The Headmaster’s words rolled through Tristan’s mind over the next few days. It wasn't what the Headmaster said that was bothering him, it was what he had not said. If Tristan was a potential threat to the kingdom then why were they allowing him to live. Would it not be easier just to kill him and be done with it. The thoughts weren't comforting to him.

He’d told Jayce about the meeting and he wished he could tell Luna as well but she was still not talking to him. He did look for her but she left the castle each day before classes and then again straight after their last lesson. He’d asked some of the girls if they knew where Luna went and the stories varied from, she's sneaking out to meet a guy, to that she had joined a nunnery.

Tristan spent his afternoons training in swordsmanship with Wraithen One-Arm and the evenings he spent alone working on his spellcraft. After dinner each night he took scraps of meat back to his dorm room, he summoned the blue flame and cooked the meat for Buzzbeak. One night while feeding the stormcrow a memory came back to him.

“Jayce, do you remember the testing fountain?” he asked.

Jayce looked up from the comic book he was reading. “Of course, hoa,” he said. “Why?”

“What magic did the fountain reveal?” Tristan asked.

Jayce put down his book. “The Masters put some leaves in the water,” he said. “The leaves sank to the bottom. They thought I had changed the leaf into steel but when they inspected them the leaves were normal.”

“So gravity type magic?” asked Tristan.

Jayce shrugged. “I don't know what the trigger is, so doesn't mean much,” he said.

Tristan processed that information for a few moments. “It didn't matter what magic you had if you didn't know how to cast the spell.

During his interview the Masters told him that he had regeneration and lightning magic, that was before he’d blown the place up. He wondered if it was a coincidence that the serpent king had regeneration magic and he’d been shocked enough times by Buzzbeak to know that the bird could use lightning magic.

***

The following day the students went down to breakfast and found a notice pinned to the board in the Great Hall.

A group of students were gathered around talking feverishly.

“What’s happening?” Tristan asked.

“Our first squad exercise,” said Jayce. “And it's a dungeon delve.”

A broad smile spread across Tristan’s face. Finally he had an opportunity to prove himself.

“Where’s Luna?” he asked.

Jayce shrugged. “I saw her a few minutes ago, she said something about heading into town.”

Tristan left the Great Hall and stepped out into the cold morning air. He didn't know what was worse, the possibility that she was seeing another guy or that she had forsaken men all together and joined a nunnery. He knew she’d be mad if she caught him following her but she was already mad at him so he figured what's the difference.

He felt a strange resistance as he passed through the invisible dome. The dome had never done that before. But as Tristan looked

down the hill he saw the slim figure of Luna and he forgot all about the dome and its strange behavior. Tristan pulled the hood up on his cloak and followed.

All the way down the hill and into town he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being followed. He looked over his shoulder but each time he did no one was there.

Luna passed into a back alley and Tristan waited a few moments before following. As he rounded the corner he was stopped by a group of farmers who were arguing about something and blocking the path.

“Tis strange I tell ya,” said an old man. “Never seen something like it before. It just landed on this here spot. I swear.”

The old man pointed at an empty patch of dirt.

Tristan tried to push his way through but the crowd seemed to be buffeting him back each time.

“It's still morning Milford and you're already drunk,” said a elderly woman.

“I swears it was real. I can prove it too.” The old man held up a black feather and feverishly waved it in front of the doubting crowd.

“How’d we know you ain’t painted a gulls feather with squid ink,” said the woman.

Tristan tried to squeeze past but hands grasped his cloak holding him back.

“What,” shouted the old man. “It was black I tell you and it's feet, they were hooked claws. Claws that could tear a man's arm off.” The man bared his hands at the crowd in a clawlike pose and the crowd began to laugh.

Tristan finally fed up, pushed his way through the crowd to the sounds of protest and by elderly woman. He reached the end of the alley and the path split in two. Luna was gone. He couldn't shake the feeling that the crowd had intentionally held him back. On his way back to the castle he overheard two City Watch talking about soldiers they knew that had been killed in their own homes. Tristan felt eyes on him once again. He looked around and saw the silhouette of a bird flying overhead.

