The King's finger pauses on the motion. Silence punctuates the atmosphere, a disbelieving hush that can only express collective shock.

“I’m a Seer,” I repeat. “I get visions of the future and occasionally the past.”

“That’s impossible.” Someone from the surrounding crowd announces in a furious tone. I recognize the speaker as Chief Olicen'ts wife, Lady Olicent, a woman my mother has had a long-standing contention with for years.

Their conflict began when my mother made her a dress and the woman refused to pay for it because she claimed it was not sown in the exact pattern that it was supposed to be. My mother begrudgingly agreed to redo the entire dress for her, with more material but eventually, the woman paid a percentage of the initial price.

"If you don't want to take it," she said smugly at my mother's furious face. "Then you can keep the dress and pay me for the material. Then, I guess you end up with nothing."

That was when it was clear that it wasn't about the dress in the first place. Lady Olicent had done that and wasted my mother's time merely out of spite.

But Mother had to swallow her anger. It wouldn't do well for her, as a foreigner, to tangle with a powerful woman like that.

So after Lady Olicent's victorious departure, she took her anger out on me instead.

“The Muzungu is lying," Lady Olicent says sharply and a chorus of people agree with her in the crowd.

"I’m not lying."

"The Muzungu is mocking us," another declares angrily. "She’s making a farce of this procession. She must be punished for it."

"Let me punish her, your highness." That one is from Chief Bertrand, eyes glinting with rage and sadistic anticipation, and my blood runs cold. For a second, I flush with wrath at the thoughts I can see swimming in his head, the ones I will die rather than subject myself to.

One day, I decide then and there. I will make Chief Bertrand pay for what he almost did to me, and what he's done to countless others like me.

But today, I must control my temper and subdue my feelings.

“I’m not lying,” I speak a little louder to be heard above the din. “I'm a Seer. My abilities were triggered after I went into the Dark Forest.”

I turn to Caster who looks like he's been punched in the stomach. Genya is standing next to him with a similarly puzzled-pained expression and I can tell this is one of the few times her expression is genuine. A frowning Brute stands beside her, but I refocus my attention on Caster.

“About two weeks ago, the prince and I met at a spot close to the Black Shore ravine. He was breaking off our relationship, as he was to be betrothed to someone else. At the time, I was devastated and ran away but as you know the ravine is quite close to the Dark Forest and so I ended up running in coincidentally." I stop for merely a second to catch my breath. While it's clear that I have everyone's attention now, I don't know how long that will last, so I need to finish this up soon.

"As I ran, I hit a tree branch and fell. That was when the first vision came."

“What was this vision?” The King asks.

"It was of the tournament,” I say. “And the fight I would have with the Mountain. Except in my vision, I lost that fight. Nevertheless, I was able to use what I saw to predict his every move. That was how I defeated him."

“So you cheated," says Lady Olicent, sounding smug. “I thought as much."

“Is it cheating to use a unique skill you acquired?" I face her. "I didn’t cheat any more than the other competitor who controlled water with magic. Did the Mountain cheat by being larger and stronger than the average human? After all, that is also another skill that gives him an unfair advantage." I turn back to the King. "I didn't cheat, your highness. I simply used what I had at my disposal."

The King doesn't answer one way or another. His expression is not particularly encouraging and his eyes still hold that familiar distaste it always has whenever I speak. Nevertheless, I continue, "Since then, I’ve had more visions, and seen things I believe could make me an ideal candidate to serve the North.”

I glance at Caster again. “The prince himself can verify all these details. He can also tell you that I was markedly different after I came out of the Dark Forest."

The King clearly doesn't like my referral to my relationship with his son, but he still turns to Caster for confirmation. "Castellan."

Caster stiffens at his father's regard, his eyes leaving me to address his father. "Your Highness."

"Is what this...girl said true?"

He nods.

The king scowls. “She truly is a seer?”

“That I do not know, your highness,” Caster says. “But I can verify she did run into the Dark Forest and she came out markedly different.”

“Could that not be from simply losing her hold on you?”

Losing my hold? Like I enchanted him or something?

Then again, the King never understood my relationship with Caster. He likely suspected witchcraft was involved.

"I don't think so," Caster responds steadily. “She was calmer than before and far more sober. She even wished me well on my future with Genya." The last part has a bite in it that I don't expect.

I nod, seizing the opportunity that Caster has presented me. “It’s true. The visions.. they gave me a brand new perspective on everything that has happened and how inappropriate my behavior has been thus far. I should have known my place, should have known better than to hang on to Prince Caster like vermin and furthermore, believe myself betrothed to him. It's unforgivable that my foolishness almost cost the North such a great union." I stare at Caster now and force myself to smile warmly. "I had a vision, about Caster and Genya's child. They will make a son who will grow to be a fearsome warrior, wielding fire and will–"

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"Your majesty, this is ridiculous,” General Roku finally speaks up for the first time, sounding bored and annoyed. “This Muzungu is no seer. There has not been a seer in the North in years.”

The King holds his hand up and then he points at a member of the onlookers, beckoning him forward.

The small man strides up to me eagerly, believing he's been summoned to teach me a lesson, but as he snatches my arm a growl stops him in his tracks.

A growl from behind me.

My heart races. With everything, I almost forgot that Wolf was still here. His presence gives me the courage to continue, especially as the man who grabbed me instantly rears back like he's touched fire.

The King ignores what just happened and says, "Prove to me what you're saying is real girl."

“Proof?” I blink at King Drogo.

“Did you expect to deceive me with the pretty story and my foolish son's account?" he says. “No. Touch that man right now and read his future. Then I’ll believe you."

Rats.

I steel myself so as not to balk.

