Chapter 5:
(Zandar POV)
I looked around the breakfast table the next morning and it was clear that I had a target on my back. I was awarded a private audience with Hildegard, they weren't and clearly they weren't happy about it. Still I had to stay focused. I looked over at Hildegard and she was back to remaining neutral. She wasn't talking to anyone or even looking at anyone just looking in front of her focused on some distant point. As breakfast ended King Henrik stood up, "Today is the intelligence challenges we are down to 17 tributes by the end of the day at most we will have 12. All of you are strong, but that will only get you so far you need to be smart in your actions. You need to be able to think about what the best course of action is and how to best solve problems. This will not only help you as a Royal but in life and in your challenges are going to start in one hour." He stood up and we all did as well and I watched as Hildegard and her family left. She looked back right before she left, "Good luck." She glanced around the room and her eyes locked on mine for a second but moved quickly.
(Hildegard POV)
I didn't want to talk at breakfast. This whole Gauntlet was getting to me. It was terrifying that one of these men were going to be my future husband. Astrid bringing up the Gauntlet made me feel anxious and nervous and whenever I felt nervous or that I couldn't do something I retreated back into myself and put up my front. It was easier to pretend that I didn't care and keep a straight face rather than address any of this in real life. I didn't listen as my Dad talked to all of them about today's challenge but stayed focus on some point on the wall. I stood up and walked out with my family but I felt a sudden urge to turn back. I scanned the room, "Good luck." My eyes locked on Zandar's for a brief moment before I turned and left the room.
I walked down to my design room to hide out there while I waited for the challenge to begin. I heard a knock on the door, "If it is Astrid I don't want to talk right now." The door then opened, "It's not Astrid." I looked over at Axel, "What are you doing here oh dear brother-in-law of mine?" He rolled his eyes, "Come on Hildegard I have been married to your sister for years don't you think that you will finally start calling me Axel?" I brought my hand to my chin, "No, I'm afraid I cannot brother-in-law." He sat down next to me, "Alright, so what is bothering you?" "What are you tal-" I started but he held up his hand, "Save the denial speech. I have lived here for years and despite your best efforts I have learned a few things about you and I know that you completely shut down when you are trying to avoid something and act like this cold, reserved, perfect princess." I looked up at him, "I don't like that you know that about me." I spat. He clapped his hands together and leaned back, "I knew it. So what is bothering you?"
I let out a breath, "I don't know. This whole marriage thing has been freaking me out. I have no control in this situation, I am quite literally a prize to one of these competitors and besides Zandar I don't know any of them. They are either Crown Princes who need me so they can take the throne, nobility who are trying to raise their station or knights who are looking for honor for their kingdom. None of them actually want to court me and marry me, they want what a marriage to me can give them. It is pretty freaking terrifying having to marry a stranger." Axel nodded, "I can understand that. I can't relate to it but I can understand it. But this whole thing is designed so that you end up with the right person..." Axel started on the standard Gauntlet speech and I stopped him, "Stop. Everyone needs to stop with this whole magical, predetermined I am going to find the love of my life stuff. I don't believe in it and nothing you are going to say will change my mind." Axel nodded his head and thought for a moment, "Then what do you call Astrid and I?" I looked up at him, "The lucky ones." He shrugged, "Maybe you will be lucky too." I shook my head, "I have never been as lucky as Astrid and I am not raising my hopes now when the stakes are this high." He nodded his head, "Look I know I can't convince you otherwise but, I hope you know that I will look out for you and if you need someone to talk to I'm here." He stood up and started to walk away, "I think Zandar has a pretty good shot at winning." I let out a breath. "Thanks," he turned to face me, "Axel." He smiled, "You're welcome Hildy." "No, we are not there yet" I said. He nodded, "Yeah it felt wrong." We both laughed. He then turned to the clock, "It's time to head over to the challenges."
(Zandar POV)
I walked out with all the others to face the intelligence challenges. I was hoping that going to the School of Science and Alchemy might help but, I still wasn't sure. Their family came out again on the balcony and sat down on their thrones. I then saw their royal sorcerer come out and stand next to them. I looked around and noticed lines on the ground that hadn't been there before when we came out for the physical challenges. King Henrik then stood up to address all of us, "This challenge will involve a labyrinth. But there is a twist, there at every dead end there is a puzzle of some sorts, you can choose to solve the puzzle which will offer a faster path but will take time to solve or try and find the correct path that isn't blocked. Anyone who doesn't make it out in two hours or the last five tributes to come out will be eliminated from the competition. The rest of you will be granted a brief audience with Princess Hildegard throughout the day, the amount of time based upon the amount of time left after you finish the challenge. Best of luck to all of you." He turned toward the Royal Sorcerer, "Dmitri."
