We woke early, before the sun started to warm the waters. I took one look at Starla’s pale face and knew that neither of us had slept much, though at least my head didn’t feel like a hunk of coral anymore. I doubted that Dane had done much better.

Beazil, on the other hand, was still snoring.

At least, he was until he heard the sound of an oyster being pried open with my handy knife.

Starla let out a tiny scream when the immobile shark on the other side of the tent suddenly sprang to life, darting to my bed. He nosed Starla aside for first dibs on breakfast.

“Don’t be such a bottom feeder, Beazil!”

He wrinkled his snub-nose at me as I gave Starla the first oyster. She looked worried until I made Beazil apologize. He sank down and nuzzled her side until she giggled.

We ate quickly, finishing the oysters. I saved two for Dane but couldn’t find him when we ventured outside. I tucked them into my net bag and buried them under my cot again, hurrying back to meet Starla in front of our tent. We looked around as Mers started swimming toward the arena.

Today, we would not be going inside. This was what I had been awaiting for years. Today was the opening race. It was not just a test of speed, but of dangerous obstacles, and sometimes even combat. That’s why I had my weapons strapped to my body, along with wearing the armor Dane had given me. Even Starla had a dagger at her waist.

A large Mer swam past us with an enormous battle axe in each hand. I swallowed nervously. Juno.

He ignored us, thank Triton. But the two Mers that flanked him did not, the girl wearing the spikes and another Mer I didn’t expect to see.

The one who had smiled at me.

He caught my eye, smiled again, and winked. The girl with the spikes sneered at me like I was flotsam. A few other unpleasant-looking Mers followed them. I wondered what that meant. If they were working together . . . that would be especially deadly in the battle trial.

For some reason, that made me more nervous than Juno and his battle axes.

Starla shot me a worried glance.

“Don’t worry. We’ll start as far from them as we can. I’ll shoot ahead and you hang back.”

“Okay.”

She looked worried, and I couldn’t blame her. I was suddenly less concerned with winning and more concerned with making sure neither one of us got squashed. I did need to at least place, though, or I wouldn’t progress.

This was the fight of my life. I needed to succeed, not just survive. Starla could opt out by not finishing. In fact, it was likely that half of the entrants would do that. And in her case, it was not cowardice to do so.

I felt myself getting angry. They should make entry optional. For people like me, eager to make their mark on the world. Not on little girls who were barely of age, not to mention small for their age!

“You shouldn’t even swim. Just find a place to hide near the start. It won’t be a long race.”

“You mean because you know you will win?”

I chuckled. I did expect to win, or at least come close, barring disaster. But that was just today. The rest of the contests would be just as hard for me, if not harder.

“Tri. I need to speak to you.”

Dane seemed to come out of nowhere. He pulled me to the side of the stream of contestants. Starla followed, hovering nearby.

I felt my cheeks warm up a bit from his familiar touch. He was so sure of himself. His hand was warm and large on my arm.

“Hi.”

He ran his hand through his hair nervously.

“Hi.”

“I saved you some oysters, but they’re back in the tent.”

“Never mind that. They changed the rules.”

“What?”

“Everyone has to finish.”

“WHAT?”

He glanced over my shoulder at Starla.

“They don’t want people dropping out.  So no one is getting out by hanging back today. Everyone who finishes goes to the second trial.”

“And if you don’t finish?”

“Fifty lashes. Unless you are injured.”

“Or dead.”

He nodded slowly.

“Fifty lashes would kill her, Dane.”

“Listen to me. She is not your responsibility.”

“I’m not leaving her to the wolves!”

He smiled, but it looked pained.

“I had a feeling you might say that. I can look after her.”

“Don’t you want to win?”

“Yes. But it doesn’t matter to me the same way.”

I rubbed my forehead.

“Tri. You have to stay ahead of them. You are a target. She isn’t.”

“Me? I’m not remotely threatening.”

“You look more competent than you know. Not to mention your familiar.”

“This isn’t a familiar contest. We don’t even know if there will be one.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ve heard them talking about you.”

“Who?”

“Everybody.”

“What if I win and then I come back?”

He shook his head.

“That’s crazy. And I’m pretty sure it isn’t allowed.”

“Well then, it’s settled. I’m sticking with you.”

“Your life’s dream is to be a Spark. You have to try. I’ve got her, I swear to you.”

“Maybe I can tow her.”

“That is definitely against the rules.”

I crossed my arms,  glaring at him.

“Well, who made you the official word on that? Are you a Royal or something?”

He made a choking sound, swiftly shaking his head ‘no.’

“I want you to win.”

We turned to see Starla floating just behind us. She had heard what we were saying. Triton help us.

“Look, you have to finish. It sounds like it could be a blood bath. Dane is big. He can handle himself. I’m fast. What about you?” I asked.

She shrugged.

“I’m sneaky.”

I laughed.

“Good, but that might not be enough.”