“Your Highness, with all due respect, that’s not how the visions work.”

"I have met only one Seer in my life. She could read one's future and past with a single touch. Are you telling me you can't do the same?"

"I told you she was a liar," Lady Olicent mumbles, to an agreeing chorus.

"No, your Highness," I say. "I believe my powers have not gotten that strong yet. But I can present one thing as proof." I speak quickly before he can tell the Soldier to drag me away. "One of my visions revealed that in about two weeks, the North will receive visitors from the Pangea.”

There is instant blowback, scoffing, and once more calling for my punishment.

"You speak of war girl?" Someone shouts above the rest. "In two weeks?"

"No, not war," I say. "A peaceful emissary will arrive from the North in two weeks."

"Blasphemy. The Pangeans never bring peace! My King, punish this liar instantly."

But the King doesn't speak. He doesn't scoff or express rage either.

In fact, the smug look has completely left his face.

Because I'm not telling him something he doesn't already know.

The King knows that what I'm saying is true.

Because he's the one who invited the Northerners.

The visit is a secret known only by the King and his trusted aides, fearing that any reveal would lead to panic or Accacians losing faith in their King. They would believe he's about to surrender to the powerful South in return for relief from the famine that plagues around this time of the year. Now, while I'm not sure what the King has offered to these Northerners to lure them here, or what he wants from them, I know that they will come.

And their presence will bring a turning point between North and South.

“I saw the delegation in the vision." I'm speaking directly to the King now, ignoring the loud sounds of the dissenters. "It was fifteen men and a young girl. The girl has bright red hair. One of the men is similar to her but has a darker, more scarlet shade."

“Enough,” the king says and all the noise ceases. But I don't flinch even though his tone is less than friendly. I can tell from his eyes that he's starting to believe me. He has no choice. No one in this room besides the King, not even Caster, knows this. There's no other way I could have had that information except that I saw it happen in the future.

And while it might be hard for the King to believe I'm a seer, it will be even harder for him to surmise that I traveled through time.

A Seer in the North is improbable.

But a time traveller in this universe is impossible.

“I have told you as I saw it,” I tell him. “If it doesn’t happen thus and no delegation arrives from the North in two weeks, then you'll know I've lied and I will gladly accept whatever punishment the King wants, including banishment."

“Adria!” Caster exclaims horrified. Banishment isn't something to take lightly in the North. It's not as easy as simply evicting me from the village. It involves a period of imprisonment first, in which I'm starved and tortured and beaten nearly every day. Then a week of atonement, where I'm dragged around the village with my shackled hands attached to a horse, so my wounded body can serve as a warning to everyone who even thinks of defying the King.

And then, I'm finally tossed into the stretch between Accacia and Rensblade, too weak and pained to fight the beasts or the elements that threaten me.

Banishment in the North is in actuality a death sentence.

“I am confident in everything I’ve said,” I say even though I'm less confident now that I said it. Because the thing is, I'm not as certain of the events of the future as I once was.

If this trial has already changed, what guarantee is it everything else will remain the same, that the Pangeans will, in fact, take the King's bait and come?

But I've all but confirmed that the King has invited them. They will come. They need to come for the next stage of my plan.

"Your Highness." I bow deeply like Jace did, as the King continues to muse. "I understand I have done a lot of things to earn your scorn and it can probably be mistaken as arrogance that I would even dare to stand before you now. But I'm here because I want to make up for my bad behavior and the unfortunate circumstances of my heritage by serving the North. I am also grateful for everything The Great North has done in taking in a Muzungu like me and my mother, giving us refuge after our Village was captured by the Pangeans. If not for that great kindness we would not be alive. Please allow me to repay you that Kindness." It's interesting how easy it is for the words to fall from my lips, especially since I don't mean any of it, and it's all directed toward for a man I absolutely loathe.

Then again, in preparation for my performance career, I studied theatre extensively. Right now, I am simply an actress playing a part.

“I am at your mercy.” For my final act, I bow even lower, low enough to display only the strictest deference.

I take a tiny peek at the throne, my eyes crawling over his prosthetic leg to glimpse his face. King Drogo still watches me undecided, so I bend my knee, bringing myself even lower. Seconds stretch into a minute without another sound uttered. My waist and knees are beginning to cramp but I maintain my position.

And still, the King remains undecided.

You old bastard, I curse him in my head. I've given you enough reason to approve. What more do you want?

After what feels like an eternity, the King finally speaks, "If what you have said is untrue, girl, you will be stripped and banished from the kingdom.”

“Father,” Caster protests but I straighten in enough time to watch the King glare him into silence.

I nod. "Yes, you're Highness."

And he finally, finally, waves his finger to the right.

Exhilaration swims through me.

I won. Again.

I don't hesitate and don't let the murmurs of dissent dim my satisfaction. I instantly give one more bow, "Thank you, your Highness" and then walk briskly to stand beside Jace. He gives me a fist bump, like the one he gave Savannah, and we both turn to watch Wolf's.

I avoid Caster's gaze entirely.

Wolf steps forward and once again, the room falls silent. Expectation hangs in the crowd. After fantastic speeches from Jace and me - if I dare speak so highly of myself - everyone waits to see what Wolf will say.

But he says nothing. He simply stands there, with that Wolf expression he always has, boredom with dashes of audacity.

The king clenches his teeth. And then waves to the right.

In less time than it takes to complete a full sentence, Wolf is through.

And just like that, we're going to the third trial.

But even with Wolf being the last in line, it's not over yet. I don't have time to savor the victory because something unexpected happens. The King rises from his seat and stares down at us, his golden gaze searing through the crowd.

"All those who passed the trial remain in the courtyard." The King announces. "Everyone else, leave."