Evora, daughter of Antimony

In the foliage lay still the chattering birds and the animals below. Evora, tired yet still optimistic, was still miffed at the occurrence the previous day involving the beast and Elsinor's clear trust issues, though as she had nowhere else to go and she was, begrudgingly, fond of Elsinor, she stayed in the tree. Elsinor was quiet, like always, but the type of quiet that meant they were always practicing their shadows so Evora couldn't see them. Evora herself wove baskets from magicked vines, the sun above basking her in fresh light.

"Elsinor," said she, "you should come out from the shadows. There are no beasts or anything, and sunlight has been proven to be beneficial for health. I've made you a basket if you'd like."

Elsinor, voice distant as though they disappeared to another tree, called back immediately in response. "No, I would not like to partake in your silly, childish fare. Nor would I like any basket of yours!" Elsinor paused for a moment. "No, what I meant was I do not want your basket...no, that's not what I meant to say, dammit."

"Elsinor, stop being rude and be kind for once."

They appeared from the shadows, situating themselves on the branch beside Evora, which held a rigid mat for stability. They looked flustered, annoyed at themselves for some reason. "I'm not being rude, Evora," they said calmly, "I would've taken one but my mouth wouldn't form the right words. I swear that's the truth, which is quite peculiar. You know I wouldn't do that on purpose, not now after I've clearly saved your life anyway."

"I don't believe you," said Evora, but as she said that her eyes widened and her hands clasped against her mouth. "I meant that." But she didn't, and she had wanted to say she didn't mean it, but as she spoke her mouth too had become jumbled. Peculiar things were occurring indeed.

"But, you always believe me, Evora—or, at least, you pretend to...come on, where did the Liriman tree-hugging spirit of forgiveness go? You're always so quick to forgive and forget, it's so easy! I mean, you're really nice unless you're trying to take advantage of me and I've been the fool this entire time, which I'm clearly not since I've been...wait, I can't say that. What the hell?"

"Elsinor! You can tell me if you don't want to be my ally anymore, I'll even ask you straight up! Do you want to be my partner or not?" Evora emphasized her last sentence, biting her lip at the end as she felt herself broil with deeply-found anger.

Elsinor seemed torn, visibly grimacing as though trying to hold back an answer that was trying to come out. He sputtered, "I-I don't...know? I don't know. I mean, what about you? Do you want to be mine?"

"Yes, I suppose." The answer came quickly and swiftly and without grimace. It didn't even seem like Evora thought of her answer beforehand, though she inwardly cursed herself as the sudden response. She no longer thought it was her own doing that she spoke so freely or truthfully, but she wished she would have let her answer simmer for a moment to seem more like tactic than neediness.

"You...do? As in, why do you even want to ally with me? I abandoned you, after all. There's a difference between life and trust, you know."

She had barely let him finish speaking before out of her mouth tumbled, "Because you're different. And I've always seen different to be nice, since different means strange but different also means you can be understood by those who are different too. And besides, though I can't say I'd ever leave a partner behind, you've certainly made a case where I must adapt and learn to the personality and ideas of another person. You're quite a mystery, which is nice."

Elsinor and Evora sat in silence for several moments, contemplating their conversation and what precisely was happening. Evora herself did not entirely mind the fact she was so open. She indeed tried to be, as life was too short to not see light in the shadows, yet still her own answers surprised her in a pleasing way. Elsinor, simply by their demeanor, seemed to be more uncomfortable with such openness. They were the shadows, and here Evora was bringing light and constant optimism in. Their answers proved to them that they were getting far too sentimental, or so Evora slyly thought. How sweet, thought she, that it was to be her and him, opposites, who would be an unstoppable team?

"I've been nothing but skeptical—as the world should, I believe, be viewed in such a way—of your motives, Evora. This honesty business is not something I'm fond of, I shall say that now. I think it would be best, though, if we part soon. I will do nothing but endanger you and as you've clearly seen I now hold," he coughed a bit at that, "sentiments towards someone, which I vowed not to do as life is too short to let optimism ruin realism. Why do you stay with such a person like me? I've done nothing but betray your trust, which you would never do, I know that now."