He didn't dare mention the trip to Jayce or to Luna in case they got the wrong idea. Honestly, Tristan didn't know what the right idea was. He’d followed a girl he liked into town for reasons he didn't fully understand. He tried to tell himself that he was just making sure she was not in danger but if he was being honest with himself, he was jealous. She had a secret life and she was hiding it from him.

***

A few days later the students assembled in front of the entrance to the catacombs for their first squad exercise. A buzz of nervous excitement filled the air.

“We are doing something different today,” said Master Marrick. “You all have your weapons.”

The students nodded.

“This is your first ranked trial,” he said. “It’s time to show off everything you’ve learnt so far.”

He began handing out satchels. “One for each squad,” he said.

He reached Tristan’s squad. “Where’s your third member?” he asked.

“She’s running late,” said Tristan. “Forgot her sword.”

The Master nodded and handed him a satchel.

Tristan looked wide eyed at Jayce and mouthed, “Where is she?”

Jayce shrugged.

Luna had been acting strange and avoiding Tristan for the last week. She’d arrived late to class every morning looking like she’d just climbed out of bed. Whenever he tried to speak to her she stormed off muttering something about men and fools.

“We will be doing a dungeon delve,” said the Master. “I have scattered gems like this.” The Master held up an oval green gem the size of his thumb.

“Squads will enter through multiple entrances. You will be given three hours to navigate the maze, find the gems and return to the surface. One point will be awarded for each gem you find and one point will be deducted for every minute you are late.”

“Can we use magic?” asked Pyson Mews. The boy flicked a coin into the air and caught it then rolled the coin across his knuckles.

“The catacombs have become infested with ratkin,” said Master Marrick. “They are hostile and the king has declared them malevolent. Part of your job will be to exterminate them and clear out their nest. So yes, magic will be needed.”

“Are they dangerous?” Ambrose asked.

“For your current skill level Mr. Dominus,” said the Master. “Ratkin are considered a low level threat but for some they could pose quite a challenge. We expect at least one of you will not make it through the trial.”

The Master’s words sucked the bubbly excitement out of the room and replaced it with silent tension.

***

Squad after squad entered the catacombs but still Tristan and Jayce waited.

“Your group is the Misfits?” asked Master Marrick.

Tristan nodded.

“Still waiting for your third?”

Tristan nodded again.

“You can enter without her but she will be punished for missing a compulsory trial.”

“We’ll wait for her,” said Tristan.

“That's admirable,” said the Master. “Or foolish.”

***

The Misfits continued to wait. Jayce went through his warm up routine with his quarterstaff and Tristan sat against the wall and polished his sword. Tristan hated waiting and with each passing minute he grew more and more frustrated.

Just when Tristan thought he couldn't wait another moment, he heard footsteps echoing down the steps and Luna appeared at the base of the stairs.

“I'm so sorry,” she said.

Her eyes were red from tears or anger, Tristan wasn't sure.

“Where have you been?” he asked.

Luna shook her head. “Something happened to Faye Marple,” she said.

“Is that the girl that eats so much?” asked Jayce.

Luna nodded. “Some girls locked her in her closet before breakfast.”

“Why?” Jayce asked.

“What do you think,” said Luna . “Faye eats all day and doesn't put on any weight.”

“I never thought about that,” said Jayce. “Is she ok?”

“When I went back to my dorm to fetch my sword,” said Luna. “I heard screaming. The screams… they weren't human. Fayve gnawed through the door to escape.”

“Are you ok?” asked Tristan. “Did you get hurt?”

Luna smiled weakly. “A few bruises,” she said. “I tried to help Faye but she didn't know who I was. She was foaming from the mouth like a wild animal. Somehow the Headmaster knew what was happening, he appeared with Lady Kizamere. They managed to subdue her and they gave her a potion to put her to sleep.”

“Where is she now?” asked Tristan.

