There’s no time to ask what Wren meant by that, because Sam’s father clears this throat. He scans the crowd, taking in all the souls he’s responsible for. “Today is a particularly special Proving. Today, a new opportunity has opened up to represent Askala.”
Sam glances at her mother, but she keeps her gaze on the man she loves, her grip strangling Sam’s hand. Sam’s never liked surprises, and for some reason, this feels like an ambush. Her parents know what’s coming. And Sam doesn’t.
Her father pulls in a breath. “As many of you have noticed, the Newlands are being colonized. The virgin land that Mother Nature has revealed is filling with Outlanders.”
The people who ravaged the land they live on until it was a barren wasteland. But Sam’s not sure what that has to do with the Proving. With a new opportunity.
“As we all know, Askala has a dual responsibility. We don’t just care for one another; we care for the Earth we depend on. What we’ve built here is a testament to what can happen when we work for the benefit of all.”
Pride fills Sam’s chest. Askala is so much more than a beacon of hope. It’s proof that humans and Earth can thrive, that they can take part in the fragile dance of give and take. Building this has always been her father’s dream.
And now it’ll be hers.
“We believe that responsibility extends to the Newlands.” Her father’s voice gains strength. “This is our opportunity to expand the reach of Askala, for the light of healing to shine on new horizons.”
Several of the leaders around her nod. They knew this news was coming. What it’s going to mean.
“A team of Seekers will travel to the Newlands. They will settle there. Teach the Outlanders how we can live in harmony, just like we have here.”
The crowd stays silent, brows either raised high in shock, or lowered in thought. They’re aware the Newlands is an unknown entity. Rugged, wild, uncivilized. And there are Outlanders there who believe they’ve already laid claim to it…
Who in Sweet Terra would choose to do that?
Sam’s father looks at each of Askala’s leaders. “A Seeker must be smart, kind, but also tough enough to survive in this harsh, new land.” His gaze finally meets Sam’s. “The Seekers will be the ones who leave Askala, establish our society in the Newlands, and invite others to join us. Only the best of Askala will have this opportunity.”
Sam knows her father is trying to tell her something, but her mind is too full to understand what. A handful of words keep slamming through her.
Seekers.
Leave?
Only the best…
Her father turns to scan those who have passed each year’s Proving. “To become a Seeker, you must volunteer to take part in the next series of tests. A new Proving. A new honor to represent Askala.”
A murmur ripples through the leaders and her mother leans in close to whisper in her ear. “No one is expecting you to do this.”
Sam blinks, her mind blank for the first time in her life. Of course, people are expecting her to do this. She’s the daughter of Kian and Nova—it’s her responsibility to represent Askala in any way she can.
There are more tests.
But tests to find not just the kindest and smartest, but also the toughest as a new Askala is born.
Tests that will expand her father’s vision beyond their small slice of paradise.
Tests that Sam has never prepared for.
Tests that Sam isn’t sure she can pass.
MERCY
Relief slides through Mercy. She hates keeping secrets and this one was the worst of all. It was partly because she hadn’t known enough to be sure exactly what the secret was, but mostly because she’d been told enough to know it was huge.
Bigger than huge.
And now the secret’s out, the reality of a second Proving is spiraling through the ballroom like a tornado.
It’s no wonder her parents had come to see her last night and whispered that whatever was announced today she shouldn’t volunteer.
Now she knows why.
Because if she passes this second Proving, it would mean leaving her sheltered life in Askala. Leaving her parents. Her friends. Everything she’s ever known. None of that sounds in the least bit appealing.
But one glance at the excitement radiating from Hawk’s body and the determined set to Sam’s jaw has her questioning her first reaction. If she stays here, she won’t have to leave her friends…but what if they leave her?
Kian steps back from the stage and Mercy watches as her father takes his place. Her heart swells with the same familiar feeling of love she gets whenever she looks at him.
Her mom is hopping from foot to foot beside her, and Mercy knows she’s fighting the urge to take her hand and run. Mercy puts her palm on her back, and her mom pauses her jiggling to turn her dark eyes on Mercy.
“It’s okay, Mom,” Mercy whispers, tucking her long black hair behind her ears, only to have it slide free almost immediately. “I won’t do it.”
Her mom smiles at her and they both turn back to Mercy’s father, who’s holding his hand up for the crowd to settle.
“Thank you,” he says after clearing his throat. Mercy waits for him to make one of his usual jokes to ease the tension in the ballroom. To say something that makes everyone smile and turn to the person next to them to roll their eyes.
But this time he’s not smiling. He’s looking at Mercy like he wants to make sure she remembers. Like he’s unable to speak until he knows she wants nothing to do with this crazy idea of taking part in a competition to spend her life in the Newlands.
She gives him a small nod and it seems to release him from the block of ice he was frozen in.
“I understand you must have a lot of questions,” he says to the crowd. “I’ll do my best to explain. Firstly, I’d like to ask anyone who’s not a leader to leave the stage.”
There’s a shuffling as those who didn’t make it through this year’s Proving head for the stairs. Mercy looks at the faces that remain around her, still finding it a little hard to believe she’s now considered one of them. Sam may have been confident she was going to pass, but Mercy hadn’t been sure. Now, she wonders if it would be easier if she hadn’t.
“As Kian explained, only our leaders are eligible to enter the second Proving.” Her father sweeps his hand toward the people behind him. “We want the best of the best to go to the Newlands. Life there won’t be easy. There’ll be Outlanders to contend with. Food to forage for and crops to grow. Shelters to be built and the environment to restore. It will be tough. Isolated. Dangerous.”
Mercy smiles gently at her father to reassure him that she doesn’t plan to go anywhere, but he’s looking out at the crowd.
“The decision was made that anybody who already has a child shall be ineligible to be a Seeker. We want to encourage our youngest leaders to build their new lives in the Newlands.” Her father looks to the leaders and a few of them nod in return. Clearly, this had been a group decision. And not a unanimous one. The way Kian is looking at Sam, Mercy wonders if he’s having his first pang of regret that he didn’t choose to lead Askala alone. “Please, leave the stage if this applies to you.”