Page 19 of Spirit Trials

“So, what’s this dinner I need a dress for?”

“Tomorrow night, the competitors from the three kingdoms participating in the Spirit Trials will gather for a dinner. We host it because we’re the largest kingdom. The final instructions for the trials will be given then.”

Chapter 12

I take in his words. “If the competitors from other kingdoms have a spirit animal, they will be jaguars and dragons?”

“Not necessarily. The kingdom you’re born into doesn’t necessarily determine your spirit animal. You can be from the Jaguar Kingdom and have a wolf spirit animal.”

“Really? If that happens, then do they come live here because that’s what their animal is?”

“Yes. Whatever your spirit animal is, you live in that kingdom. The Wolf Kingdom is the largest and produces the most spirit animals. The Jaguar Kingdom is about half our size, and the Dragon Kingdom is pretty small.”

I think about what he’s saying. “So, at any time during the trials, the other contestants spirit animals will show up and help them,” I say it more to myself than him. “What am I dealing with for the spirit jaguars and dragons? You already told me about the spirit wolves.”

“Jags have a really strong bite and an ability to jump incredibly high. They can climb; don’t try to outclimb a jag. They’re also fast.”

“Faster than wolves?” I ask.

“Yes, but wolves have longer endurance. If a jaguar is chasing you and it’s close, you can’t outrun it and you can’t outclimb it.”

I frown. “So, there’s no way to escape it?”

“The best thing to do is to stay out of their way.”

“You’re still talking about a human, though, right?” I ask. “Like an actual jaguar won’t be chasing me through the woods, right?”

“The spirit animals themselves are actual animals. They will manifest and help their human counterpart when they’re needed. So, yes. You will face spirit jaguars that won’t hesitate to rip you to shreds if they view you as a threat to the person they’re bonded to. Don’t underestimate their human counterpart, either.”

“So, I could face down a wolf or a jag.” Dread fills me as I remember. “And dragons. What do I do if I encounter a dragon?”

“You don’t need to worry about dragons. The last time a dragon spirit animal manifested was over a hundred years ago.”

“Humor me.”

“Dragons are big and fierce. Stay away from them. Oh, and they breathe fire.”

I stare at him, slack-jawed. “They breathe fire? That would have been good to know before now.”

“You’re not going to face a dragon.”

“But I could.”

“Farrah—”

Before he can reprimand me again, I ask, “Was that thing we fought in the woods a part of the dragon kingdom? The Guivre?”

“They used to be a part of the Dragon Kingdom, but a group of them splintered off and formed their own kingdom. They chose not to honor the customs and treaties of our kingdoms and tried to take over; so, the gryphons cursed them. Now they are the abomination that they are—half serpent, half dragon,” Rysden explains.

I frown. “What’s a gryphon?”

“They’re part eagle and part lion. Their head and wings and talons are an eagle’s; their body and hind legs are lion. They are the most magical being in our world and as such act as ruling authorities.”

I try to put all this together. “Okay, so gryphons are in charge. The Guivres used to be dragons but are cursed now. Will the Guivres send contestants?”

“No,” he says sharply. “They’re cursed. As such, they don’t have spirit animals. They are straight-up animals.”

“I don’t understand.”