The Rise of Fortune and Fury (Chronicles of the Stone Veil 5)

“Caiden is one of the instructors here at the Academy,” Titus explains. “And one of our most successful annihilators. If you’re going by kill count, that is.”

Caiden flashes a grin and shakes both our hands. “Glad to help. Most of the people here in Semper Terra are from the Earth realm, so we all have a vested interest in helping you defeat Kymaris.”

“You know Kymaris?” I ask him.

Caiden laughs. “Not personally, but I’ve taken down quite a few of her Dark Fae that she’s sent through the veil to cause havoc. Let’s just say I’ve got some good interrogation techniques and have managed to learn a lot about her over the centuries.”

“Centuries?” I exclaim. “How old are you?”

“Right around four hundred,” he replies, his eyes cutting to Carrick. “But not as old as you, demi-god.”

“And yet, I’m young by many Dark and Light Fae standards,” Carrick quips.

“Guess I’m the baby of the group,” I add, and then immediately blush as that was totally lame.

“You have the gauntlet set up?” Titus asks his friend.

“Sure do,” Caiden replies easily, throwing a thumb over his shoulder to where the jungle forest begins.

“Then I’m out of here,” Titus says, turning to me with a smile. He moves closer, then puts his hands on my shoulders. “Caiden will start you on the gauntlet. I’m going to go help Priya with your sister.”

I swallow hard, not really wanting Titus to go. He’s been the one who has taught me the most when it comes to my physical abilities and he just always inspires confidence in me.

“You’ve got this,” Titus assures me.

I don’t even get a chance to reply that I do indeed have this, because Titus flashes away, apparently bending distance to wherever Priya and Zora are.

“So what do you know about the gauntlet?” Caiden asks, slapping his hands together and rubbing them with anticipation in his expression.

“Just that it’s an obstacle course,” I reply, but the hesitation in my voice shows that I really don’t know much at all.

Caiden turns on his foot and starts heading toward the edge of the jungle line, talking over his shoulder as we follow. “The gauntlet is sort of like an obstacle course. It can be held in many different places, sometimes here on the island or sometimes in another realm. It’s got physical obstacles you have to overcome as well as foes that you’ll have to face off with. You may use any weapon or magical ability that you like. Past that, the only rule is to make it through alive.”

“Alive?” I exclaim, feeling a bit sick.

Caiden comes to a stop at what I can now see is a footpath into the thick bushes and trees. “The foes you are going to be pitted against are going to try to kill you. Titus said you’re ready for this.”

I glance over at Carrick. While I know, deep down, he’s got a bit of worry because my safety is going to be jeopardized and he won’t be able to help me, I mainly see confidence.

Sliding my gaze back to Caiden, I nod. “I’m ready.”

With a whoosh, a flaming sword appears out of thin air right into Caiden’s hand and he leaps at me to attack. Without thought, I dive to the ground, roll to the right several times to put distance between us, and come back up with my whip I’d conjured in my hand. I had left it back at Titus’ house as I was told to bring nothing with me.

I add some magical pizazz in the form of fire along the length of my whip and I throw an underhanded snap at Caiden, which causes him to jump back to avoid getting struck.

He grins and drops the sword, which disappears before hitting the ground, then thrusts his hand at me, a blue jet of light shooting out of his palm and straight at my face.

I go to my tried-and-true bubble shield, which I get up in plenty of time before his magic hits me, but this time I take control of the ricochet and drive the magic back on him.

He merely waves his hand in front of his face before the blue light strikes, and it disappears.

“You’ve got great instincts, and your mind works fast,” Caiden praises. “I think you’ll do just fine.”

Turning, I face Carrick. He steps into me, puts a hand behind my neck, and pulls me in for a quick one-handed hug and a swift kiss on top of my head. “You got this, Finley.”

I tip my head back. “You sure?”

“The surest,” he says with a nod. “Trust your instincts. Remember your abilities are only limited by your imagination. And—”

“—and if I die, you’ll wait for me to come back,” I finish for him.

Carrick laughs. “That was not what I was going to say. I was going to say if you get into real trouble, scream your ass off and I’ll come running.”