“I don't know,” said Luna. “The Headmaster seemed upset. He said something about Fayve being the third one this month and taking her to the other's in the Temple of Belladeon.”

Tristan and Jayce exchanged looks.

“This is bad, Luna,” said Tristan. “Magi going mad, people disappearing. I'm sure Malice is behind it all but—”

“There's not much we can do,” Luna interrupted.

“Exactly,” said Tristan. “I don't want to rush you but we need to get going or we’ll have no chance of winning this thing.” s

“What thing?” asked Luna.

“Our first squad trial,” said Tristan.

***

The three stood in front of an ancient door, took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the catacombs and stepped into the darkness. With each step they took they moved deeper into the darkness and the light drew further and further away.

“I don't like this,” whispered Luna. Her words echoed along a passageway that sounded like it branched off into a honeycomb of tunnels.

Tristan‘s mother had raised him on a steady supply of terrifying stories about all the things that would get him if he left his bed after lights out. To say he was scared of the dark was an understatement and the darkness in that tunnel was beyond black, it was a darkness that seemed to suck the light from the air.

Tristan struggled to control his breathing as panic began to rise in his stomach. Shoes scuffed on stone and someone bumped into him, but he remained motionless.

“Don't move,” he said. “We don't know where we are. We could be standing on the edge of a cliff for all we know.”

After a minute of straining his eyes he began to make out some details in the tunnel.

He saw someone short and hunched over trying to feel their way along the wall. It had to be Luna. He rubbed his eyes, trying to process the odd shapes he was seeing all along the walls.

“Don't touch the walls,” he said. The words came out louder than he had expected.

“I can sense danger down here,” said Jayce. “Stay on guard.”

Luna fumbled her way down the passage.

“What is it?” she asked in a trembling voice.

Tristan strained his eyes, not sure if he was really seeing things correctly. “The walls,” he whispered. “They look like they’re lined with dead men's bones.”

Luna flinched as her brain processed what she was touching. She jumped back from the wall and shouted out a string of curses as bones clattered to the floor around him.

“What is this place?” she screeched.

She frantically wiped her hands on her coat trying to wipe the grim images out of her mind.

“We will be ok,” said Tristan in his most reassuring voice. “We just need to find a light.”

“I sense danger close by,” said Jayce.

“Don't say that,” said Tristan. He felt something soft brush against him. “Luna!”

“Yes,” she said barely above a whisper.

He sighed heavily. “Don't sneak up on me,” he said. “Are you ok?

She said nothing.

“Are you nodding?” he asked. “I can't see it in the dark.”

Jayce laughed and Luna hit him on the arm.

“I'm ok,” she said louder this time.

“Can you cast a light spell?” Tristan asked.

“Sorry,” said Luna. “I'm not thinking straight right now.”

A few seconds passed and tiny golden lights began to swirl around Luna’s hands. The mage light gave the passageways an unsettling appearance and Luna’s face already pale, paled further. Luna pulled her lengthy black cloak close around her.

“Don't you have an incantation for the light?” asked Jayce.

Luna shook her head. “I haven’t had much time to practice. I've been busy lately.”

“We’ve noticed,” said Tristan. The sight of her once again stirred something inside of him. He had become so used to her presence that the short time that she had been apart from him had stirred something in him.

Luna ignored his comment and Tristan didn't bother bringing it up again.

“How long can you keep the light going?” Tristan asked.

“I don't know,” said Luna. “There must be a torch somewhere close by. Some squads don't have light spells. Master Marrick would have made provision for that.”

“What's in the satchel?” Jayce asked.

Tristan fumbled inside the bag. “It's empty,” he said. “Check around the door.”

A minute later Luna leaned down and after pushing back sevel tresses of her raven black hair she inspected a wooden box beneath a skull and thigh bone. She opened the box revealing a candle and a box of matches.

“Good job, Luna,” said Tristan.

She pushed the hair of her face and smiled up at him.

Tristan felt his face going red. “Um,” he stammered. “Let's stick with the candle for now and if it dies out we can use your magic as a last resort.”

