Chapter Four
The Testing turned out to be an interesting event in far too many ways. First was the ceremonial aspects; the fae did love pomp, especially when they had a reason for a show of display. Lord Northgate spared nothing on making this an exceptional event. Magic glittered everywhere, and the Lord of the Keep had hired the best fae chefs for the meals, featuring cuisine that Connor had never seen before. Liam said a lot of them were traditional dishes from the other keeps and even from the wild lands. Liam seemed touched by that gesture. He had missed the food of home.
The opening ceremonies turned out to be a trial, though. Connor and Liam, being Lord Northgate's wards, had the place of honor with him. They drew stares, both of them. Some were not happy with them, and he could see that in a few eyes. However, they both kept to their best behavior, even after they left the stand and moved out into the crowd. Liam stayed close to him, and Connor suspected it might be because no one could corner Liam when he was with someone else.
They'd had no idea who would come for the testing, and it turned out to be a larger group than he had thought. And there was one person in particular who drew even more attention than either him and Liam.
Her name was Antisha. He'd heard the name before, but it wasn't until the second time he saw her, with a group of other fae at her back, that he realized she was the daughter of the King and Queen of the fae. Princess Antisha -- though the fae didn't use that term often among the title much themselves except at the royal court itself. Although she had others who were apparently not just following her, but worked as guards as well, there seemed to be nothing too pretentious about the young woman. She was polite enough to Connor and Liam, though she kept her distance after the initial introduction.
"I should have expected her," Lord Northgate said later in the evening. He lifted his head in Antisha's direction, but Connor didn't have to look to see whom he meant. "I admit I have not paid much attention to the ages of offspring, even at the Royal Court. I hope she won't be trouble."
Lord Northgate's eyes started to flicker to Liam, but he caught himself in time.
"I don't intend to provoke her," Connor said. "And I suspect I'm the biggest potential problem here."
"Sometimes things are not in our control," Liam said.
Well, that sounded ominous enough that they both looked at him. Liam ducked his head and said no more.
The rest of the evening went well, though. People even stopped looking at the two of them. Everyone retired late.
The next day went reasonably well, despite the first part of the testing. When he was younger, Connor -- and many of his fae companions -- had imagined that coming of age meant doing anything they wanted with magic.
He hadn't imagined history tests. Geography. Mathematics. He did very well, though, and for a good reason. He'd spent too much of the last few years determined to be as good as the fae with whom he lived, at least in areas that he could master. He had no magic, but he did have a good brain, and he used it.
Rion gave the tests, of course. With magic involved, there was no way to cheat, of course. Connor had started the test in a panic. He had thought they all had when the papers first arrived. However, once he sat down at the desk and began to read through the questions, he calmed.
With quill in hand, he dipped into the ink and began to write. Elegant letters; this would be on record, and he would not put in anything crudely done. He might have been done faster if he hadn't taken so much time with the lettering, but even so, Connor thought he might be the first.
Rion gave him a nod of appreciation when he took up the paper. If someone didn't pass, they would have to wait for the next testing in ten years. For a fae, that really wasn't so long. For him ... the thought sent a cold chill through him.
Everything must have gone well, though. Rion dismissed them in the late afternoon. They straggled out of the Main Hall, all of them looking worn. Liam and Connor went straight, and he signaled Liam to come into his room if he wanted, too worn to even make a coherent invitation. He saw Erlis down the hall and waved him in as well.
"I am glad I never have to go through that again," Erlis said as he sprawled on the bed. "Gods of all creation, that was torture. I thought we were above such things!"
Liam gave a little laugh of agreement and sat in his favorite chair. Connor took the one by the desk. He still had a book sitting there on the history of the testing and shoved it away with distaste.
"Tomorrow is going to be worse," Erlis said with a moan.
Liam gave such an emphatic nod that both Connor and Erlis looked at him with open worry. He noticed the look and gave a little laugh.
"We'll all survive."
"Well, that's reassuring. Not promising, but reassuring," Connor said.
"Do we trust him to tell us the truth?" Erlis asked, one eyebrow raised.
Liam looked shocked at the idea, which set Connor laughing. He felt better for it.
"I didn't mind this test so much," he admitted and won a snort of amusement from Erlis. "And that means?"
"You love books. You spend more time reading than anyone except maybe Master Rion himself. Of course, this test didn't bother you."
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