My first meeting with Tyne York was in my first life, after Genya burned my arm for the King. The burn wasn't too bad and had not gone past the first layer of skin, but it hurt like hell. I was holding the scorched arm, hurrying through the hallways toward a healer, when I heard snickering behind my back.

Glancing back, I saw that the servants who had been cleaning the hallways at the time were now staring at me. They didn't even try to hide their disdain, didn't try to conceal the fact they had been blatantly laughing at me.

I should have been used to it by now. The snickering whenever I walked, had been happening ever since I moved into Black Castle and it wasn’t like I didn’t understand why. I was a Muzungu who was also the mistress of the crown prince. Neither of those things afforded me any respect, even from the servants. On the contrary, it gave them many things to snicker about.

Still, I refused to let myself quell before them. Ignoring the pain in my forearm, I straightened my spine and spoke in my coldest voice. “Is something funny?"

The leader of them all, the head-maid stepped forward and said, “Was there something you needed, lady?”

I stiffened even more. “My lady.” I corrected.

“Sorry. My mistake.” She said it in an exaggerated Kabanni accent that had heat crawling up my face. Anger had my tongue so tangled that I couldn't even find a proper retort to spit back.

All I knew was that at that moment, I hated Black Castle, hated everyone and everything there. I hated the fact that I was at the mercy of even the lowest in castes, and there was nothing I could do about it.

But as the women burst into another bout of laughter, I feebly tried to regain some respectability.

“The Prince pointed out that the common areas had been retaining their layer of dust as of late," I said coldly. "I told him that he was exaggerating but it seemed to be because the maids have nothing better to do than stand around and giggle."

That got the smiles to finally fall from their faces. Good. Any mention of their precious Prince's displeasure and they were ready to keel over.

“You should watch that,” I said but before I could leave, the head maid replied, "And you should watch your mouth."

I pivoted. "What does that mean?"

She stepped forward, leaning in to whisper, "My lady, as head maid it is my duty to serve you and ensure that everything that goes on and off of your table is...edible. Do you understand what that means? Every morsel you consume in this palace is under my control."

I gaped at her. The threat couldn't have been any more blatant if she tried.

“Head maid."

We both jerked and turned then to find a tall slender man with dark hair and a mustache sporting a stripe of grey walking toward us. He was dressed in in a purple tunic, with a puffed surcoat, and ong jacket that fell over his pleated hose. I noticed that one of his hands was misshapen, twisted outward, but I tried not to show any reaction of disgust to it. I hated that people judged me for something outside of my control. I would be no better judging him.

As he strode to us, the headmaid took a step back from me, bowing her head with a deference half of which she would never give me. "Sire."

“Tell me that I didn't just hear you threatening a guest of his Royal Highness, the Crown Prince himself, after she rightfully corrected you for wasting your time on petty games instead of accomplishing your duty. Surely that didn't just happen, headmaid, especially considering your long and esteemed servitude to the royal family."

The maid immediately ducked her face. "I apologize to death sire. I should be punished.”

"You should,” he said and then he turned his head to me. “My lady. What would you suggest?

It took me a second to register that he was talking to me and slightly longer to understand he was asking me to decide what punishment the maids was going to receive.

They visibly stiffened when they realized that the rod was now in my hand.

They knew I could have them flogged if I wanted. I probably could not banish them but I could have them mutilated, imprisoned, or made to carry nothing but waste for weeks.

For a moment, I reveled in that power.

But ultimately, I said, “I'll forgive them just this once. But this is going to be my last warning. Understood?”

“Yes, my lady." All three women said one after the other, bowing. “Thank you for your mercy.”

I nodded firmly and the man flitted his unmarred hand elegantly to the left. “Leave," he told the maids and they scurried off.

“Thank you," I told him.

“My pleasure,” he said. “Everything in this house is devoted to serving the royal family and their wants. You are someone the Prince obviously cares a great deal about and as such we are dedicated to taking care of you.”

"I don’t think everyone agrees with you but it’s nice that you say that. “ I smiled at the man, glad to have camaraderie with at least one person here. “I’m Adria.”

"I know."

Of course. He had a watchful gaze. He seemed like a man who knew a whole lot. "You know who I am but unfortunately I can’t say the same for you."

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“I am Tyne York,” he said and bowed with an almost theatrical flair. “Personal advisor to the King."

“Oh.” I held out my hand. "You don't have to do that." The bowing was unnecessary especially since his standing was much higher than mine.

"Oh but I do," he responded. "I more than anyone else know how much you mean to the Prince. You're his most precious guest, so I must show you the utmost respect."

I blushed and recalled the scene that just happened. To be honest, I was starting to doubt how precious I was to Caster. He couldn't care that much about me if he allowed Genya to do what she did.

Then again, I doubted he could stop a punishment ordered by the King. If he tried, it would only provoke King Drogo to doll out harsher sanctions.

But why didn't he at least come after me to make sure I was okay?

Probably to show the King that he doesn't care about me. He'd once told me that he would need to pretend a lot while we were at Black Castle. "If the King knows how much I love you," he'd said. "He would never let me have you."

It had sounded so beautifully tragic at the time.

But now I was wondering if that wasn't just an excuse.

I turn my mind back to Tyne York who was still bowing in front of me....

"Yes, but you don't have to be so..." I swished my hands in the air, unable to find the exact word but fail. "It's okay. We both know what my place here is."

Tyne straightened and raised an eyebrow like he was almost amused. "Your place?"

