The Trials (The Elite Series) Read Free Page A

turned to say good-bye to Laren. She gave him a quick yet tender hug just as meaningful as Katie’s warm embrace. “Go get ‘em, Judge.”
    “I will .” Connor smiled.
    He left the two girls standing side-by-side and continued on alone to the huge double doors that led outside to the castle’s courtyard and the beginning of his first trial.
    The gathering crowd cheered and yelled for him as he entered their line of view.  Minus Christof and Faust, everyone else was in attendance. The five Council members smiled and clapped along with the crowd. Morrigan stood talking with Lu at the open door of a limousine. Randolph wore a blank stare, already inside the car.
    Connor did his best to smile and seem happy as he passed the group of well-wishers. It was a stretch of emotion for him. How happy was he expected to be as he left on his mission to kill a dragon or be killed by a dragon?
    The walk seemed to take an eternity as he waved and nodded to the Elites who were in attendance. Finally, he reached the limo door held open by Morrigan.
    “You have the book , right?” Morrigan asked.
    “Yep, in my backpack.”
    She nodded. “Between the knowledge in the book and what Lu can tell you, you should manage well.”
    In a very unlike Morrigan fashion , she opened her arms and grabbed him in a motherly hug. “Remember who you are. Remember the strength that courses through your veins. Don’t doubt yourself, I have never doubted you and you have never let me down.”
    Connor hugged her back, and as the two let go, he nodded. “I won’t let you down.”
    “Al l right, kiddo, let’s go,” Lu said impatiently. He was dressed in camouflage pants, black boots, and a green cut-off shirt. With his aviator sunglasses, he looked more like an army Ranger than Connor’s guide.
    Connor stooped and entered the dark limousine. Randolph sat at the far end of the dark cab, completely ignoring everything else except the phone in his hands. Connor took a seat and Lu followed, closing the door behind him.
    It was Connor’s first time riding in a limo usine, and to be honest, he didn’t know what the hype was all about. As the driver pressed the gas, the ride was like any other he had taken. In fact, he preferred the comfort and familiarity of his own truck back home.
    “Where are we going?” Connor asked.
    “The limo will take us to the airport, and from there we have a long flight to the Amazon.”
    The inside of the limo was quiet after that. It seemed neither Lu nor Randolph were keen on talking at the moment. That was fine with Connor. He stared out the window at the rolling landscape. His mind was wandering to the conversation he had with Morrigan, and then his mother, the day before.
    “Understand I did not change any of her memories or manipulate anything that was already there. All I did was add a new memory for her. She ’ll remember the college calling and asking you to come in early, as is customary with all their student athletes on scholarships. She remembers saying good-bye to you and that’s all.”
    “ You promise? It didn’t hurt her? I mean, not at all, did it?”
    “No, Connor. I promise all I did was add one memory. I know it might seem like lying , but it’s for the best. She would be in danger if she knew that we existed. I also decided to send Joe and Pete back to help her with the store and look after her. They’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Of course.” Morrigan pushed her cell phone into Connor’s hands and walked out of the room, gently closing the door behind her, providing him with all the privacy he needed.
    Connor stared at the bright silver phone. He knew he couldn’t say anyt hing about being an Elite or a Judge, it just seemed so wrong to lie to her. He decided to be as honest as he could without endangering her with the knowledge of the Elite species’ existence. Taking a moment to remember his mother’s store number, he pressed the phone to his