Page 20 of Spirit Trials (The Spirit Kingdoms #1)

“What do you mean?” I ask quietly, but she has no problem hearing me.

“Exactly what I said. The king’s men will randomly show up and start a killing spree.

We try to fight back, but we don’t have the weapons we need.

” Her words are full of bitterness. “We try to stay in small groups, so that we can live under the radar. But there’s only so many places to go in the small area we have to stay inside.

” I look over to Kinsley, seeing what she has to say about any of this. It's honestly hard to take in.

“My parents were both killed that way,” she says softly.

Anger burns in me. “Do people know this? Do people know that the Wolf King is doing this?”

Harper laughs coldly. “Like they would care? They live behind their huge city walls, protected and cared for. They never go hungry and live a life of luxury.”

It’s quiet after that. I can’t wrap my head around any of this.

I certainly can’t wrap my head around the fact that Rysden and his men brought me back here.

Why would they do that when the kingdoms aren’t supposed to be known to the human world.

“Why would I be brought here then?” I finally ask.

“If nobody is supposed to know about your spirit kingdoms, why would they bring me here?”

Harper shrugs. “My guess is that they thought you were capable of having a spirit animal.” At my confused look, she adds, “I’m sure one or more of us have escaped over the years. I would if I could.”

“But wouldn’t you be hunted down?”

She gives me an evil smile. “They’d have to find me first.”

“Harper, don’t talk like that,” Kinsley says in a hushed voice.

“What? Is it better to be hunted where we live?” Harper shoots back.

Anger continues to build inside me at the king.

I think of what Rysden says about him, how he would kill him if he could.

But he can't because of his mom. I keep asking questions, because silence will make me remember what it is I’m trying not to think about—Sariah's meaningless death.

“Have either of you ever seen the Wolf Queen?”

“No,” Harper says. “I heard she lost her mind, and the doctors just keep her sedated. I mean, married to the king? I get it.”

“I heard that she disobeyed the king once, and he left her permanently scarred,” Kinsley says in a hushed voice.

I wonder what if any of that is true. “Why do you want to know?” Harper asks.

“I was just curious.” I’m realizing there’s so much I don’t know, and that just makes me more angry at the king, which doesn’t do anything to help me right now.

Well, except make me more determined to survive and win while I’m at it.

Of course, that feels a little out of reach after the violence we just experienced.

After walking a little while, lost in thought, I remind myself that I need to pull it together and be vigilant.

“We’re going to need to work on shelter for the night.

” Neither of them argues with me. “Let’s keep an eye out for something that will work for us.

” After a while, we come upon an area that I think will work.

The girls agree, and we get to work clearing out the area. “Do we risk building a fire?” I ask.

“Not unless you want to draw everybody right to us all night,” Harper says.

I don’t respond to her snark, and we manage to clear out a small area. It’s tight, but we’ll all be able to fit. We were able to keep some of the brush overhead, so if it rains, we will be somewhat protected. “It looks really nice,” Kinsley says. I drop my bag inside the shelter.

“I’ll go find us something to eat.”

“And cook it how?” Harper asks.

Right. No fire. “ I’ll see what else I can find.

” I head off with my bow in hand and my knives strapped to my thighs.

I berate myself for not thinking with a clear head to get my fourth knife back from Sariah.

A pang hits my stomach, and I take a deep breath to calm my stomach.

I push away thoughts of Sariah and focus on finding something we can eat.

I have dried meat in my bag that we can eat sparingly.

When I find some edible berries, I grab as many as I can carry and bring them back.

“I found some berries for us,” I call out when I’m almost back.

“Oh, good. I love berries.”

I freeze at the unfamiliar voice. I quietly put the berries down and nock an arrow as I approach the area where I left the girls. My heart is pounding, and I refuse to think about what might have happened to Harper and Kinsley. “You can show yourself,” the voice says, laughing.

I step into view. I instantly seek out Harper and Kinsley and breathe a sigh of relief when I realize they’re okay.

“Thank you for setting up this area so nicely for us,” a guy says with a cocky smile.

I watch as a girl and another guy join him, and my heart starts racing.

Three on three; the odds weren’t great, especially since I don't know if either Harper or Kinsley can hold their own in a fight.

I chance a glance at them. Harper looks angry and ready to fight, but Kinsley looks like she might pass out any minute. I make the call.

“Have it,” I tell them. “Just let us leave in peace, and you can have it.”

“Farrah,” Harper hisses at me. I don’t look at her, but I’m not going to fight. It’s not worth our lives; we’ll just find another shelter.

“Thanks, you’re so kind,” one of the guys says in a mocking voice.

I take a step forward, and all three of them tense up. “What are you doing?” the girl snaps at me.

