My uncle stood before our entire class. He wore dark blue robes, a silver crown, and a coral necklace. His earrings were silver, and shaped like wolves. He paced back and forth before us, looking each of us in the eye. Behind him, Sargon’s Brigade stood, glaring down at all of us, trying to guess who would become citizens, who would become slaves, and who would die.

“Our ancestors fought over this land for six hundred years,” my uncle said, “until the Alcanians came. They conquered us, and made us their slaves, so we cried out to Ashur, and he heard our plea. He brought the princes and princesses of all our tribes here, where Nineveh once stood, to fight to the death, to determine who would lead us, the nation of Yangvaad, to freedom. The strongest survivors of that tournament sent the Alcanians back to the land of snow and ice in the west. That is why, after every two years of school you all will fight to the death.”

Four days before Lammy died, he was holding me in his lap. I was five years old. Eiric walked back and forth.

“Lammy…why doesn’t Eiric ever sit still?” I asked.

“He is excited, Sandy.” Lammy had always called me Sandy because of my freckles. “This year, he and I will graduate from the Acad, and become Untouchables!”

“If Ashur lets us keep our heads,” Eiric smirked.

“What does he mean?” I asked.

“You haven’t told her, Lammy?” Eiric asked. “She’s only got a year left. I told my sister last year.”

“What did he tell her, Lammy?” I asked him.

Lammy glared at Eiric, then looked at me and said, “To enjoy your final year, Sandy. Before the trials begin.”

I wished I had never heard of trials! I was only six, and after my uncle gave his speech, we had to fight. When I walked into the pit, the ground was dark with blood. The shamans were carrying the body away.

“Is she breathing?” I asked the judge.

“Take your place.” The judge pointed to a line in the dirt.

“Is she breathing?” I asked again.

A large hand slapped my face.

“Do you want to go to school? Do you want to grow up to be a strong, healthy, smart girl?” the judge yelled at me. “Then take your place!”

I held my stinging face and ran over to the line. In front of me they put another girl. She was short, small, and had curly dark-red hair.

“You see that girl?” the judge asked. “She is tiny, and weak. Probably stupid, too. You kill her, and you will get double rations of food and drink all eight years, and one extra hour of play!”

“You!” The judge glared at her. “Just try not to die!”

Contents