Ayala arrives. She spends five minutes fluttering around the room like a mother hen. I smile at her. It’s the closest I’ve come to feeling affection for any Ashlord. She’s nervous. Today marks the last ceremony before the Races begin.

Today is the Longest Ride. It’s a classic Ashlord tradition. The one time in this whole process where cameras aren’t permitted. It’s a raw moment of showing strengths, revealing weaknesses. All the riders are packed into a massive carriage and ushered to the racing location. Ayala explains that conversation inside is forbidden. It’s a sizing up, a staring down.

Who will break? Who can’t handle the heat?

She explained that it’s symbolic. Ashlord myth claims the bravest warriors used to ride in carriages that took them through the underworlds. For that reason, our ride today will have no windows. That way the symbolic warriors will not have to see how vast and dark the underworld really is.

I take my box of ashes and follow Ayala through the streets. I’ve put on all the provided gear she gave me, except the boots. Farian will get a good laugh when he sees that.

I should be nervous about the crowds that watch us march past, about the voices that call out my name. But I’m more worried about making my plan work. I’ve only been riding with my horse for six days. There’s a relationship now, but that doesn’t change the fact that he could spook over something completely random. My plans should mitigate some of the potential damage.

But there are still so many ways to fail.

The crowd of reporters parts for us. Ayala walks proudly at my side. She’s all confidence, even though I’ve given her no reason to believe I can win. I smile to a Dividian reporter and give a polite wave to everyone else. Most of the other riders are already standing in the great square. The temple bells ring out from their gilded towers. The waiting carriage is massive. Everything about it screams opulence. As I eye the riders, the crowd, I realize how normal all of this is for them. They’re accustomed to riding in finery. They’ve never known a life without riches. Each of them had one hundred thousand spare legions to spend on this event. My family would kill for that kind of money. I stand there in line with the others, and I have never felt so sure of myself.