“I’m just getting my bag.”

“Oh, you mean this one?” One of the guys holds up my bag, and my stomach drops.

“I need that,” I say with an ounce of command in my voice.

“What’s it worth to you? The lives of one of your friends?” he asks.

I instantly back down. “No. It’s fine. Keep it.” A quick glance shows me that they already confiscated Kinsley and Harper’s sacks.

He smiles coldly. “Thank you so much.”

I take a step back. My bow is currently pointed at the ground, but I can have it raised in less than a second.

“Kinsley and Harper, let’s go.” I wait until they’re beside me.

“Go,” I nod over my shoulder. Only when they’re behind me do I take another step back and then another.

The guys don’t move, and I keep walking backwards until they are no longer visible.

I take a shaky breath and turn around and nearly jump out of my skin because Harper is in my face.

“I don’t take orders from you,” she says through gritted teeth.

“Okay,” I say simply. I watch as the fight drains out of her. She suddenly looks as exhausted as I feel. “Let’s see if we can find a new area,” I say wearily.

“We had a great area back there, but you gave it to those jerks.” Harper’s angry, and I get it.

I know she blames me, but I don’t care. I wasn’t going to lose a life—mine or one of theirs over shelter.

My stomach turns when I remember I lost my pack, and I try not to let it bother me.

I also try not to think of all the things in that bag that are gone that we’re going to need.

Bandages, salves, dried fruit, nuts, the water purifier.

I swallow hard and grit my teeth, so I don’t cry.

I refuse to cry over a bag. I’m also afraid if I start, I won’t be able to stop.

We walk for a while, putting distance between us and our old shelter.

As if the day hasn’t been hard enough, it begins to rain.

It gets harder and harder to walk because everything turns to mud.

We finally find something that will work for the night.

It’s not great, but it will have to do. The only good thing about the rain is that it will slow everybody else down as well, so hopefully we won’t be bothered for the night.

Our shelter is sorely lacking but it’s the best we can do in the rain and dark.

I drop down to the ground in sheer frustration and try to get comfortable, but it’s next to impossible on the wet ground.

Finally, I sit up and lean against a tree.

I wrap my arms around my knees and put my head down.

I close my eyes, but the first thing that flashes before my eyes is Sariah’s lifeless eyes and all that blood.

My eyes flash open, and I lean back against the tree.

The night is long and miserable. It’s impossible to stay dry, so now I’m cold too.

. When the sun finally starts to break through, I lift my head and take a deep breath because we made it through the first night.

That thought actually gives me the energy I need to stand and stretch and face the day.

Kinsley and Harper watch me as I move around and stretch.

They both look as exhausted as I feel. “I’m going to go hunt for something.

” Gripping my bow, I leave before they can stop me.

I don’t care that a fire might draw people to us; we need food if we’re going to have energy to get through the day.

I keep a mental path of where I’m going, so I can find my way back.

In the stillness of the morning, I keep watch for anything that moves because I refuse to go back without something.

It doesn’t take long for me to hear something scampering in the underbrush.

I move silently through the forest, tracking my prey.

When it runs out from under the cover of a bush, I’m ready.

I let my arrow fly, killing it immediately.

I don’t recognize the small animal with translucent, almost shimmering skin, but I'm hoping the girls do. I make the walk back quickly.

“Do either of you know what this is?” I ask, holding it up.

“It’s a duskwisp,” Kinsley says, walking towards me. “They have really good, flaky meat and cook fast. Good find. They’re only out at dusk and again in the morning before the sun is fully up.” I make quick work of skinning it. “I’ll cook it for us,” Kinsley says, surprising me.

I start gathering kindling and a few sticks for a fire.

When Harper sees what I’m doing, I wait for her to say something about not making a fire; but she stays silent.

Soon, there’s a small fire burning. It’s really nice after being wet and cold all night.

Kinsley brings the meat back a few minutes later already cut and skewered on sticks.

I’m surprised, but I try not to let that show on my face.

I must fail because she gives me a small smile.

“I told you I’m good at making food work. ”

“You did.” None of us say anything while the meat cooks. My stomach growls loudly, but I ignore it. As the meat cooks, I keep an eye out for any other competitors as well as wild animals, drawn by the smell. I also stand close to the fire, so my clothes can dry out.

When the meat is done, we barely let it cool before we scarf it down.

My stomach is at least satisfied, and it makes the day seem more doable.

I’m pretty thirsty now, but that’s something we will have to deal with at a later point.

I stand to my feet and smother the fire.

“Ready?” Neither of them say yes, but I get it.

We have to face this day, whether we’re ready or not.

Day two. Here we come.