Page 63 of Spirit Trials

When we get back to the stables, I dismount and begin leading my horse to the stable. “I can take her,” Jamik says, but I wave him off.

“I’ll help.”

He’s silent as we walk to the stables. I realize that Rysden is behind us, but I don’t acknowledge him. The three of us get the horses settled before heading back to the main house. When we get inside, Jamik slips up the stairs. I take a deep breath and then turn to Rysden. “I need to get back to training. Do you mind training with me? Everybody else seems to have disappeared.” I don’t look at his face; I keep my eyes on his chest. He doesn’t let me down.

“Let’s go.”

As soon as we get downstairs, he’s all business; and I need that. We don’t talk; well, I don’t. He gives me commands and corrections, but it’s good. I work through my frustration, and it feels good. “Do you want to talk about it?” he asks at one point.

“Nope.” I think he’s going to push me, but he lets it drop. He turns into the Rysden I first knew—the cold, detached one, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

The next few days pass in the blink of an eye, and then the day of trial two arrives. I’m up early, anxious and filled with nervous energy. I head into the kitchen and start making breakfast, long before anybody wakes up. When Hector comes into the kitchen, he stops for a moment and then continues over to where I’m working. “Are those maple?” he asks, nodding at the small cakes sitting on the counter, cooling.

“Yes.”

“Can I have one?”

I smile. “You can have as many as you want. Those are my maple fig breakfast cakes.”

He picks one up and takes a bite. “They’re good.” That’s all I get from him before he begins crushing the beans for coffee, but I’ll take it.

Rysden’s the next one in the kitchen. “Why are you up so early?”

I don’t let his bad attitude rock me. “Good morning to you too, Rysden. I made maple fig cakes if you want one for breakfast. There’s also—”

“I don’t eat sweets for breakfast.”

“There’s also a pot of meat mix I put together,” I continue as if he didn’t cut me off. “And just for the record, those cakes aren’t actually very sweet.” He doesn’t respond. I move around the kitchen, keeping an eye on everything.

“Eat up. We’re leaving soon,” Rysden says as he leaves the kitchen. I breathe a sigh of relief when he’s gone.

Noticing Hector is still in the kitchen with me, I turn to him. “He’s so charming in the morning, isn’t he?”

Hector looks at me over the rim of the cup he’s holding. “He’s worried about you.”

I blink in surprise. “That’s not...he’s not...Nope, that’s not it.” Hector doesn’t say anything more, and I wonder if I should be even more worried for this trial than I already am. Which, come to think of it, I’m not sure is actually possible. I couldn’t sleep all night, and now I can barely stomach any food. The only reason I’m eating at all is I know I have to have strength for today.

“You have your sack packed?” Hector asks a little later.

“Yes, let’s hope I keep it longer than I kept the last one.”

He scowls. “Don’t let anybody take your bag. You can fight. Do it.”

I look over at him, surprised. “Wow, Hector, that’s so much coming from you. We’re like conversing.”

“Don’t get used to it,” he grumbles, and I can’t help but smile. “Don’t die out there.”

A full smile crosses my lips. “I’ll try not to.” I give him a hug, surprising him. “I’ll be back once this is over.”

He nods. “See that you are.” He takes his cup of coffee and leaves, and I work on cleaning up my mess.

Jamik comes in a little while later. “You hungry?” I ask. I don’t bother waiting for his reply before I start filling him a plate.

“Thanks.” He takes it over to the table. But before he sits, he looks over at me. “You ready for today?”

“Yes.” I try to project confidence.

“Try not to come home in pieces this time, so my brother doesn’t have a heart attack. Not sure he can withstand that a second time.”