"You think of me as though I am purely the light, and you think of yourself as purely the dark. The truth is, Elsinor, we're neither of either, we're a mix. I stay because, well, you certainly haven't done anything another person back home would not think to do, I suppose. It's life—to betray and then regain trust. You are not solely the shadow, you see. There's an infinite amount of things you can do to be kind and be mean. You saved me after leaving me, and therefore I know you do think I'm worth something of value. I stay because you are a fascinating, lovely, person. And I say that as truth." Evora tapped her yew branch on the mat below her, giving rise to a vine that twisted into a bracelet. "Here. It's yours. I put in a dark vine and a light vine, so even when you leave you'll remember you aren't always the cunning, manipulative person you think you are."

"When? Who says I'm leaving? I must say I'm growing fonder of you by the day." The bracelet fit comfortably on Elsinor's wrist. Evora smiled up at the sunlight, and Elsinor moved their mat too, Evora connecting it to hers, so that they too could bathe in the sun.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Althia, daughter of Galena

I was going mad.

The Guardians didn't seem to understand how emotionally fragile we all were after being attacked by giant horse hybrids, and yet, we were still being tested - this time, by the truth.

I walked through the woods carefully, following the broken trail of plants that would have been left by me or anyone else running from a crazed equestrian. Still, I started seeing familiar things, like the huge tree with moss hanging from its lower limbs, and the patch of ferny plants that I'd slept in that first night. My "camp" - if you could call a few leaves pulled over the meagre supplies I'd managed to grab in the volcano a camp - was only a few steps away.

When I got to it, though, a pair of mages were sitting there talking loudly, and I nearly screamed at the sight of the two - a Crarog who I thought was name Eria, and a girl from Aavayoh I knew to be Atlanta.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, clutching my necklace like it was my only defense - and it was. I wasn't a fighter, and I was in no place to fight the two of them.

"We're not here to hurt you," Atlanta began. "We just found this and thought we'd stop here."

I hadn't expected such a quick response, but I also didn't expect myself to answer at all when the Crarog asked, "Is this your camp?"

And yet, I said, "Yes," without hesitation.

"You didn't mean to say that, did you?" Atlanta asked, watching my reaction carefully.

"No." Again, the words felt like they'd been forced from my mouth. It wasn't a choice of mine to say them at all.

Eria smiled, an understanding smile. "Don't worry - it's been happening to us too. We think it's the Guardians - they're testing us by making us answer questions."

"Just answer questions. That's a bit odd. I'd think there was more to it."

"We've been experimenting, and I think. . ." Atlanta chewed on her lip for a second, giving a quick glance to Eria before speaking again. "We think you can't lie, either. That you have to tell the truth."

"Wow." I bit my own lip before saying, "I'm Elysia."

Or at least, I tried to. Instead, my voice cut off before I could say even the first word, and instead, I told the pair, "My name is Althia, daughter of Galena."

"I know," Eria said. "They've been narrowing down the tributes quickly, you know. I think there are only eleven of us left."

"Wow," I breathed.

We sat in silence, and I still held on to my necklace. Having other tributes around made me jumpy, and it was a long time before Atlanta relieved me by standing and saying, "Thank you for not killing us, Althia."

"I wouldn't have been able to even if I tried." I smiled, despite the burning sensation in my throat. The truth made me seem weak. "You two make a good team, it seems." And admirable of the enemy.

"Thank you."

With that, they left, and I was left alone with my thoughts, worried about what a pair from the southern countries thought of me, unable to do anything but talk to myself - and even then, I had to tell the truth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Branwen, daughter of Yrlissa

The fire flickered and danced before my eyes. Reds, oranges, and yellows were the more dominant of the colors but occasionally, blues and purples could be seen.

The trees had yelled at me when I started the fire, something about being flammable, but I didn't care. Not anymore. The wound from the unicorn was an angry looking yellow and red. Since it was incredibly painful, I decided to attempt to make a remedy—which required heating some water to make a tea.

As soon as I had completed the medicine, I stomped out the fire. Hopefully the remedy worked, as my side was becoming increasingly painful.

A canteen from my bag served as the cup. Tasting the bitter concoction for the first time mad e me gag. I spit out the first bit before swigging down the rest. I sputtered, attempting to remove the nasty taste from my mouth.

The sound of branches crackling behind me sent my heart into a gallop. I had no desire to deal with anyone or anything that happened across my path. I just wanted to be left alone. I just wanted to go home.

