The Young Elites

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of child abuse, child death, graphic violence, illness and death, emotional abuse, and physical abuse.

Alone with Teren at the Inquisition Tower, Adelina hedges, insisting she does not know the names or identities of any Elites who visit her at the Court. She tells him they are making plans for the Tournament of Storms. She asks for two weeks to get more information, and Teren agrees.

Leaving the Tower, Adelina follows the crowd to the piazza, set up for a horse race. Three riders from each Quarter will compete; the top three will go to the Tournament of Storms. Adelina guesses that Enzo wants to qualify a Dagger so that they will be near enough to the king and queen at the Tournament to assassinate them. Adelina sees Star Thief riding a beautiful thoroughbred; the purple marking across her face identifies her. Adelina realizes she must be from a mighty family to be allowed to ride as a malfetto. As it is, Lady Gemma (Star Thief) is subjected to jeers as she rides to the starting point.

During the race, Gemma pulls ahead and wins. The Green Quarter cheers her victory. But an Inquisitor announces that the palace changed the rules: No malfettos can compete in the Tournament of Storms.