Page 18 of Spirit Trials (The Spirit Kingdoms #1)

I thought we’d have a hard time hearing the king, but his voice projects just fine. I’m assuming that’s probably his spirit wolf aiding him. “It is an honor for you to stand here today, representing your kingdom. As these trials commence, we are reminded of their importance.”

I shift and move around somebody tall, so I can see better.

I see the Wolf Prince and the Jaguar King standing on either side of the Wolf King.

Well, that solves that mystery. I’d wondered where Rysden had gone.

I study him as the king continues his speech.

He looks incredibly intimidating. He's wearing all black, his usual. Even from here, I can see how the shirt stretches across powerful muscles in his chest and arms. He stares out at the crowd, but I don’t think he’s really seeing them.

I tune back into the king’s long-winded speech.

“...and without one, they are a danger to our kingdoms. That is why we have the spirit trials.”

Harper snorts, and it’s not hard to figure out what the king is talking about.

“A danger,” she mutters, shaking her head.

The king finally steps aside, and I find myself holding my breath as the older man steps forward.

I half expect his voice to be weak, but it’s anything but.

A sort of stillness settles over the crowd as he begins to speak.

“I offer my own welcome as well. My name is Terron, and I will be officiating these trials. There will be three trials, one representing each kingdom. The first trial represents our friends to the north and their fight for survival.” The Dragon Kingdom , I mentally supply.

“For this trial, you must simply prove that you can survive out here in the wild. You will have to make your own shelter, find water and food, and keep yourself alive.” I begin to wonder just how long we’re going to have to stay out here.

“Each trial is pass or fail. You either survive, or you don’t.

” He gives us a moment to process his words.

“In these woods are hidden gold coins. If you find one, keep it. Those coins are how we will find our champion. While these trials are pass or fail, there is always one winner crowned at the end of these trials. The crown will go to the person who finishes all three trials as well as collects the most coins.” I frown.

“With my spirit gryphon, I have the ability to project what I see. My gryphon will fly during the trials and take in everything going on for review later. And before you ask, I’ve been doing this long enough, I will not miss things.

My vision allows me foresight, and therefore I am able to be in those places where the action is unfolding before it happens.

Let me remind you. We’ve been doing this for over two hundred years; we have never failed in selecting our winner.

And we will not fail this year. Should you see my gryphon passing over, please ignore him and carry on with whatever it is you are doing.

Know that I, in my foresight, am aware of what is going on at all times.

There is no fooling a gryphon, so there’s no use in hiding.

Now, when the trumpet sounds, you will begin.

You may not touch any other player for the first three hours of these trials.

Anyone who does will be pulled from the trials, and you understand the consequences of that.

Use that time to spread out, find shelter, and prepare for what’s coming.

There are one hundred and twenty-seven of you.

We hope that there will be one hundred and twenty-seven of you at the end of this first trial.

” He puts his hands out. “May your spirit animal manifest itself. And don’t forget to show back up when it’s time, or you’ll be eliminated.

” It’s deathly silent after he finishes talking.

Finally, I hear the sound of the trumpets.

Mass chaos ensues. I move forward with the group but quickly realize that’s a recipe for a disaster.

Kinsley, who hasn’t left my side, turns to look at me.

“I’m going to give them a chance to get ahead of us.”

“That’s a great idea.” I take a few steps around, scouting out the area.

Looking towards the front, it looks like the leadership has all disappeared except for Terron.

He still stands there, watching everybody.

I watch him for a little bit, hoping he’ll let his spirit animal free.

I’d give anything to see his gryphon. When the crowd finally spreads out, and there’s only a few stragglers left, I bend down and pick up my sack and throw it over my shoulder.

After double-checking that I have everything, I turn to Kinsley, who’s apparently my new buddy.

“Ready?”

She nods, clutching her own sack. I study her for just a moment, wondering how much she will slow me down on this journey.

I also realize I really don’t want to go at this alone.

Who knows how long we’re going to be stuck in these woods.

I need at least one person to talk to, so I don’t go mad.

Besides, she’s one of the banished; she definitely hasn’t had an easy go of it.

And she seems genuinely nice. I glance sideways at her and know I won’t be able to leave her behind if it came to it.

I’m going to have to work extra hard because I’m going to have to protect her as well as myself.

We’re close to the woods now. In a few more steps, we’ll be entering them and then all bets are off.

“Ever been in these woods before?” I ask her.

“No.”

“You have any special abilities or talents that will help keep us alive?” I ask.

“Nope. I mean, I can put together a meal with just a few sporadic ingredients, but I don’t think that’s going to help us much out here.”

