Page 88 of Spirit Trials

“Yeah.” I eye him strangely. “That’s the second time she’s done it.”

“Hmm.”

“Hmm what?” I push.

“She just never usually leaves the castle.”

I take in that news, but it doesn’t really surprise me. “I really like her; she’s really great.”

“She is,” he agrees. “And then she leaves reality behind and launches into a vision and seems like a crazy person.” I cringe at his words but can’t help but agree. “It’s okay. It’s both parts of our queen. You can’t be a seer without that part that’s just a little bit crazy.”

I look up at him. “Is the king good to her?” I’m not sure if the question surprises him or me more. I’ve been wondering for a while now but haven’t been brave enough to ask.

“No.” There’s no pause in his response, no second to think about it. Pain fills my heart.

“Why?” It’s all I can ask. One word.

“A seer can see what nobody else can. They can see all the possibilities, all the amazing things that could be. They can also see the horrible things that could be. They can see imminentdeath, the outcomes of battles, the effect of medicines, and so much more.”

His words paint a picture in my mind. “And the king would want to know those things.”

He nods slowly. “Yes.”

“But what she told Rysden and I was really confusing; none of it really made sense.”

Lox nods. “Yeah. That’s the problem. Seer’s visions are never crystal clear. Or maybe they are, but the interpretations to the rest of us certainly aren’t. But that doesn’t matter to the king. He will push her into vision after vision and make her tell him everything she sees.”

I suck in a breath. “He can force her into a vision?”

“He’s figured out a way and he does it over and over and over again, trying to figure out the future. Which soldiers to send, which battles to fight, what foods to eat, which coffers to fill, what plants will yield the greatest increase, if his son will betray him and take over the throne.”

My head snaps up at that one. “What?”

Lox nods somberly. “You try to piece together the visions of a seer and paint a picture of the future...” he shakes his head. “You either give it up or go mad trying.”

“Let me guess which one the king is doing,” I say dryly.

“Going mad,” Lox fills in for me. “And making his wife do the same. A seer isn’t supposed to have visions back-to-back like that. He’s playing a dangerous game.”

I suck in a breath. “Could she die from what he’s doing?”

“I don’t know, but her brain could turn to mush.”

I put a hand over my mouth. “Really?” I whisper. I'm not sure if he’s saying it figuratively or literally, but I fear the result either way. “What do we do?”

He gives me a small smile. “Wedo nothing. Rysden will look after his mom.”

I don’t know what to say after that, so I don’t. Eventually, Lox heads up to bed, only after I tell him like six times that I don’t mind being alone down here. I run the queen’s words over in my mind at least a dozen times, until it hurts to think about anymore. I think I doze off on the stairs because the next thing I know, Rysden is in front of me with a hand on my knee.

“Hey,” he says softly. “What are you doing down here?”

“Waiting for you,” I tell him just as softly.

“You didn’t need to wait up.”

“I know.” I yawn, and he stands up and reaches out a hand for me and easily pulls me to my feet. “Is your mom okay?” I ask as we ascend the stairs.

“She will be after a good night’s sleep.”