Ash by Shani Petroff Page A

until last week when the council announced I would be inducted next summer. I took it as a huge vote of confidence they felt I was almost ready.
    Minister Worthington rubbed the hair on his chin thoughtfully. “You’ll be the youngest minister in history,” he said. He didn’t have to say the next part. It was implied. Being the youngest meant that everyone would be watching—closely.
    “I won’t let you, or any of the other ministers down, sir,” I said. “And I’m honored.”
    He chuckled as he turned back to Bas. “I’ll see you this Sunday for dinner?”
    Bas nodded. “Looking forward to it. And maybe afterward I can show you the new schematics I’m working on for ring security.”
    As Bas and his grandfather continued to talk I made my way down the line of the remaining Seven, stopping to shake each of their hands and exchange a few words. The only one who made me feel at ease was Minister Tagon Corbin. He was by far the youngest of the Seven, and a major loop enthusiast.
    “Madden,” he greeted me.
    I shook his hand and smiled. “Are you excited for the race, Minister?” I asked.
    “Oh, absolutely.” He shook his head enthusiastically, and gestured toward the giant loop coaster rising in front of us. “I’ll be interested to see how the players will navigate this orientation.”
    We both turned to appraise the course. From this vantage I could fully appreciate just how many modifications had been made for the championship. The track itself was built out of the same clear material used for the light rail, complete with the magnetic surface for the racers to hover over. But that’s where the similarities ended. There were eight loops to pass through before a player could reach the end, with some sections wider, and others narrower so that only one racer could get through at a time. Colored lights pulsed through the structure in quick bursts. I’d never seen anything like it.
    “Get a load of that drop.” Minister Corbin pointed to the end of the track. “There’s never been one that steep. It almost goes straight down.”
    My eyes widened. It was hundreds of feet. It looked impossible to maneuver safely.
    A young girl’s voice interjected from behind us. “Aldan could still coast that thing with his eyes closed,” she said.
    I turned around. An earnest little girl peeked up at me through a cloud of dark ringlets. She looked even smaller sandwiched between her security detail. “I bet you’re right, Aya,” I replied.
    The girl gave me a shy smile. “I always pretend I’m Aldan when I play Loop Racer. Have you tried it?”
    I shook my head no, and she punched a few buttons on her wrist tracker. A small hologram appeared before us. “It’s kind of like the real race. You have to guide your board to the bottom of the track without getting knocked off by the other players. Only in the game you also have to dodge falling stars and lightning. I’m on level 147. I bet you’d like it.”
    “I’m sure I would,” I agreed. “Maybe you can teach me sometime?”
    A smile lit up Aya’s face, and she nodded furiously. “Definitely,” she said.
    I returned her smile. I was seeing more and more of the little Purple of late, and I had a feeling I would continue to. She was the only person on record to have a classified destiny—it was even above my Violet clearance—and every time we spoke I had to stop myself from begging her to tell me about it. I hated unsolved puzzles. I’d find out once I joined the Seven, of course, but in the meantime I’d just have to trust that she would play an important part of our future.
    The first bell rang through the stadium, letting us know the competition would be starting shortly. “I guess I should find my seat,” I said to Aya. “Enjoy the race.” I nodded to Minister Corbin as I turned. And that’s when I saw him.
    I felt the bubbles from my drink twist through my stomach as I examined my ex. Link looked even better than when last I’d seen him.