He nodded his head and raised his arm and wand I saw the lines have a blue glow soon the area in front of us were 4 entry ways for us to enter each a path that led out. Many of them quickly running into one of the pathways. I tried to think about the lines I saw before, the longest one was on the end closest to me but, it probably had the least roadblocks, the shortest pathway was the third but it probably had the most dead ends and puzzles. I decided to go into the second entry way it was only slightly longer than the third but it most likely had less dead ends. It also had the least amount of people go through so I would be less likely to run into the other tributes as I solved the puzzles.
I started going down the path and came across the first choice. I looked at the footprints and both paths had some going in each direction but the one on the right had some footprints going in the other direction. I went down the puzzle on the right or they were all trying to solve the one on the left either way it was better for me to get away from the other competitors. I decided to run down to the right one and reached the dead end. I looked at the stones and noticed that they each had a letter. I scanned over them and noticed that there wasn't any double. I touched the H stone and it started to glow blue. I then touched the A and they both turned red and went back to the stone before. I looked over the letters one more time before I knew what it was H-I-L-D-E-G-A-R-D it then opened. "Of course." I muttered to myself before running straight ahead.
I was able to skip over a couple of twist and turns and made my way closer to the end when I reached the next intersection. There were no footprints in the snow so I knew I was ahead of the others. Either way I went if I didn't commit to the choice I would lose the lead that I had. I went right and found myself at another dead end. I looked at the stones to see if there were any symbols or and writing or anything that could be helpful. I then looked at the cement in between the stones and noticed that in the corner of one of the walls it wasn't there but rather a blue substance. I then recognized it from when I was at the School of Science and Alchemy it was dissolvable when a Cissus Hypoglauca's water. I looked at the walls and saw this vine. I ripped off the vine and poured the water on the blue substance. It dissolved and the wall opened like a door.
I continued running and made my way to a final dead end. There was no other path or choice so I had to try and solve it quickly. I looked over everything knowing that my time was running out. I looked over the wall and noticed that there was a stone missing. I then looked over the stones that were there and noticed the lines. It was a sliding puzzle. I quickly maneuvered the pieces trying to make some image. I was moving the last piece when it began to glow and I realized it was the flag of Freezenburg. The wall slid away and I ran out. I then saw 6 of the other tributes had already made it out. I wasn't in the bottom 5 and I had made it out before the two hours. I took an exhausted breath and waited for the others to come out. Time was moving so quickly in the maze but now it moved slow as another 3 made it out of the maze. There were only two spots left and all of us were watching to see who would get those spots. The last grains of sand in the hourglass fell and the walls of the maze came down revealing where the other princes were. Some were stuck at the first dead end and others were close to the finish but now all 7 were eliminated leaving 10 of us left.
(Hildegard POV)
I was able to watch them navigate the maze from overhead and used my opera glasses to see when they were coming out. Zandar had me worried at first, he was the last one to enter but he thought quickly and was able to move toward the front of the pack. I also watched the other tribute Prince Edward went for the first dead end and was able to solve it which led to a straight path right toward the last dead end, he was the winner of the challenge and first to make it out. Next were a two knights who had worked together to make there way thorough avoiding the dead ends and working on the puzzle together. Then there was 2 more princes who made their way out and a lord. After the lord Zandar arrived. After him a third knight and 2 other members of nobility made it out. I looked over all of them and they were all smiling up at me, looking for some validation for making it out. I had never been known as the princess who granted praise so I kept my composure and straight face. Zandar looked up at me at one point still catching his breath and smiled. Not in the cocky way that the others were looking up at me but a warm genuine Zandar smile. You would think he'd one the entire thing rather than being in the bottom 4. I felt a smile tug at my lips but I quickly resisted. Dad sent off the other tributes and I looked over those who were left. The few princes I recognized from Royal Prep were gone. The rest of them were closer in age to Astrid than me, same with the lords and the knights. Zandar was the only one that I knew and the odds of him winning were 1 in 10. I wasn't sure if that made me feel better or worse but those were his odds.