***

Tristan held a candle in one hand and sword in the other as he led the group onwards. Luna followed behind him, constantly bumping into him and apologizing over and over. Jayce, looking grim, covered their backs.

The long passage twisted and turned and then began to descend. They traveled for some time and the path continued steadily down for most of the journey. The air grew hot and stifling and at times they felt currents of cooler air on their faces.

“What's that,” Tristan mumbled more to himself than to anyone in particular.

He squinted. There it was again. A flicker of light in one of the lower passages, there one moment and gone the next.

Tristan couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

He didn't know if it was his imagination but he thought he could hear footsteps close behind them.

Soon they all heard the footsteps. Sometimes the footsteps sounded far off and other times Tristan felt that if he reached out his hand into the darkness he would touch whoever it was that was stalking them. Something thin and sticky draped across Tristan’s face and he jerked in fright, almost dropping the candle. His nerves were shot, he jumped at every noise and every shadow that moved.

He held up the candle and the flame singed the spider webs that draped across the passageway.

Shrill laughter echoed in the distance.

“How many are there?” asked Jayce.

The laughter sounded far off but was soon picked up by voices much closer to us.

“Too many to fight,” Luna whispered.

“I don't like this,” hissed Jayce.

A low thumping sound like someone banging a pipe against the wall drew steadily nearer to them.

The rhythm rippled through their bodies making their knees weak and filling them with dread.

A skull smashed beside Tristan’s head. Bone fragments richocced around the room like mad pinballs. Luna caught his arm and pulled him aside into a doorway. Tristan felt her body pressed up against him. He could feel her warm breath against his neck.

Boots scraped on stone and Jayce appeared beside them breathing heavily.

“Move,” shouted Jayce. “They’re onto us.”

Tristan shot forward, the two running behind him.

Rocks bounced off walls and the sounds of whooping and laughter followed them.

The passageway branched in two directions, Tristan veered for the left tunnel but something exploded in front of him.

Jayce shoved him down the right passage. He tried to look behind but there was too much movement for him to see anything. The candle flickered angrily, shadows danced across the walls but still the sounds of their pursuers remained close behind.

They seemed to always be just out of the candle lights range. Rocks hurled at them from deep shadow continued to bounce off the walls around them. A small stone stung as it hit Tristan’s arm and ricocheted off the wall. He heard Jayce grunting in pain as a rock glanced off of his back and smashed against the wall beside us.

It felt like they were a sheep being herded by wolves. Tristan kept waiting for them to strike, to snap at them from all directions.

“Put out the light,” Jayce yelled.

Tristan snuffed the candle as he darted through a door with Luna and Jayce close behind.

Darkness surrounded them.

“Don't move,” Jayce whispered into Tristan’s ear.

Tristan strained his ears listening for any sign of their pursuers. They pressed against the wall trying to steady their breathing. Tristan heard the pounding of feet running past their room.

Then all was silent again.

Tristan didn't dare say a word.

His heart’s furious beating began to slow down.

Eventually Luna broke the silence. “Did we lose them?” she whispered.

“I think so,” said Tristan. He sighed a breath of relief.

A sliver of light reflected off something metal then disappeared again.

“Luna,” Tristan whispered.

He heard the scuff of boots on stone.

He shouted a warning, but it was too late. Something smashed into him from behind. His head collided with the ground. His vision blurred and pain shot down his neck and through his body.

A weight landed on him and pressed down on his chest suffocating him. He flung his sword wildly.

“Tristan,” Luna shouted. “Where are you?”

“You say a word and I'll cut you,” a non-human voice hissed and something sharp pressed against his neck.

The room burst into golden light and Luna stood in the center of the room with her sword raised high.

Tristan saw the squad of ratkin. They were half the height of an adult human but heavy set with long tails. They wielded bone clubs and spears made from sharpened human femur bones.

A wolf emerged from the shadows on the edge of the room. It began circling Luna, snapping at the ratkin that drew close to her.

