Page 105 of Spirit Trials

Rysden’s hand tightens on mine. “She’s not going with you anywhere.” I watch as the guards spread out and do a quick mental count.Twenty.Rysden’s sword is out in front of him a moment later. With his other hand, he pushes me slightly behind him, still holding my hand. Realizing this could get deadly quickly, I take a step to Rysden’s side.

“Why?” I ask simply.

The guard that seems to be taking the lead narrows his eyes at me. “You are being charged with conspiracy against the Wolf King and the Wolf Kingdom.”

The air leaves my chest in a whoosh, and I stare at the guard. “How?” I demand.

“Your charges will be determined once you are detained.”

“No.” I shake my head. “That’s not how this works. I’m not going with you anywhere until you tell me what these ridiculous charges are about.”

The guard does not look happy. “You led those mercenaries to attack our king and our kingdom, killing hundreds of our guards.” The anger in his eyes is fierce, and I take a steadying breath.

“She did no such thing,” Rysden barks out.

The guard takes a step forward, and Rysden’s entire body tenses. I put my hand on his back. “Did the Black Clansmen attack your village?”

I pause, sensing a trap here; but I look him dead in the eye. “Yes.”

“In exchange for your life, did you not lead them here and let them in the city gates?”

My mouth drops open. “No.”

“So that they could infiltrate the castle?” He continues on, ignoring my interruption. “And try to take out our King, Prince, Captain of our guard, and many Royal Guards?”

“No!”

“She had nothing to do with last night’s attack,” Rysden says in a low, fierce voice.

The guard stares at me with hate in his eyes. “Then why did they spare you?”

I stare at him as dread coils in my stomach. “What are you talking about?” My voice isn’t as steady now as it had been.

“They took off the head of our Captain without a second thought.” His face flinches, as if remembering. “They gutted the Prince’s friend like a fish.” My entire body reacts to his words. He steps closer. “They cut down every single person in that room, and yet,” he pauses. “When they got to you, they left you alive. They had no intention of killing you.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Rysden growls.

“Is it?” the guard asks, his eyes never leaving mine.

I try to keep my face blank, but my insides are recoiling because he’s right. Memories flash through my mind. There were many opportunities for them to end my life, and they didn’t. “I’m not working with the Black Clansmen.” My voice is steady, thankfully; but my legs are shaking. “Those men killed the people in my village.” Anger flares in my voice.

The guard nods. “And left you alive and your precious brother and mother.” He cocks his head to the side. “Out of the goodness of their hearts?”

I’m shaking now.No.

“What deal did you make with them? To let you live if you got close to our prince and worked your way into our kingdom and—”

“No! I didn’t—”

Rysden gives my hand a quick squeeze. “Don’t say anything more.”

The guard glares at me with so much hate. “You’ll be coming with us.” The other guards close in around us.

“She’s not leaving with you,” Rysden says fiercely, tugging me once again behind his back. Nausea churns in my belly; there are too many of them. And even though Rysden could probably handle all of them, he doesn’t want to kill these men.

“Rysden,” I say in a quiet voice.

“Back up,” Rysden says, waving his sword in front of him, even as guards circle us. He steps back, not allowing any of them to get behind us.