I shrug. “You never know.” I look at the foreboding woods and take a breath.

“Here goes.” And then, we step into the woods.

It doesn’t take long for the shade of the trees to block out the light of the sun.

I study every single thing as we walk and try to get my bearings.

I hear somebody coming, and I whirl around, relaxing when I see it’s Harper.

“So, you decided to join the stupid one, huh?”

She scowls at me. “Wasn’t my first choice.” She pokes her tongue into the side of her cheek. “But I know it’s foolish to try to make a go of it on my own.” I turn around, fighting a smile.

“Sure, you can join us,” I tell her without looking back.

We walk for a little bit in silence, all of us taking it in. “Do we actually have a plan or are we just going to wing it?” Harper asks.

“I guess we have to decide if we want to make camp and focus on just surviving, or if we want to be on the offense and go after the gold coins,” I say as we continue forward.

“As much as I want to just make camp and not move, I think I’ll go crazy,” Kinsley says.

“Yeah,” Harper says flatly. “I’m not really one for sitting around idly.”

I nod. “Same. So, we agree to keep making our way through the woods, looking for gold coins and make shelter as we need it along the way. If this draws out, like I think it might, we can keep ourselves occupied with exploring new sections and looking for gold coins.”

“And fighting everybody else along the way,” Harper says, looking around. I nod because she’s probably right.

“Harper, what are your talents or abilities? What do you bring to the table?” I ask.

“I’m pretty good in a fight, but that’s not going to matter if somebody’s spirit animal has already manifested.”

“No, but that’s good to know,” I say.

“What about you, Farrah?” Kinsley asks.

“I’m good with a bow, and I can hunt. If there’s game, we won’t go hungry.”

“Just don’t hit a real jag or wolf by accident,” Kinsley says.

“Why?” I ask.

Her eyes widen, and Harper blows out an exasperated breath. “Seriously?”

I take in both their expressions. “I mean I wasn’t going to hunt a real wolf or jag if I don’t have to.”

“You can’t hunt any jaguars or wolves,” Kinsey says with huge eyes. “It’s against the law. You get killed for that.”

My eyes widen. “Oh, I didn’t know.”

“You thought that you should kill a wolf in the literal kingdom of wolves?” Harper asks, looking at me like I’ve grown a second head.

“Okay, yeah, it was stupid. I won’t hunt any wolves or jaguars. I don’t think I could kill one anyway; they’re too gorgeous.”

Kinsley blows out a breath. “Good. Besides, what if you hit one and it was one of the royals?”

I glance over at her. “What are you talking about?”

Kinsley’s eyes go big, a trait I’m beginning to notice she does often. “You didn’t know that?”

“Know what?” I ask, trying to follow her train of thought.

“The kings of each of the kingdoms all have a corporal spirit animal. They’re real animals.”

I’m too shocked to say anything. “They don’t disappear inside of them?”

She shakes her head. “No. They are their own separate beast. They have a mental connection, same as the spirit wolves. From what I understand, the king can see through the eyes of their spirit animal no matter where they’re at.”

“So, the Wolf King has an actual, real wolf, that functions outside of himself?”

“Yeah, and the Jag King has a jag. Now let’s keep moving,” Harper snaps.

I can’t even wrap my head around it. Then something stops me in my tracks. “Wait. What about the prince?”

“He has a spirit wolf that’s corporal too. All those born of royal blood do,” Kinsley says.

“Do you not know anything?” Harper asks.

I bite my tongue as anger rushes through me fast and swift.

Rysden lied to me. I specifically remember him telling me I could win this because he won without a spirit wolf.

I shake my head. That liar! He had a wolf!

A feeling of despair crashes through me, and I realize I am quite literally the only person out here that doesn’t have at least a chance that their spirit animal will show because I know for a fact, I don’t have a spirit animal.

I don’t get a chance to dwell on it anymore, because something catches my attention.

I grab my bow and nock an arrow just as the underbrush next to us moves.

Two twigrens come tumbling out. They’re up and running a moment later, chasing each other.

I shoot off two arrows in quick succession, bringing both of them down.

“Bloodthirsty much?” Harper asks. I ignore her and walk over to my kills. I drop to my knees and grab one of my knives.

“I need to skin this. Watch my back, will you?” I ask Kinsley because I don’t really trust Harper to.

Minutes later, I have the meat ready for transport.

Kinsley grimaces at the sight of it. “These little guys will help us stay alive,” I remind her.

I wrap the meat in some brown paper that I’m suddenly glad Hector insisted I bring, and then we’re off again.