Everyone has already left the pool except the four with glowing rocks. The Paladins’ eyes bore down on me. In fact, everyone’s eyes are on me, which makes this all the more awkward. I shouldn’t have waited. Now, everyone is going to watch me either be picked or rejected.
I breathe in deeply. Since Tor had been selected, there’s no turning back now.
The water slides cool over my fingertips as I dip my hand into the iridescent pool. The stone I chose is silky smooth and cool. I cup it in my palm, waiting for it to glow. Because it has to glow, doesn’t it? There’s no one else left. There are five Paladins. There must be five apprentices, right?
But it remains inky black. I lick my dry, cracked lips. The pool swims before me in blurry, panicked waves. Don’t cry! Stay calm. You didn’t really expect to be picked, did you? I should return to my seat with Lila, but my feet remain rooted in place.
Tor’s dark eyes catch mine from across the pool, but then his gaze drops. And with it, my heart. He’s not going to run away with me. He’s going to become an apprentice. Understanding floods me, and it feels as if the sea current is dragging me beneath the waves, drowning me. In his heart of hearts, he chose the stone over me. He chose Eden over me.
Because as an apprentice, he’ll have the power to change things. And that need was stronger than our love. Now the only way for us to be together is for me to be picked, too.
If I’m being honest with myself, this is more than being with Tor. I want, no need, to find a way to solve our problems here on Eden without having to watch clansfolk die. If I were an apprentice, maybe I could make a difference. I could change things. Find a cure. How ironic it’s all contingent on a stupid rock.
A shuffling of feet behind me draws my attention. There’s one more person still left. Patricia, Balder’s secret love. She was waiting to see my fate.
Perhaps she was expecting I’d be picked, but hoping I wouldn’t. Patricia shoves back the lock of red hair falling out of her bun and smiles victoriously at me like she knows she’s going to be picked and that once again, she found a way to win.
Which makes me realize that I’d been so busy being upset about my match with Balder, I hadn’t thought about how she must feel knowing I was matched to the man she’s in love with. Still, she agreed to continue meeting with Balder even after Balder and I married. I can’t feel sorry for her.
As she walks to the pool’s surface, the Paladins begin speaking quietly among each other with concerned expressions. I should head back to my seat, but my eyes catch Rune’s. There’s a flicker of a dare in them, an imperceptible gleam as if urging me to challenge the Magic’s decision.
Patricia picks up her stone. I hold my breath. Hers remains black like mine. She lets out a long sigh and tosses her stone into the basket. She turns to leave but pauses when she sees that I’m still here. A frown pulls on her features.
“You’re supposed to put your rock in the basket,” she whispers harshly, like I’m an idiot.
“I know.” But I can’t seem to accept this fate I’ve been offered.
She rolls her eyes, clearly still angry with me like I had a choice in being matched with Balder.
Proctor clears his throat. “Are there no others to pick from the Stones?”
A murmur rushes through the crowd.
“The Seeing Stones are waiting.” Prophetess’ eyes bore into mine like she can read my mind.
Swallowing my fear, I lift my stone into the air and shake it as if daring the Magic to choose me. It’s a bit silly and overly dramatic. Something Rune might do, actually. But I want this. I want to make a difference in Eden.
Cracks of light splinter across the stone’s surface. Then a warm glow seeps into my fingers, threading through my skin. My heart pounds like I sprinted up the mountain. A gasp ripples through the crowd. My stone glows morning blue.
I’ve been selected.