Midori walked inside the Chamber, two days after Kalen's Ordeal, and swallowed hard. Her breathing quickened as the door closed leaving her in the dark, she forced herself to calm, slipping on her Yamani mask. She walked through the Chamber of Ordeal, her steps echoing, but found no threat. Yet.
Unexpectedly, a voice spoke to her cool and slick as ice, the Chamber's voice surrounded her. "Hmm…I have seen one like you before, a Queenscove and the same Yamani calm, yes, I have. The green-eyed healer and the Protector of the Small…yes you are very similar in composure—yet there seems to be trouble beneath that mask."
Midori stood silent as the Chamber's first vision came.
She felt the sting of the cold water before her mind did and as she swam desperately, panicking in the water, she felt her lungs tighten and the waters glassy surface grow dark as a large piece of ice covered it and froze there. Mind reeling, she looked around for another hole but couldn't find it. The surge of panic grew as she pushed, slamming her shoulders against another piece of ice, hoping to form a hole…
Suddenly she was on her knees, gasping, though her clothes were dry. She closed her eyes and calmed herself before she found herself faced with another vision.
Jarvis took her hand and smiled a sickly smile as he began kissing her, lips rough against her skin. "Come," he said in a husky voice and kissed her knuckles. He led her to a door and opened it to reveal a bedroom. Wrist clutched painfully tight in his hand, she tried to wrench away but Jarvis held firm.
"Why so reluctant Midori?" he asked, eyes sparkling.
He suddenly pulled her closer, so his face was inches from hers. "You're such a pretty girl." he crooned, his fingers tangling in her hair, lips kissing her collarbone and jawbone. Midori was helpless as he hurt her, tossing away her virginity against her will.
The next vision came as quickly as the last one ended. This time she was on the floor, fully clothed and sobbing as Kalen hit her again. "How could you betray me!" he yelled, as she cowered against the wall.
Midori couldn't answer, in the Chamber she wasn't permitted to speak.
Kalen turned to her again, face livid with rage that made Midori flinch even before the blow came, hard across her cheek. "How?" "I thought you loved me, not him…Damn it Midori, why can't you answer me?"
Midori just lay silent, sobbing and cowering against the wall, helpless and hurting as the bruises throbbed and the cuts stung.
Drowning. Rape. Abuse. A Broken Heart. What next?
Suddenly the vision faded and Midori was left in complete darkness. Midori couldn't hear much except her own ragged breathing, and it frightened her to feel deaf and to feel almost blind. She dare not speak for to speak in the Chamber meant suicide. Midori felt tears course down her cheeks, as the shadows seemed to swallow her whole. She backed away and felt nothing solid, like a wall or object against her hands.
It was almost as if she were alone. Completely alone.
And suddenly she heard the whoosh of an arrow and felt its fire as the arrow dug into her chest. Her breath hitched in her throat as she heard the sounds of battle nearby. She gasped as the pain flared in her chest with each ragged breath, a fire that seemed to scorch her alive. Her eyes rolled in her head and her gasping subsided to a hoarse rasp. The fire was even in her mind, its glow seen in the blackness beneath her lids. She felt a wetness on her head and almost immediately knew it was her own blood. Silence met her ears and she felt frightened that she was alone. Suddenly, like an answered prayer, the burning sensation halted and she felt herself lifted into arms, chilled breath tickled her skin and a voice called her to a comforting light up ahead.
Death.
Midori was awoken by the Chamber's voice, "He will meet you soon, and child of Queenscove, you'd must be ready!"
Owen helped her up and she stumbled out of the Chamber, pale, scared and in need of a blade. She gazed upon the crowd and met her father and mother's eyes. She gave them a shaky smile as they hugged her along with her friends whom she met later that night.
She had passed the Ordeal.
That night the court had a small banquet in honor of the knights. Midori noticed all her friends dressed in their fief colors as she was dressed in the forest greens and browns of Queenscove. It was a festive night and the food was plentiful as was the air of excitement around them. Midori joked and laughed with her friends but the fun was cut short as the king rose from his throne and addressed the crowd. "I'm sure our squires here tonight have all waited for this moment. The shields of these knights have been made with the help of Master Thomas of Pirates Swoop and with these shields comes a title that demands respect and though these squires have taken their Ordeals early, the horrors they saw and will see are no different…"
The king paused and nodded slowly to the small group of squires. Amyl walked to the dais kneeled to one knee and bowed her head and the king drew his sword, tapping her head and shoulders. "Rise Sir Lady Amyl of Hollyrose, lady knight of Tortall. Remember your vows to the Crown and honor them."
Amyl rose and nodded, walking toward Thayet who slipped one of the four shields on her arm. Turning to the crowd, they saw only the Tortallan shield but Amyl knew Thom had something else planned.
Sheba walked to the dais, face determined. The woman kneeled to one knee and bowed her head and the king tapped her head and shoulders. "Rise Sir Lady Sheba of Blue Harbor, lady knight of Tortall. Remember your vows to the Crown and honor them."
Thayet slipped a shield onto her arm and Sheba went to stand with Amyl.
Oriana did the same, as the other two as did Midori and the crowd was silent as Jon spoke again, "There was to be another squire knighted tonight, the fifth shield is his, but he did not pass the Chamber of Ordeal…"
Thom rose from his seat, nodding to the monarchs as they sat back on their thrones. "I have cloaked these shields in a spell, so their outcome and titles are only known by the king, queen and I. Once I remove the spell, that title is granted to the person who carries the shield." The mage stepped up to the group of squires and spoke a word of power.
Instantly Amyl's shield was no longer of the Tortallan, but of a dove flying on a light blue background. "The Dove. Symbolizes the person to be a peacekeeper."
Thom stepped up to Oriana and spoke a word of power again, and Oriana's shield changed to that of a tigress rampant with a black background. "The Tigress. Impulsive and outspoken."
Again Thom whispered the words of magic and Sheba's shield changed to that of a black raven with a light purple background. "The Raven. Solemn and secretive."
Thom turned to Midori and uncloaked her shield from the spell. Hers was a green outline of a shield against an ocean- blue background. "The Defender. One who'd give up their lives for any cause."
And the last shield he uncovered was a black hawk against a red background. Kalen's shield. "The Hawk. Swift and sure."
Later that night as she hung up her shield and sword and slept that night, she felt a sense of overflowing pride. Knighthood was finally hers.