"Yes," I swallowed and avoided his eyes as I admitted. "I am merely the Prince's mistress, his concubine. I'm no one important."

The amused look fell off his face. "I've been the King's advisor for several years, and my father was his advisor for years before that. As such, may I offer you one piece of advice?"

I nodded. I was eager to hear whatever the kind stranger had to say.

"I believe that the prince cares about you and loves you deeply. But you should make it easier for him to show it."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"You need to think of ways to better reflect him, like his betrothed does."

Defensively, I responded, "How? I can’t change my heritage."

"It’s not about your heritage," he said. “It’s about your poise and refinement. You appear far too common and that’s going to affect how not only the King sees you, but how the nobles and Chiefs do as well. And your presence as it is, will reflect poorly on Prince Caster. He cannot help but notice this and it makes loving you difficult."

I bit my lip, nodding as I swallowed the bitter pill.

"I know." I hung my head in shame. He was right. I didn’t have good breeding, or education, or really anything but my looks to offer Caster. Unlike Genya who was intelligent and talented and savvy at just about everything.

"I can teach you," Tyne said and it distracted me from my morose thoughts.

"Teach me?"

"Yes," he said. "It will take time but with a few lessons, I'm sure I can turn you into a true partner for His Highness."

In retrospect, I can hear the manipulation now. Tyne knew way too much about me, down to the deepest desires of my heart. He knew that, while I didn't necessarily want to be queen, I wanted to be the woman that Caster would be proud of, the one he would look at and discuss politics with, and the one that he would invite to dinner with his father.

He knew I wanted to belong, to matter.

And he used that desire to mold me into the perfect pawn.

I didn’t realize what was actually happening until it was far far too late.

It’s crazy how a few kind words can completely destroy a soul.

***

Tyne doesn't wait for us to digest the announcement. As we're looking at each other in confusion, he continues, “This trial is going to be unlike anything we’ve done before so forget everything you think you know and simply pay attention. First, the third trial is actually going to be split into three stages, and you all will be split into several teams. Only the top three teams advance to become elite soldiers. The others are eliminated."

"And you want us to pick teams right now?" Jace sounds panicked with a mouthful of bread.

"No," Tyne says simply. "The teams have already been selected."

We look amongst ourselves, before Brute demands sharply, "How?"

“Good question Brute. But next time, you will address me with a raised hand before you ask the question."

Brute face turns red but he says nothing, glaring at Tyne's back as he turns away, summarily dismissing him.

“The teams are selected by me. We have arranged them as we saw fit, and the names are already up on the bulletin board right in the castle halls. Before you go and check your teams, I must tell you that the first of the three stages is going to be held immediately. You will be retrieving a Black Shrewk."

"A Black Shrewk?" Savannah asks.

“Yes," he says. “They’re birds known for their earsplitting cry, but they’re also used for several medicines and elixirs. These elixirs fortify our healing potions so they work faster and better. A black Shrewk is a very magical bird, but it has not been sighted for many years. A few of our scouts however have heard that there are Shrewks in the Dark Forest."

There's a second of horrified silence where even I'm stunned.

He can't possibly be implying what I think he is...right?

"You want us to go into the Dark Forest?" The words murmur out of me before I can stop it.

Tyne turns to me. When his eyes meet mine, I almost expect a split second of instant recognition. But nothing. "I'm told you've already made a trip, so this should be easy for you."

I gape at him. I wondered why the King allowed so many of us to progress to the next stage, but never in a million years did I think this would be the reason.

Is the King insane? Does he not realize that people don't come out of the Dark Forest alive or sane?

King Drogo can be cruel, but never without a purpose. So why on earth would he subject us to this, even his son? Caster looks just as blindsided as the rest of us.

Tyne ignores our shock and keeps talking.

“According to our best predictions, there are three separate sections of the dark forest. The first section, the outermost, is the safest and it stretches about twenty yards into the forest. The second section is where you have to worry. That's where the illusions begin. The forest twists around itself like a maze and you can get lost, and see things that are not there. Still, it should be relatively safe, as long as you avoid eating or drinking anything you see. And ensure that you can still see the sky and your teammates. Then you'll know you haven't gotten too far in." He analyzes us. "The Shrewk has occasionally been spotted in the second section. That's where you grab it from. Don't go deeper than that and don't risk going even an inch into the third section, or you will never come out. Remember, don't lose sight of the sky and your teammates. Those should be your guide. Any questions?"

Nothing but silence greets him. I suppose we're all still in shock from what everything just said.

Tyne nods. "Good. Now here's the reward. The first team to return gets 3 points, the second team 2 points and the other teams get no points. At the end of all three stages of the third trial, the points are added up, and the top two teams advance into the Elite Soldier Academy. Understood?"

"Yes sir," we murmur dazedly.

"Good. You sure there are no questions?"

Once again, we're all silent. What kind of question does one even ask when you've just been handed a death sentence?

Tyne nods briskly gesturing with his unmarred arm to the door. "That's all. You may go now and check your teams.

Everyone gets up at the same time, eager to go and check who we're going to be dying with. I'm on the heel of most of the crowd, but I somehow manage to make it to the front of the the bulletin board. I scan the paper desperately.

When I see it, my heart sinks.

A bad situation is made even worse.

I see Wolf's name before I see mine.

And mine is on the other side of the page.

Wolf and I are not on the same team.

I'm not on a team with Caster either.

I am, however, on a team with Brute.