Chapter 75: Aliah's Quest

ALIAH

'Wake up.'

Aliah grunted. She had only just gone to sleep, why would she want to wake up now?

More shaking and a more insistent, 'Wake up, Aliah.'

Slowly she opened her eyes and Emer's face came into view. Sitting up, Aliah's gaze focused on the cup of steaming caffe the other girl had in her hand, and the change of clothes she laid out on the end of the bed.

'You may not eat before the trial, but many prefer to have some caffe before they enter the cave. Also, I brought you some leather trousers and waistcoat. In the caves you will need something a bit more sturdy than the fabric your clothes are made of. I will wait outside while you change.'

When she had gone to bed last night, Aliah had been strangely calm. She expected the nerves to come this morning though, especially with the possibility she might actually die during the trial. But the strange sense of peace and rightness from the previous night was still with her.