Without much movement, I reached into my cloak, pulling out my dagger and clutching my focus. Swinging around, I came face to face with a creature unlike anything I had ever seen before. The body of a gleaming brown horse could be seen—until the place where its head should be. Instead, the abdomen of a man was there, including a set of arms and a head. He was handsome, with strong cheekbones and brown arm and eyes to match the other half of him. "What are you?" came out of my mouth, instead of "Who are you?"

The being laughed, a deep baritone sound that echoed amongst the trees. "I'm a centaur, dear girl." The centaur smiled, as though he knew some great secret. "Who might you be?"

A human girl, was what I wanted to come out of my mouth. "Branwen, daughter of Yrlissa," was what the sounds made. I must be really tired.

"Are you going to attack me?" I held the knife in my hand, which was shaking like the volcano had shaken the island.

"No, I'm not. I'm just here to talk." As a show of good faith, he knelt down; something I imagined must have been very awkward for him. "Would it help if I told you my name to put you more at ease?"

I nodded.

"I'm Sharen, one of the guardians' most prized possessions. Are you frightened still?"

"Yes." Why couldn't I stop myself from speaking? "For all I know you might be a rabid bear in disguise."

Sharen laughed, a mischievous glint appearing in his eyes. "I can assure you I am not a rabid bear in disguise."

Why are you here? I know you said it was to talk but why?" I couldn't understand it, and with all the wackiness that was going on in the arena, I couldn't understand why this creature was being so kind.

"Because the trial of the heart has begun." What did that mean? My question was soon answered as the centaur continued speaking. "The guardians want to know what you are made of, that includes all the secrets that come with you."

I swallowed a lump that had formed in my throat. What did they want to know about me? Something I didn't already know myself? "Um, I'm not quite sure what you mean."

"Allow me to elaborate. When you were younger, you weren't the nicest person, were you?"

"No," I blurted before I could stop myself. "But I've changed. I'm a new person, a kind person."

"That may be true, but what brought about this change?"

"An incident." Oh no. Sweat began to form on my forehead. Not this, ask me about anything but this. I buried this deep inside me.

"An incident? Of what sort? As you can now see, everything you say is the truth. There is no use in fighting it."

"It was a fire," I said with a glare. That answered his question just fine. I silently prayed that he would be satisfied and leave. But in the back of my mind, I knew that wasn't going to happen.

"What was the significance of this fire?" The centaur leaned back, as though he was settling in.

I attempted to clamp my mouth shut with my hands, but to no avail. "I started it. But it was an accident. I was playing with a torch in my house."

The words came down in waves—I had no filter, no control over what I said. "I was only thirteen, and my best friend was with me. Jaylen and I were just playing, I never meant for it to go that far."

"So just a fire, that's your darkest secret?"

"No, it's not." Tears began forming in the corners of my eyes, despite the fact that I had made a promise to not cry again. "The fire started, and then Jaylen died." With that I became lost in my memory.

"Branwen, put that away! It's burning too fast now." Jaylen danced out of the way as I waved the stick through the air, the yellow flame glistening off her brown hair. We were in my dorm at the academy, having a sleepover before classes started the next day.

"Don't be such a worry wart, it's fine. Now we know what it's like to be a fire mage." But I put the stick back into the fire anyway. "Are you ready for bed?"

"Yes."

We tucked ourselves into a pile a blankets that littered the living room floor.

***

When I awoke, I was surprised at how warm it was. Lights danced on the walls. That was the part that caught my attention.

I sat up quickly, searching the room with wide eyes. Flames licked the ceiling and the walls, combusting everything it touched into a fury of fire. A spark must have landed on a rug."Jaylen, wake up!" I shook my friend furiously, she couldn't still be sleeping through this. I coughed as the smoke took its toll on my lungs.

"What is it?" She sat up, her mouth forming an 'o' at the sight before her. "We have to get out of here!"

The door was impossible to get to, as flames surrounded it without break, so we ran to the window. My dorm was three stories up and I didn't know how to create a blanket for our fall. Instead, I focused on the ivy that crawled up the side of the building. After what felt like ages, the plant was finally in place. I could see people screaming and running away from the building, a quick count revealed that everyone but us had made it out. The guilt lessened a bit then.

"Jaylen, come on!" I turned around to see she had moved away from the window for some unknown reason. "What are you doing?"

"I dropped my mother's locket! I have to find it!" Jaylen's mother had died when she was only five, and the locket was what she remembered her by. A beam crashed down in front of her, sending sparks into the air. She screamed and then coughed. "Help me find it!" She kneeled down, sifting through the singed and burning blankets.