A horn blew in the distance. The race would be starting soon. I cursed and we all started swimming with the dregs of the crowd. I watched Dane carefully, wondering whether to trust him.

In my gut, I knew I could. It was an unfamiliar feeling, truth be told. I knew he would protect Starla. We found a place in the back of the crowd and waited. None of this was going to plan. This event was mine to lose, and here I was already at a disadvantage.

“If we get separated, just stay safe and get to the finish line. That goes for you too.”

I stared hard at Dane. He nodded and Starla gave me a ‘thumbs up’ sign. I shook my head. This had disaster written all over it.

“You are mad! I should tow you both the entire way.”

Dane folded his arms over his chest, bringing into focus just how strong and muscular he was. I swallowed, looking away. I did not need to be thinking about how handsome he was right now. I should just be relieved that someone more physically powerful than me was an ally.

Focus, Tri!

The horn sounded again and everyone tensed. Then it rang out, loud and long. The race was on.

Silt swirled up in all directions as a thousand young Mers shot forward. I held back, swimming forward without leaving my friends behind. Dane glared at me and grabbed Starla, veering to the left. I was knocked backward by a passing Mer as I turned to look for them.

But they were gone.

I knew Dane had veered off deliberately so I could try and win the race. I knew it. And after looking for them for several minutes, I realized it was futile. So I did the only thing I could.

I swam.

I took off at top speed, brushing past Mers of every size and shape. I saw a few minor altercations as I darted through the thickest part of the crowd. I wove through the throng, ceaselessly pressing forward. Then I was out in front and swimming in nearly open waters.

Of course, I had started late from the back of the crowd, so I was still behind the fastest swimmers.

I smiled to myself as I let myself really fly.

Not for long.

I passed the girl with the spikes and surprisingly, the smallish boy with the third eye. I swam past a few other fast-swimming Mers before the crowd thinned out to nothing.

I was alone. It was blissful to just let myself go all out, even with the worries in the back of my mind. I couldn’t forget that I’d left behind my friends. And I could not forget the dangers ahead.

Plus, I was pretty certain there had to be at least a few Mers ahead of me still to beat.

I  was proven right a few minutes later. I saw a Mer just ahead as I rounded a corner. I was shocked to see the Mer who had smiled at me there. He was a large male, and they usually didn’t swim as fast as the less bulky Mers. He really was a remarkable specimen. He gave me a startled look as I passed him, and I heard him shout something.

Come to think of it, it sounded a lot like he said, “Look out!”

I passed another Mer a few minutes later. The front-runner. He was a very tall but slender male. His face was sharp, with a needle nose and pointed chin. He sneered at me, his short, dark blue hair almost black. I kept my distance, well out of reach of his arms as he reached for me. But it didn’t stop him from throwing something at me. I felt it glance off my side with a grimace. I kept swimming, ignoring the pain in my flank.

And then I was truly alone. I could feel it in my bones. I was ahead of the pack. Ahead of everyone and anyone. There were spectators along the route, but they were silent, their eyes wide as they watched me swim past.

The ocean felt so big in that moment. So vast. So empty.

I looked up and saw it just in time to swerve out of the way.

The first obstacle.

A fine mesh net was blocking the way. It shone dully in the light. Metal. The most brutal sort of net to get caught in. It looked sharp, like it could cut you to shreds. I swam up, figuring it wouldn’t reach the surface. That was a mistake.

I wondered what Mers had dared to swim high enough to set the net. It was forbidden. Unless you were a Royal, of course. Then, literally nothing was.

Except putting yourself in harm’s way. For a Royal, that was the ultimate sin. They were here to rule, not get themselves killed.

Swimming to the surface was dangerous. Everyone knew that. Then again, so were the Trials.

I saw the surface sparkling pale blue above me. I was nearly there. The net somehow seemed to extend beyond the surface. I saw where it broke the constantly shifting waves above. The metal net glimmered starkly in the bright sunlight.

I realized abruptly what I would have to do. With a burst of speed, I swam straight up and out of the water. The air hit my skin, chilling me instantly. I arched my body, flying up and over the net. I felt my back fin drag against the very edge of it and cried out in pain. But then I was over it, plunging back into the sea and back into the race.

I heard a Mer scream far below and behind me, piercing and shrill. I glanced back to see the dark-haired Mer clutching his arm. Dark red billowed out into the water.

He hadn’t seen the net.

I wanted to wait and warn Dane and Starla, but I was winning and I didn’t know how far behind they were. I saw Juno and the spike-covered Mer swimming forward, led by the handsome Mer whose name I did not yet know.

They wouldn’t miss the net. They’d find a way around it, and fast. If Juno was that fast, there was no way I would be able to fight him off.

My lead was rapidly diminishing. I figured it had taken me almost an hour to swim to the surface and down again. For all I knew, there was an easier way around or under the net.

I have to go now.

I turned and flipped my tail hard. I was in pain, and tired, but I was still fast. I dug deep and swam as if my life depended on it. But I kept my eyes open. I knew there were more obstacles to come.