tavi 's eyes widened `` you 're kidding me half the marat horde just vanishes ' just like that ' '' he turned to look at fade , his heart beginning to pound `` fade , did you hear ' '' `` you have n't won the trial , '' kitai said , spitting the words `` nor will you `` doroga frowned at his whelp and then said to tavi , `` it is my wish that you should win i can take my people from this conflict but it may not be the desire of the one `` `` i know it is n't mine , '' kitai said the young marat nodded to his father and then said to hashat , `` is your offer still open ' '' the horse headman glanced at doroga then nodded to kitai `` of course `` kitai nodded at that and then stepped close to tavi , multicolored eyes narrowed `` wits or strength , it does n't matter to me , aleran i will beat you `` then he shot doroga an angry glance and stalked off down the hill tavi blinked `` but i would have thought he 'd want to help you `` he glanced at doroga the marat shrugged `` my whelp will try to defeat you as it should be it is a good trial before the one `` `` but `` tavi swallowed `` trial of wits ' what is it ' '' doroga said to hashat , `` see to it that they are prepared `` then he turned and walked down the hill after his whelp hashat folded her arms over her chest and eyed tavi `` well ' '' tavi asked `` what am i supposed to do ' '' `` you will leave this night , to return with the blessing of night from the valley of trees , '' hashat said , simply `` who returns with it first is the victor of the trial follow me `` the marat started off down the hill , lean legs taking long steps `` blessing of night , valley of trees right , fine `` tavi turned to follow her , but stopped as fade caught at his shirt tavi turned to the man , frowning `` what is it ' '' `` tavi , '' fade said `` you must not do this let me face the trial `` tavi blinked `` uh fade it 's a trial of wits , remember ' '' fade shook his head `` valley of trees remember that `` the boy frowned , turning to fade `` what do you remember ' '' fidelias stopped , panting , as he and aldrick emerged from the heavily forested regions northeast of bernardholt and reached the causeway that led down the valley and ultimately to garrison .