Page 92 of Spirit Trials

“And what if it was?” the king questions, his voice just as low.

“Then I’ll let my mate bury an arrow in your heart like she wants to,” Rysden says evenly.

The king’s breathing speeds up, and I wonder if we pushed him too far. But he turns and strides away a moment later, and I blow out a breath and lean all my weight against Rysden. He kisses the top of my head. “You did good. Now, are you ready?”

“For what?” I ask in confusion, glancing over my shoulder at him.

“For that,” he says, nodding towards the crowd. I turn back and see the line of people waiting.

“What are they waiting for?” I ask.

“Their turn to talk to the champion,” he responds easily.

“Oh, no,” I say, already shaking my head.

“Oh, yes,” he says, taking a step back.

“Don’t you dare leave me,” I hiss at him.

He blows me a kiss, even as he takes another step backwards. “Rysden,” I hiss at him. He simply grins and waves.

“Can you sign this please, Champion?” I hear somebody ask.

I turn back and force a smile to my face. “Sure.” I’m not sure how long I stand there talking to people, but it’s a ridiculously long time. Solace stays at my side the entire time. When the last person finally leaves, I sigh the world’s longest sigh.

I hear a chuckle and turn. “It’s not easy being a Champion,” Terron says with a smile.

“Mr. Terron, Sir,” I say, standing tall.

“Please, just Terron will suffice.” He walks over to me. “I have to say—in all my years, I never saw anything like we saw today.” He looks me over like he’s trying to figure me out. “You’re different.”

“Uh, thanks,” I manage to say.

He chuckles again. “I mean that as a most sincere compliment. Our world needs someone like you.” He studies me, and I wait patiently. “I think times are changing, Lady Mercy.” This man calling me that makes me feel...something. “I don’tthink it’s by coincidence the trial ended this way and that you produced a corporal animal. I don’t think this is the end of it.”

“You don’t?”

“I’ve been around a long time, and I’ve seen some things. You’ve started something, Lady Mercy.” He smiles at me. “Let’s hope it continues.” Without another word, he walks past me. I watch him go, wondering at his words. Absently, I run my hands through Solace’s fur.

What do you make of that?I ask.

Not sure,she responds in her elegant voice. I rub a hand over my face, exhausted all of a sudden.

“Ready to go home?”

I whirl around at the sound of Rysden’s voice. He’s sitting atop his horse, with his hand wrapped around the leash of Asha. “Yes, please. I’m starving.”

I walk over to him, and he releases the reins after I mount. “Can’t have that,” he says with a small smile. “Let’s go.”

He must feel the need I have to release some energy because he sets a fast pace as we head back to the city. The gates are open, and we pass right inside. As we travel through the city, and I let my mind wander as we ride. That is until I see something that stops me in my tracks. A spirit wolf suddenly runs across my path. I pull back on Asha’s reins and watch in awe.Beautiful.I urge Asha forward and don’t go much further before I see another one running in the grass in front of a home. This time, I pull Asha to a stop and take a moment to just look.

Suddenly, it feels like I’m seeing the Wolf Kingdom for the first time. Rysden circles back. “You okay?”

I turn in my saddle to face him. “I see spirit wolves. How come I haven’t seen them before now?”

Rysden looks over at one of the spirit wolves not too far from us. “I’m so used to seeing them; I forget when others can’t see them.” He faces me. “The magic that is released when your spiritanimal manifests allows you to see other spirit animals. If you don’t have a spirit animal, you won’t ever see them.” There’s a sadness to his words.

“But I saw them in the trials.”