I began to move toward her, only to be stopped as another beam came falling down. "Jaylen, come on, we have to go!" My vision blurred from the smoke and the heat.

"I can't leave yet. Please help me!"

I looked at Jaylen and then back at the window. "I can't get there." I could, but she couldn't blame me for not wanting to walk on the floor that looked ready to fall at any minute. "I'll meet you down on the ground. Hurry!"

I turned away as Jaylen threw her hands up in frustration. "Branwen, you are being selfish! I hate you!"

Her admission stung, and tears began to fall that weren't just from the fire. "Please come down."

"No, you go on without me! I have to find that locket."

I swung myself over the windowsill and crawled down my makeshift later. When I was about ten feet away from the building, the dorm collapsed, taking Jaylen with them.

I looked at the centaur, anger and desperation filling my face. Years of guilt and hating myself showed. "Jaylen died, because I was selfish. Because I was too afraid to do the right thing. She died because I'm a monster."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lucia of Argi

"How are you holding up, Luce?"

I roll my eyes at the dumb nickname, which no matter how much I protest, will not go away.

"I'm holding up just fine." What about you?

I keep staring out at the lake until I realize what just happened.

I look up in surprise, and clamp my hands over my mouth.

I did not just say that aloud.

"Um, Luce, did you just speak?"

"Of course, idiot, are you deaf?" despite my hands being plastered to my mouth and the fact that I'm biting my tongue so hard I'm surprised there isn't blood, the words still push their way through.

I try to convince myself via sign language that I didn't just break the vow I made at five, but my hands refuse to finish the signs. They just simply won't.

"Lucia? Are you alright? Why are you speaking?"

Once again, words begin to tumble out if my mouth without a care for my vow, "No, I'm not alright. I'm breaking my vow, that I made when I was five! On top of that, have no idea why the hell I'm speaking!"

I don't know what's going on, and I'm starting to freak out. It's as if I can't do anything about it. The word just shove their way out. I don't know what to do.

"It's going to be okay, Lucia. I know we can find out what's going on."

I bury my head into Dhruva's shoulder, and begin to cry. The tears come out fast and hot, leaving burning wet trails of shame running down my cheeks.

For once, Dhruva doesn't try to make a joke, or ask what's going on. Instead, he holds me close and comforts me without saying anything.

After some time, I run out of tears to cry, and I begin to worry less. Maybe everyone will understand that this was forced. Maybe it will be okay.

Dhruva? Do you know what's going on?

"No. I find this just as weird as you do."

Now it Dhruva's turn to be confused.

"How did I understand you? I've never been able to understand not than a word or two."

I unclamp my hands from my mouth and speak through gritted teeth, "I don't know. Maybe the same reason I'm forced to speak."

Let's just go back to the lake as fast as we can. Maybe then we can sit down and try to understand what's going on. I can't stand not knowing why I'm forced to speak the truth when no one left on this island, save Master Cyprus, can understand me without a charm.

We pick up the pace and enter the tree line, hoping that we won't get lost in the forest.

"Don't worry, Luce, you're not the only one who is forced to speak the truth. I think everyone is. Maybe that's why I'm able to understand you, and why you're forced to speak. I think I read about a charm like this somewhere,"

You? Reading? I'm just kidding. I don't doubt the fact that you read. So you think that this could be one of the Trials? Forcing us to speak the truth out loud?

"That is a possibility. Maybe they're trying to break apart faulty alliances. Turn everyone against each other. I can't think of any other reason besides that," Dhruva laughs, then puts an arm around my shoulder. "But I personally don't think that this truth charm thing could break up our alliance."

I don't think that they're just trying to break up alliances. I know that everyone one here has gotten their hands dirty. People have died, and some might not be able to live with the fact that they've killed other people here. Maybe forcing the to say their own thoughts aloud could case some to kill themselves.

Dhruva looks down at me with confusion, "There's a lot I don't know about you, Lucia. I never really thought that you would think that deep into this. Nothing against you, of course. "

Don't worry, I know.

Finally, we make it through the forest and sit down by the lake, unpacking out bags to get a bit more comfortable.

"So I don't really get this whole speaking versus not speaking thing that's going on," Dhruva dumps out the contents of our bag on the sand. "Do you only speak when asked a question?"

