“Vote of confidence there, Tamara,” said Call.
“I just meant — well, it’s not like you have time.”
“When it’s love, you make the time,” said Jasper, gazing at them in a superior manner.
Tamara groaned. “And the rumors? Who started them?”
Jasper shook his head. “Still don’t know. Celia said she thought maybe one of the older kids.”
Tamara sucked in her breath. “Do you think it could have been Kimiya?” she said. “She was horrible to Aaron.”
“But why would she make up stuff like that?” Aaron said. “She knows me — a little a least.”
“I don’t think it was her,” said Call. “She acted like someone who was shocked that Aaron might not be who she thought. Not like someone who had already started a rumor about him.”
Jasper tossed a mushroom into the air and munched it. “It’s only been a week. I’ll find out more.”
“Great,” said Aaron. “We might actually get some answers if we survive the test today.”
Call had almost forgotten about the test. He groaned.
Master Rufus headed them off as they were leaving the Refectory. He had a sinister smile on his face and a big bag slung over his shoulder. “Come, apprentices. I think you’re going to like what we’ve got in store for you today.”
Call did not like it.
They were back in the enormous room where many of the tests took place, including fighting wyverns in their Iron Year. But this time it was on fire — okay, maybe not all of it, but a lot of it. Call felt heat encase him immediately, roasting his edges gently, like a marshmallow about to singe.
In the center of the room were leaping flames. They weren’t random, though. They were set out in a pattern. Lines of flame ran parallel to each other, leaving what looked like pathways between them. It reminded Call of pictures he’d seen of hedge mazes, people wandering around inside labyrinths made of trees and bushes. But this one was made of live flame.
“A fire maze,” Aaron said, staring. Tamara was staring, too, her eyes dancing with reflected flames. The fire rose and fell, scattering sparks. Call wondered if Tamara was thinking of her sister.
One of the Gold Year students, probably Master North’s apprentice, passed by and carefully handed Master Rufus three canteens from a pile she was carrying. Rufus nodded and turned back to his apprentices. “These are for you,” he said, indicating the canteens, each of which was carefully engraved with initials: AS. CH. TR. “Water is fire’s opposing element. These are filled with a small amount of water for you to draw on as you navigate the maze. Remember that you can use it all and charge through the walls or save your magic. I am not going to tell you which one is the wiser course. You are to use your own judgment.”
Call was pretty sure that Master Rufus was telling them which was preferable, even if he didn’t want to admit it.
“The only thing absolutely not allowed is flying up above the maze. That will result in immediate disqualification. Understood?” Master Rufus gave them each a stern look.
Call nodded. “Because it’s cheating?”
“And dangerous,” said Tamara. “Heat rises. The air above the maze will be scorching.”
“Quite right,” Master Rufus said. “One more thing: You will be going in individually.” He looked long and hard into each of their shocked faces. “Not as a group, but alone.”
“Wait, what?” Tamara said. “But we’re supposed to be protecting Call! We haven’t been letting him out of our sight.”
“We thought this was a team challenge,” Aaron put in. “What about the armbands?”
Master Rufus glanced toward some of the other Masters standing with their apprentices, readying them for the maze. Some of the older students were weaving between them, handing out canteens, answering questions. Assistants. Call saw the flash of gold and silver wristbands, caught sight of Alex and Kimiya. Kimiya looked over toward them and gave Tamara a small wave, but Tamara didn’t wave back. Her dark eyes were flinty.
“It is a team challenge — your scores will be averaged,” Master Rufus said. “This test is to demonstrate that it’s important for each and every one of you to take responsibility for the educations of the other apprentices in your group. And while it’s important for you to know how to function in a group, it’s also important to know how to function on your own.
“Don’t worry about Call,” Master Rufus added. “Worry about yourselves and your scores. Each one of you will enter from a different part of the maze. Your job is to make it to the center. The first person who gets there will win an entire day free of classes, to be spent in the Gallery with the rest of their team.”
Call felt a sudden spur of fierce desire to win. A whole day off, lying around in the hot pools, watching movies and eating candy with Tamara and Aaron. That would be amazing!
He also was grateful not to be looked after for the test. He appreciated what his friends were doing, but he wasn’t used to never being alone and it wore on him. This was a test, created and run by the Masters. That meant no one was safe. But, probably, he wasn’t in any more danger than the rest of them.
Master North’s voice came booming across the field of fire, amplified by air magic. He told them the rules again, emphasizing the no-flying part, and then began to read off their individual starting places. Call looked for his chalk mark: BY9.
“Good luck,” he told Aaron and Tamara, both of whom were clutching their canteens and looking at him worriedly. Call felt a surge of warmth, and not from the fire. Both his friends were about to enter a blazing labyrinth, and both of them were worried about him, not themselves.
“Be careful,” Aaron told him, clapping Call on the shoulder. His green eyes were reassuring.
“We can do this,” Tamara said, some of her old enthusiasm back. “We’ll be splashing around in the Gallery before you know it.”
She and Aaron took their places. Call heard Master North’s voice rising above the crackle and clamor of the flames. “Ready, set, and go, students!”
Apprentices darted forward. There were multiple pathways into the maze. Call followed his own track, leading him deep into the fire. It blazed up all around him. He could see the other students only as shadows through the licking orange and red fire.