The First Trial

**The First Trial**, known as the **Trial of Courage**, is the first of four Trials to choose the new Emperor of the Martial Empire.

## Description

The First Trial is about overcoming personal fear. The participants, known as Aspirants, must face what they fear most. Elias Veturius fears war, therefore, he is sent to the Great Wastes where he encounters the haunting vision of his future. Helene Aquilla fears heights, so she is sent to a high-altitude vulture's nest. Marcus and Zacharias Farrar fear water and tight spaces respectively.

Elias comes across the first person he killed, a Barbarian boy no older than thirteen. He forces Elias to follow him onto the battlefield where the bodies of everyone he has killed or will kill are. He sees people he knows, including Demetrius Galerius, Leander Vissan, Ennis, Quin Veturius, and Laia. Every time he reaches the end of the battlefield, the ground lurches and the battlefield stretches out ahead of him again. In total there are five hundred thirty-nine bodies. The boy Elias killed tells him that until he conquers his fear, the dead will remain with him.

Helene was left in the mountains in a spire vulture's nest. Spire vultures are massive birds with five-inch talons and wingspans that clear twenty feet. They are notoriously bloodthirsty. Their nests are above the clouds, atop the most unassailable peaks. As Helene fears heights, this would be torturous for her. When she woke up the mother was gone and the hatchlings were just breaking through their shells. She jumped over the side of the nest and landed on a ledge ten feet down. The Augurs also forced her to hallucinate seeing Marcus. It is hinted at that Marcus was raping her repeatedly. Helene is visibly traumatized by the event and Elias is furious at the Augurs.

On their way back to Blackcliff, they are attacked by Marcus and Zak. Somehow the brothers knew where they would be. As Elias chases after them, he hears Marcus telling Zak that the Commandant told them to finish them off. Helene was severely injured by Marcus. Elias ends up carrying her back to Blackcliff. They make it to the belltower seconds before sunset. Elias demands that the Augurs heal Helene because she was only injured by Marcus because Marcus was cheating. When Cain tries to say that that is impossible, Quin Veturius asks if he is certain the Commandant didn't know where Elias was. Cain reluctantly admits that Keris "walks dark paths and the darkness cloaks her, riding her from" the Augurs' sight. Cain decides that if Marcus and Zak did cheat, then the Augurs will heal her, but if they didn't Helene will have to heal without their help.

The next morning, Zak approaches Elias and Cain at the hospital. Zak tells Cain that he should heal Helene. He says, "I'm not saying we cheated. I'm saying you should heal her." Zak then lets Cain read part of his mind. Cain agrees that the Augurs must heal Helene.

The Trial ends at sunset on the seventh day at the belltower of Blackcliff Academy. The winner was Marcus Farrar, and he was awarded a dagger.

## References

1. ↑ *An Ember In The Ashes*: pages 152-153
2. ↑ *An Ember In The Ashes*: page 181
3. ↑ *An Ember In The Ashes*: pages 187-189