"I guess so." Well there you have it, I am only forced to speak when asked a direct question. Maybe the other Vasileios will understand that.

Dhruva looks out at the horizon, contemplating our situation. After a minute, he turns to me, a goofy grin in place of the contemplative expression.

"I hate to force you to speak against your will, but I have a question that you still haven't answered," he wiggles his eyebrows, sending a wave of half anticipation, and half dread coursing through my body. "Back on the volcano this morning, I asked you a question. Do you remember it?"

"Yes." Butterflies full my stomach. I know what's coming next, but I'm not sure if I dread it anymore.

"Have you thought about it?"

"Yes." He looks at the setting sun, every bit as beautiful as it was last night. This time, however, nothing is trying to kill us.

"Have you fallen for me?" He looks back up, his eyes no longer full of that playful joker look. Instead, they're hopeful, but they still retain the same gleam.

"Yes," Besides a small breeze rustling the leaves on the trees behind us, everything has fallen silent.

He grins and runs a hand through my hair before gently pulling me closer to him. I look up at him and smile, then meet his lips with mine.

When we both pull away, Dhruva is grinning like an idiot, making me laugh.

I put on a fake serious face and scold him.

Just because I've fallen head over heels for you doesn't mean I'm not mad that you made me speak.

"Okay, to be honest- quite literally- that wasn't the most honorable thing I've done, but hey, you've gotta admit the end result was something we both wanted." He wiggles his eyebrows again, and I drop the act.

Whatever.

He pulls me close, and we kiss again, savoring the one shard of peace we will have, knowing full well that this is most definitely the calm before the storm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alegria of Eerie

At most times I could sense if others were indeed telling the truth from the lies. It almost always isn't on purpose, but I learn that I can use it to my advantage sometimes. Also, it's my power that picks up the sudden quickness of somebody's pulse and the existence of clutter in their minds. I couldn't do it even if I focus. My power is confusing that way.

There are currently two people under my tree right now. Women from the lands of Craorag and Aavayoh. I consider everyone as threats, but they don't look really terrifying as of the moment. Mostly they've been talking to themselves, looking unmindful of my presence above.

"If someone strong were to kill you, would you perhaps run and leave me behind, Atlanta?"

"I wouldn't. There's not a chance I'd leave a friend behind."

She is telling the truth. Her conscience looks pure.

I really am trying my hardest not to move from the branch, but then a squirrel suddenly scuffles along the length of it. At first it isn't disturbing me, but then it starts to reach for my nuts . . . And I must have thought how cliché the situation looks, because in the end it gets the food. I haven't even felt it come that near me.

And I couldn't help but try and get them back.

"There's someone above. I think I saw her from the ship — although I really am trying not to get near with the Vasileians." How very thoughtful of her to say that.

"Is that on purpose, Lady Aria?"

My heart skips a beat once again. Was that me just now? Speaking? Is this another Trial?

"I really do not expect you to speak, Lady Alegria." Atlanta's voice rises. And I try to position myself, but they really are not giving me looks with the intention of killing. I couldn't help but just let my guard down, little by little.

"Are you trying to fool me?" I really do not expect my voice to come out like that; I am not going to get used to it. My eyebrows rise at the two. "Are you trying to look innocent on purpose?

And as much as I don't expect my sudden ability to speak, I also do not want to say that out loud. Is this the Trial of the Mouth? What in Morgana's name is going on?

"We don't actually wish to kill someone right now."

"Yes," Aria agrees with her ally. "We aren't here to inflict pain."

"May I ask why do you speak so formally?"

"May we ask as humbly as we can, how you are speaking right now, Lady Alegria?"

The situation that's starting to unfold before me really is startling, and I am getting worried. "I don't know," I tell them, honestly. "I am kind of frightened about it. Right now."

"Should we leave?"

I look up. I didn't know I wasn't meeting their gazes until now. "Yes," I say after a second's hesitation. "Yes, I think you should."

Aria nods and gets up to leave, and Atlanta isn't really far behind when she whispers, "Are you going to kill us?"

I'm not surprised with my answer.

She does not stop after I say so. She continues to walk after the retreating figure of her ally, looking as if nothing has happened.

And then I slump back to my branch.

The squirrel is still there. Using my every energy I distort its small brain and everything connected to it, and it slumps to me too. My food is still here, after all.

Yes, I will, I told her. If you come again I think I wouldn't hesitate.

Now leave.