I tied up my hair and put on a scarlet cap that I'd got when I went to France. I was wearing a thin purple vest top and denim shorts for the hot summer's day. Or night. Montana was freezing in winter but boiling in summer. Lewis' hand was in mine, and we were heading towards the field, where the guardians had set up an arena for the trials. The novices in the year above us were doing their graduation trials which would help determine which Moroi they would guard in the upcoming year. The bleachers had been set up around the area to shelter the Moroi from the sun. Even though it was 7pm, the sun wouldn't go down until about 10pm. We climbed up and settled in a seat beside Jill. I licked a chocolate ice cream and watched carefully as the first novice took their place. This was going to be so exciting. As the fight began, I found myself analyzing what they were doing. There were a lot of techniques that I hadn't learnt yet. Rose had been training me these past couple of months and I think I'd finally mastered staking and dodging. My latest encounter with a Strigoi was not pleasant and, even though I'd succeeded in killing it, it had taken its toll on me. Especially as I had been seconds away from being responsible for the death of Adrian Ivashkov, former queen's great nephew. Lewis and I watched carefully as the person out there battled against the guardians playing as 'Strigoi'. She was quite good actually. There was one time when she was balancing on a log about three feet above the ground, though they'd been told to treat it as eleven, a distance that would kill them if they fell off. The 'Strigoi' she was against was Rose, and she was not easy to beat, as I well knew. Especially on a tiny log. The girl, whose name was Anna, struck out with one fist, and Rose deflected it, not realising that she'd gone for her shoulder with the other one. She stumbled backwards. Huh, I'd have to use that one some day. Rose holds the best trials ever, which would have been amazing to watch. I had a feeling that Abe had recorded it, so I would have to watch it some time. Anna used her advantage to knock Rose back a little bit more, and then she knocked her off. It wasn't going to get her a very good score, as she didn't 'kill' her, but at least she'd evaded being 'killed' herself. We watched some more people. One person slipped on the log and landed, straddling it with one leg either side. Ouch. He still managed to 'kill' Rose, which was a brilliant achievement considering his position. I looked at Rose, who caught my eye, and I could've sworn that, although she was wearing that typical I'm-a-guardian-I-have-no-emotions mask, she would've been doubled over with laughter if we were in practice. We watched a couple of people fail their trials, a few excel it, and many just pass. Alberta, head of the guardians, came out to announce the ending.

"Please can all novices and guardians come to the main hall now. Yes, that does include those who aren't graduating," she announced.

"I'll take that as our cue to go," I said, pulling Lewis up with me. We said our goodbyes to Jill, who was heading to her dorm room with another friend. Wandering to the hall, Lewis asked me, "Are you nervous?"

"About what?"

"The trials when we do them next year. They look really difficult."

"Well, yeah. But we'll learn so much more this year and then we'll be able to do it, right?"

"I figured you wouldn't be nervous, what with your molnija mark and everything."

"Just because I've killed a Strigoi doesn't mean I'm good at it. You didn't see me after then. I was a right state." A haunted look came over his eyes and I wondered what he was seeing. I didn't mean to make him upset, so I tried to change the subject. "That Ben guy was good though, wasn't he?"

"Was he the guy that fell on the log in the most awkward position ever?"

"Yeah, and he still managed to 'kill' Rose. I think he was amazing."

"Oh, dude, he was just funny!" He laughed and we entered the hall. Taking our seats, the new graduates line dup against the wall. There were about one hundred of them. This would be a long wait. I felt sorry for them, having to wait through all of that without moving or itching the back of their necks. I knew well how much the tattoos hurt even after they were on. There were a few gasps in the crowd as Ben's score was read out. He was definitely in the top ten trials of all time, and I was pleased for him. He deserved it. Eventually, the last person was tattooed, and they walked out towards whatever ceremonies were going on. I picked out Rose in the crowds and we walked over.

"You were great out there," I complimented her.

"I got beaten ten times!" she laughed.

"Isn't that a good thing? It means the new novices will be good."

"Yeah, I guess so. This is the guinea pig year, though. They only created the age decree last summer, so these guys had a lot to catch up with."

"I can imagine." I'd had to catch up five years, but with Rose as my teacher, I managed.

"Well, I've got to go. Alberta wants me for something. Probably cleaning." She pulled a face and jogged off, leaving me and Lewis alone in the now deserted hall. It was surprising how quickly it had gone down.