.
I enter and try to keep up with what she’s saying, but it’s a fruitless endeavor without a remote to slow her down. She leaves, closing the door behind her. I have no idea what to expect. Do I have five minutes to get ready? Or am I supposed to go somewhere? How does anyone understand her?
I lean the trident against the couch and snack on some underwater fruit. Then I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror—my skin is pale and my eyes are wild. I don’t know what else I expected when I’m in such a ridiculous situation. If only someone would tell me something about what I’m about to face. Are there going to be twenty trials? Ten? Will I get breaks? What happens if I don’t pass one? I glance at the trident, who offers me no insight.
Knock, knock.
My entire body tenses. “Come in.”
The door opens. Instead of the fast talker, it’s my mom. She gives me a warm smile. “How are you, sweetheart?”
“How do you think?” I snap. “Sorry. Too nervous for a verbal filter.”
She gives me a hug, not that it does much to soothe my nerves. “You’re going to do great.”
“Do you know anything about these trials?”
“Didn’t Shelly explain anything?”
“You mean that lady who spoke too fast to understand?” I arch a brow.
