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and at ten o’clock that morning, he would take the grueling examination that would determine whether he would become a Deputy Justice. If he was accepted, Barrie would spend the next decade prosecuting and defending criminals on trial. Once his time as a Deputy Justice was over, Barrie would become an official Justice and preside over trials, like his father. And should his career as a Justice please the king, Barrie would be the very first Evergreen to become a High Justice on the King’s Advisory Council, where he would help the sovereign create the law.
    Becoming a High Justice had been Barrie’s dream since he was a child, but his path to the King’s Advisory Council would end today if he didn’t pass the examination. So for the last six months, Barrie had studied his kingdom’s law and history every possible moment he could, to ensure a victory.
    “How will I ever look Father in the eye again if I don’t pass?” Barrie worried. “I should just give up now and spare myself the embarrassment!”
    “Stop catastrophizing,” Brystal said. “You know all this stuff. You’re just letting your nerves get to you.”
    “I’m not nervous—I’m a wreck ! I was up all night making these cards and I can barely read my own handwriting! Whatever the Purification Act of 342 was, it’s definitely not what I said!”
    “Your answer was really close,” Brystal said. “But you’re thinking of the Declawing Act of 339—that was when Champion VIII banished trolls from the Southern Kingdom. Unfortunately, his army mistook the elves for trolls and kicked out the wrong species! So to validate the mix-up, Champion VIII introduced the Purification Act of 342 and banished all talking creatures besides humans from the kingdom! The trolls, elves, goblins, and ogres were rounded up and forced into the In-Between! Soon, it inspired the other kingdoms to do the same thing and led to the Great Cleansing of 345! Isn’t that terrible? And to think, the most violent period of history could have been avoided if Champion VIII had just apologized to the elves!”
    Brystal could tell her brother was half thankful for the reminder and half embarrassed it came from his little sister.
    “Oh, right…,” Barrie said. “Thanks, Brystal.”
    “My pleasure,” she said. “It’s a real shame, too. Can you imagine how exciting it would be to see one of those creatures in person ?”
    Her brother did a double take. “Wait, how do you know all of this?”
    Brystal glanced over her shoulder to make sure they were still alone. “It was in one of the history books you gave me,” she whispered. “It was such a fascinating read! I must have read it four or five times! Do you want me to stay and help you study?”
    “I wish you could,” Barrie said. “Mother will be suspicious if you don’t return to the kitchen. And she’ll be furious if she catches you helping me.”
    Brystal’s eyes twinkled as a mischievous idea popped into her head. In one swift move, she yanked all the buttons off Barrie’s robe. Before he could react, Mrs. Evergreen charged into the sitting room, as if she sensed her daughter’s mischief in the air.
    “How long does it take to sew one button ?” she reprimanded. “I’ve got porridge in the pot, eggs in the pan, and rolls in the oven!”
    Brystal shrugged innocently and showed her mother the handful of buttons she had plucked.
    “Sorry, Mother,” she said. “It’s worse than we thought. He’s really nervous.”
    Mrs. Evergreen threw her hands into the air and moaned at the ceiling.
    “Barrie Evergreen, this house is not your personal tailor shop!” she scolded. “Keep your twitchy hands off your robe or I’ll tie your hands behind your back like when you were a child! Brystal, when you’re finished, go set the table in the dining room. We’re eating in ten minutes— buttons or not !”
    Mrs. Evergreen stomped back into the kitchen, muttering slurs under her breath. Brystal and Barrie covered each