Luna pointed her hand at Tristan and the wolf dived into a shadow and then appeared above his head, its jaws fastened around the ratkin that had him pinned down. The wolf dragged the creature into the shadows and both of them vanished.

“Put out the light,” hissed a ratkin. The creatures scrambled towards Luna, some on two legs other's on four and some mounted on the backs of giant rats.

Luna was in danger, the ratkin moved in on her, their spears all pressing in from all sides.

Jayce roared and flung two creatures off of him.

He spun around and knocked a giant rat and its rider against the wall and the sound of crushed bones echoed through the room.

Tristan crossed the room. “Ignis,” he yelled. Blue flames danced across his sword. He slashed in an arc in front to cleave a path to Luna but the blue flames fizzled and died before they even reached the ratkin. The sight of the flames seemed like it was enough though. The ratkin hissed as they retreated back into the shadows.

Moments passed and apart from the squad, breathing heavily, the room was empty once again.

“Everyone ok?” Luna asked.

“That was crazy,” said Jayce. “Let's not do that again.”

Tristan groaned in pain. “I think I broke something,” he said.

“What?” Luna asked as she quickly came over to him.

“Everything,” said Tristan.

Tristan searched the bodies of the dead ratkin. He searched every corner of the room but there was not a single gem to be found.

“Have you seen any gems at all?” he asked.

“Nothing,” said Jayce. “Do you think the other students already got them?”

Tristan shook his head. “I don't think others have come this way. This place seems to stretch on forever. We might walk all day and not see another student.”

“The catacombs are spread across the whole of Aressea,” said Luna. “They are the remains of the old city that Aressea was built upon.”

“How do you know that?” asked Tristan.

“I pay attention during history lessons,” said Luna.

“Fair enough,” said Tristan.

Jayce’s stomach groaned. “Does anyone have a spell for food or water?” he asked.

“That would solve my money problems,” said Tristan “Luna, was the wolf yours?”

She pushed sweaty hair out of her face and smiled. “I think it responded to my fear.”

Luna turned to Jayce. “I thought you were a pacifist? she asked. “I saw you splat that ratkin against the wall like it was a mosquito.”

Jayce laughed. “It’s non-human,” he said. “Besides I never said I couldn't defend myself, it's just attacking first that's the problem, that and edged weapons, those give me the heebie-jeebies.”

Tristan said nothing about his measly fire spell. He didn't understand what had happened. He’d never practiced making a larger flame, all he had ever done was cook meat for Buzzbeak but still he expected something bigger than a fireworks display.

They tried backtracking but it was clear that they were lost. Tristan shifted the candle as he looked around and the candle light fell along a nearby wall.

Luna involuntarily stepped back from a row of bones that the light had fallen on.

“Who do you think they are?” Luna asked.

Jayce kicked a thigh bone out of the way. “What if the bones belonged to past students who failed this trial?” he asked.

“I don't want to think about it,” Tristan said coolly. “I prefer to think of them as nameless ornaments some sick person used as decorations. When you know their names, then the horror of this place will really get to you.”

Jayce laughed.

“Too late for that,” said Luna. “I think I'm going to have nightmares about this for the rest of my life. It’s a pity I really used to enjoy sleep.”

They kept moving and eventually the wall of the passage disappeared and they could see a stone bridge in the distance that crossed a large cavern. Through the warm rays of the candle’s light Tristan caught glimpses of paths below them sloping up and some leading sharply down. They kept their ears open for ratkin but they heard no footsteps following and caught no signs of pursuers.

They reached the bridge and crossed it in tight formation. Jayce upfront, Tristan in the middle with his candle held high and Luna with her sword drawn, guarding their rear.

Jayce stopped in front of Tristan and they all came to a halt.

“Why are we stopping?” asked Tristan.

“What is it?” asked Luna.

“There's something on the other side,” said Jayce. “Bring the light.”

Tristan moved to the front of the group and held up the candle and winced as wax dripped on his hand. He shielded his eyes from the candle light and could faintly make out something shining in the chamber.

“It's a gem,” said Luna. “It's just sitting in the open.”

