Page 12 of Warrior of the Wild
But I don’t let Father see my disappointment. I lift my old ax from my back and replace it with the new one.
“It looks good on you,” Father says. “Now come. We’re due at the amphitheater.”
We jog past many townsfolk on their way to the trial: miners with soot-stained hands, broad-shouldered builders, hunters with throwing hatchets hanging off belts at their waists, jewelerswearing their best pieces as advertisements, healers heavy-laden with slings of bandages, ointments, and other remedies.
Today no one has to work. Today is a day of trial, and all the apprentices who have turned eighteen throughout the year will get to partake in the individual trials of their trades. The whole village shows up for the warrior test—even those who don’t have children participating. Simply put, ours is the most exciting to watch.
I’m sure my mother would prefer to stay home, but she wouldn’t dare disappoint Father by not showing up to give her support.
An arena is located on the most eastern edge of the village. An amphitheater was carved out of rock hundreds of years ago; in the center rests a maze built of rock and metal.
Most of the village has already gathered. Old men with metal staffs hobble up the stairs. Children cling to their mothers, anxious over the close proximity of the wild resting beyond the inna trees. Warriors who have already passed their trials stand guard at the tree line and around the maze, ready to step in should any of the beasts inside get loose.
I should probably be nervous, but I’m not. I have fought the ziken before during training exercises. And it’s hard to be scared with the heavy weight of an ax against my back.
Father separates from me once we reach the ground level of the maze to talk with Master Burkin about the trial. As I watch him go, I see movement out of the corner of my eye. Irrenia is waving wildly to get my attention from up in the amphitheater seats. I return the gesture, happy that she’s here. Mother and the rest of my sisters are there as well, seated beside her. Salvanya and her husband, Ugatos, stand and offer brief waves. Tormosa, Ashari, andAlara stand as well to show their support, and the latter puts her fingers to her lips to give off a loud whistle. Only Mother is seated and purposefully looking away from me.
Someone nudges my shoulder.
“Are you nervous?” Torrin asks.
“Torrin, I’m so sorry. How are you feeling?” His eyes are rimmed with sleepless red, and his body sags with exhaustion.
“Never better,” he says, completely undaunted. “Think nothing of yesterday. I’d do it again to spend more time with you.”
My face warms at the words. I answer his initial question. “I’m not nervous. Are you?”
“Of course. Everyone’s watching. Yourfather’swatching.”
I know he says this because my father is the most important man in the village, but part of me hopes it is also because he plans to court me after the trial and he wants to make a good impression. Especially after last night.
I remember my resolve to kiss him after the trial, and my heart does a flip in my chest. It must be a private moment. I don’t think I’m brave enough to kiss him in front of the others. And if he rejects me, then I don’t want anyone to witness that, either.
“You’re staring at me,” Torrin says.
“You’re the only thing here worth looking at.” I’m surprised by the brazen words after they’ve left my mouth.
But Torrin doesn’t tease me for them.
“That’s not true,” he says, locking eyes with me.
For the first time today, a bit of nervous energy stirs in my belly. I laugh off his comment.
“Warriors, quiet yourselves!” Master Burkin calls, silencing our chatter. “There are various entrances to the maze, so I will bespreading you out. Follow me. Be ready when the doors open, but don’t enter until you hear the horn blow.
“The rules of the trial are simple. The hourglass will turn. By the end of the hour, you all must have killed at least one ziken and you must avoid being bitten. Anyone who fails to meetbothrequirements will face banishment and the mattugr.”
A spike of fear ripples down the assembled warriors.
Burkin turns. As one group, we follow. A foot blocks my path, but I jump over it before I can trip.
“The maze is a dangerous place for a rat,” Havard says. “There’s more than ziken to worry about in there.”
I narrow my eyes at Havard. It would be just like him to spoil this for me, to try to get me banished and left to die outside the village.
“Tell me, Havard, will you be able to see the ziken charging at you past your broken nose?”
It’s swollen to twice its usual size and bent horribly to the side. I hadn’t realized I’d kicked him so hard during training yesterday, and it must have been too dark last night for me to notice.
