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Chapter 11
Tempesthadassumedshewould be the first at the gate, but was surprised to find Sylvia already leaning against the wall from her seat on the ground. The only other people nearby were the guards patrolling along the top. Tempest sat beside Sylvia with her legs outstretched.
“I didn’t expect you to already be here.”
Sylvia startled. “When did you get here?”
“Just now. I didn’t have much preparing to do.”
Sylvia frowned. “This will most likely be a physical challenge; probably a maze with dangerous obstacles to overcome.”
Tempest expected the same. It was the pattern Dei Electi usually followed and was why she’d chosen to wear pants under her dress. While she was difficult to injure, sliding on gravel with bare skin, jumping through flames, or many of the other possibilities for this trial would still be uncomfortable otherwise.
Tempest gave her warmest smile and nudged Sylvia’s shoulder with her own. “Cheer up. You’re here on time, have more endurance than most of these women due to your time as a servant, and, best of all, you have me.”
“You?”
“Only if you want. We can do this together.”
Sylvia gave Tempest a quick glance. “You aren’t armed, either.”
Tempest spread her empty hands. “Nope. I don’t need them; neither do you.”
Sylvia only sighed in reply.
“Afraid you would be left behind?”
Serenity and Isabella laughed as if what Gloria had said was the funniest thing they’d heard that morning. The approaching women wore strategically-placed light armor over their long dresses with daggers and short swords strapped over it. Tempest wasn’t surprised that the representatives of the gods of chaos and war and the goddess of the heavens had banded together. The gods themselves had always been close, as well.
Sylvia groaned as she tucked her knees to her chest. Tears already rimmed her eyes.
“Nope,” Tempest said. “Just already prepared and a bit bored waiting for everyone.”
Isabella rested her hand on the short sword at her hip and smirked. “You know that this will be dangerous, right? Neither of you looks prepared in the slightest.”
Tempest leaned back and rested her head on the wall. “We’ll see.”
Serenity squatted down and cocked her head to one side. “You do know the first round usually has at least one or two of the competitors die, right? My bet is on you two.”
Tempest let her head roll to match Serenity’s angle and heaved a bored sigh. “The gods don’t allow their representatives to die during Dei Electi. Not unless they did something to be cast aside, that is. That’s only happened a handful of times, and usually it’s not during the first round.”
Serenity stood back up and kicked sand as she turned around in a huff. “Whatever. You won’t last long anyway.”
Tempest brushed the sand off her dress as the three women walk away.
“I’m going to die,” Sylvia whimpered, her head tucked into her knees.
“You’re not going to die. Your god has not abandoned you. Those harpies wouldn’t have put on such a big show for you if you had been.”
Sylvia sniffled, and the two sat in silence as the rest of the competitors gradually arrived. All of the other women wore armor and were armed in one way or another. As tempting as giving Sylvia a weapon was, Tempest knew that it would do her no good without proper training to go with it. No, Tempest would just have to keep her as close as possible and protect her.
Her connection with Aiden felt decidedly less strained, until she knew, without a doubt, that he was standing on top of the wall directly above her. As tempting as it was to look up and see if she could spot him, she kept her gaze on the other women, watching for any odd behaviors or signs that they may not be entirely as they seemed.
The gate groaned as it slowly opened.
“The first event has officially begun,” someone announced from above the gate—Eb, if Tempest weren’t mistaken. “Find a golden feather of truth, an amulet of chaos, and a ring of war before you reach the end of the maze. Good luck, Dei Electi contestants. May you remain in your god’s favor.”
The representatives rushed the gate as Sylvia and Tempest rose to their feet. Tempest grabbed Sylvia’s hand and shook her head when she tried to join the women passing them.