“A trap?” asked Jayce.

“Maybe,” said Tristan. “But they’re the reason we are here.”

“Do we go in even though we know it's a trap?” Luna asked.

Tristan hesitated for a moment as he took in the scene. The gem was deliberately placed on a rock in the center of a room. It had to be a trap.

“Porcupine formation,” said Tristan.

“What the hell is that, hoa?” asked Jayce.

Tristan laughed. “Stand back to back with our weapons out.”

Their feet sloshed through water and mud as the squad slowly inched their way into the chamber.

“It smells like death in here,” said Jayce

Tristan slipped in the mud and Luna quickly reached out and caught him.

“What is this stuff?” he asked as he kicked the muck off of his boots.

“I don't want to know,” said Jayce. “We shouldn’t be here, my senses are telling me that we are in danger.”

“That's why it's a trial,” said Tristan. “Without the danger it would just be a scavenger hunt.”

Jayce snorted.

Tristan could make out a faint purring sound and the occasional creaking noise like sticks being rubbed together.

“We’re not alone,” Tristan said, his voice barely audible.

He raised the candle and the light reflected off of water and the green gem that twinkled in the middle of the room.

The creaking grew louder but still nothing stirred.

Something dripped on Tristan's shoulder. He touched it and his hand came away sticky.

He looked up and his stomach lurched as hundreds of silvery eyes stared back at him.

“Above us,” Tristan shouted.

Sinuous legs creaked and jaws mashed as hissing spiders fell upon them on silver threads.

Jayce let out a shriek of pure terror and Luna released a string of curses that would make a sailor blush.

“Light now, Luna,” Tristan shouted.

“I'm trying,” she growled. “You do something.”

Tristan stood with his back to Jayces and together they stabbed and battered aside the descending spiders.

“We can't maneuver in this water,” Jayce shouted as a giant spider’s head crunched under his staff. “We need to get out.”

A pair of spiders scuttled across the ground at Tristan. He threw the candle at the first one then spun around and lunged his sword into the open mouth of the second one. His sword arm transformed before his eyes. Draconic scales rippled up his arm replacing flesh. A gaping mouth formed in the palm of his hand and teeth snapped and gripped the spider. The sword fell from his hand and the spider screeched as blue light shone out of Tristan’s palm. The spider’s exoskeleton cracked as it folded in on itself and was absorbed into the devouring mouth.

The second spider sunk its long fangs into Tristan's shoulder. He punched the spider in the face repeatedly but the spider wrapped its legs around Tristan and began to spin its web around him, pinning his arms to his side. Tristan’s fingers tingled, he looked down at his hands and lightning arced between his finger tips.

Electricity rippled through Tristan’s body and stunned the spider.

He ripped the spider off of his shoulder and blood ran down his side. He picked up his sword.

“Get out of the water,” he shouted.

Lightning arced up his sword as he plunged his blade into the water funneling the power through the sword. Yellow veins of electricity spread through the water like spider webs. The arachnids shrieked and as electricity ran through their bodies. Some were stunned and others slowed but a few still advanced on them. Tristan slashed the legs off of the nearest spider. He spun around slicing open its abdomen before running his sword through a spider descending from the roof.

Jayce shouted something Tristan didn't catch and the mohawked man leapt through the air higher than a person could possibly leap. He crashed down beside Tristan in a splash of mud, blood and water and brought his staff onto the ground with a resounding whack. What felt like a giant invisible hand crashed down on them. Spider legs snapped as they were forced into the ground, Tristan’s knees buckled and Luna shouted in pain.

Tristan reached up a hand and felt blood running from his ears. Somebody retching a short distance off.

“Ahh, what the hell was that,” Tristan shouted. Jayce looked at his hands in stunned disbelief.

“Was that me?” he asked.

“Sure as hell wasn't me,” Tristan moaned.

“Sorry,” said Jayce. “I just wanted to squish them all. I freaking hate spiders.”

“ Luna! Are you alive?” Tristan shouted.

A low moan answered him.