Page 54 of Spirit Trials

“Like what?” he questions.

“Like freeing the banished and letting them live in your city.”

His mouth tightens. “That would never happen.”

I refuse to let his words anger me. “Well, it won’t if somebody doesn’t step up and make those changes.”

“Farrah, those rules have been in place for hundreds of years.”

“Well,” I say brightly. “Then it would be a fine time to change them, don’t you think?”

“I know those girls are your friends.” He lowers his voice. “But don’t get close to them; it will only bring you heartache.”

So much for not getting angry. “If you’re too blind to see that the banished deserve to be part of your city just as much as you do, then you’re right. You shouldn’t be a leader because you’d make a terrible one.” I brush past him and leave the kitchen before I say something I’m going to regret. I storm up the stairs and head towards my room. After a quick detour to make sure Harper and Kinsley don’t need anything, I head to my room. I’m ready for some down time and a warm bath. I crash hard and sleep for several hours. As soon as I’m up, I grab the girls and get right back to training.

After several hours of hard, physical training, Rysden orders us to take ice baths. Kinsley turns to me with eyes wide. “What?”

“It’s exactly what it sounds like,” I tell her.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Harper says.

“I don't kid,” Rysden returns, deadly serious. I know when he’s like this that there’s no use arguing.

“Come on. Let’s get it over with.”

Lox drags three tubs out from who knows where. They look like feeding troughs for horses, but I don’t point that out. I help drag buckets of ice and then water to fill them. Kinsley and Harper stare at the tubs with growing horror. “This is insane,” Harper says.

“And we have to do this out here?” Kinsley asks, looking around.

“We keep our clothes on,” I reassure her.

“You don’t have to,” Lox throws out with a mischievous grin. He grunts, and I turn around to see him rubbing his stomach. I swallow my grin, knowing Rysden just got him good.

“Get in,” Rysden says, nodding at the tubs. His arms are crossed over his chest, his feet planted solidly on the ground.

Knowing I have to take the lead on this, I take a deep breath and then step inside. My body locks up tight, but I keep going. Soon, I’m submerged. I can’t breathe, and I feel panic overtakingme as my body screams for me to get out. I hear a mouthful of curses spewing, and I can’t fight my grin as Harper gets into her tub. “Ohhhhh, this is s-so c-c-cold,” Kinsley says in her soft voice.

“You can do it,” I throw out through clenched teeth. “It’s only cold.”

“This is idiotic! Why are we doing this!” Harper yells. “I’m not doing this any longer.”

“Two more minutes,” Rysden says. “Surely you can survive two more minutes.”

Harper grumbles, but I don’t hear her climb out. I breathe deeply, shutting the world around me out. Finally, Lox calls, “Time.” There’s a loud sound, and I open my eyes to watch Harper practically jump out of the tub. I start to move, but a hand on my shoulder keeps me down.

My eyes flash to Rysden’s, and I panic for just a minute. His hold on my shoulder eases, and he squats down next to my tub. “Not you.”

“W-what?” My voice is breathless because of the cold.

“You’re not done yet.”

I open my mouth to argue with him, but he turns around to Harper and Kinsley. “Go inside and warm by the fire. Don’t take a hot bath; your body is too cold yet.”

“W-wh-what ab-bout F-farrah?” Kinsley asks through chattering teeth.

“She’s not done yet.” Rysden’s voice is harsh, and I close my eyes. I don’t feel like I can take the cold another moment. But I’m not going to show my weakness in front of Rysden and the guys. “Hector will see to it that you get warm. Now, go.”

I don’t open my eyes, but I hear them eventually leave. Harper argued with Rysden for a little bit, but the conversation was too hard for me to focus on. I finally find myself start towarm a little. “Farrah!” Rysden snaps at me. “Look at me!” I manage to pry open my eyes, and the cold comes rushing back.