Page 47 of Spirit Trials (The Spirit Kingdoms #1)

“Each of these competitors retrieved exactly eight gold coins.” I hear Terron’s words, but they sound far away.

A smattering of applause sounds and then fades.

“Now, in the event of a tie, there is a way that we break the tie.” I hold my breath, waiting to hear what he’s going to say next.

“We will host one more trial. Only these two will participate in the trial...” His words fade away, even though he’s still talking.

I try to focus, but it’s a losing battle.

All I can think of is the fact that I have to compete in another trial against this guy.

He’ll kill me for sure. I feel like I’m going to be sick.

Terron continues on, but I can’t hear a word he’s saying.

Suddenly, a voice calls out from the crowd.

“Wait.”

This new voice snaps me from my panic, and I gaze out at the crowd and watch as the girl who sat behind me stands up and walks to the stage.

I stare at her, trying to figure out what’s going on.

She approaches the stage but doesn’t walk up the steps.

“Mr. Terron, Sir, I want to add this to Farrah Bromean’s count.

” Her hand is shaking as she holds up a gold coin.

My mind struggles to understand what it is she’s doing.

“I should have given it to her when she rescued me, but I didn’t. I want her to have it now.”

I turn my gaze on Terron; he’s obviously surprised. He recovers quickly. “I’m sorry, but the time to award coins has passed. We’ve already totaled the—”

“Add two more to her count,” someone else calls out. My head whips over to the other side where a boy and a girl stand to their feet and approach Terron. “She saved my twin brother and I when we were being attacked in the water. We would have drowned without her interference.”

Terron’s already shaking his head. “I can’t—”

“I have another one.”

I watch as another girl approaches the stage. I have no idea who she is. “Farrah saved me from the fire. She could have just left me to die, but she didn’t. She gets my coin.”

“Here’s one from me.” I watch as a boy reluctantly walks to the front. “I attacked her in a tree and tried to kill her.” I hear a low sound behind me that I’m pretty sure is Rysden, but I ignore it. “She got the upper hand. But instead of killing me, she tied me to a tree.”

Two more competitors stand up and approach the stage.

I’m so overwhelmed, I stop paying attention.

When it’s finally silent, Terron turns to me.

He stares at me a moment and then looks back to the crowd.

“In all my years hosting these trials, I can honestly say this has never happened. But I believe we no longer need a tie breaker. I believe we have our champion. May I present to you, our Champion. Lady Mercy.” I hear Gavrin start to argue with Terron, but thunderous applause drowns him out.

I manage to nod my head, even as the crowd chants my nickname over and over again.

I finally look to Terron, pleading for him to end this so I can go sit back down.

He puts his hands up and quiets the crowd.

“Our champion not only managed to win this competition, but she also managed to produce a wolf and not just any wolf,” Terron adds.

A quiet settles over the crowd. “Farrah Bromean produced a corporal wolf.” He lets that sink in a moment.

Suddenly, the crowd is no longer quiet. “May I present to you, Solace, the mate of Shade, our mighty Prince’s wolf.

” I turn in surprise and watch as Solace runs towards the stage.

She bounds onto the stage in a single graceful leap.

I watch as Jamik slips back into the crowd.

Solace stands next to me, and I reach down and run my hand through her fur.

I'm so glad you’re here, I tell her.

Shade joins her a moment later, and I feel a presence at my back right before a hand lands at my waist. “Congratulations, Champion,” Rysden murmurs against my ear.

I smile and let myself lean just the slightest bit against him.

Feeling his strength at my back is a heady feeling, one I think I’d like to get used to.

“You got me a horse,” I say under my breath so only he can hear me.

“I did.”

“Why?” I can’t help but ask the question that’s been burning in my mind.

“I felt bad for what happened to yours. I’m sorry it took so long to get one for you; it was tricky finding one with her coloring.”

I can’t even right now. “Thank you, Rysden.”

“You already said that.”

I want to talk to him more, but right now, I just want to get off this stage.

I gaze back out at the crowd that’s on its feet in wild celebration.

I let myself enjoy it for just a moment and lean more fully against Rysden.

He doesn’t budge an inch, but his fingers tighten on my waist. I find myself thinking that the only thing that would make this moment even more perfect is if my mother and brother were here to enjoy it with me.

But for now, this moment is enough. Vaguely, I hear Terron make a few closing remarks, but I don’t really pay attention.

The tall, handsome Jaguar King steps in front of us. “Congratulations, Lady Mercy. You deserve the title of champion.”

I smile genuinely at him. “Thank you.”

“If you get tired of this guy, let me know,” he says with a nod at Rysden.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be, Kal?” Rysden growls at him. Kaldar just smiles and shakes his head before walking away.

I smile as I watch him go, enjoying the camaraderie between him and Rysden.

My smile slips when the Wolf King steps in front of us.

I stiffen, but I feel Rysden’s fingers move over my side smoothly, like he’s trying to keep me calm.

I’ll have to admit—his fingers stroking my side like that definitely distract me.

“Champion,” the king draws out. The way he says it sounds nothing like a compliment.

He looks down at the two wolves at our sides.

“How cozy is this?” I keep my breathing steady and even, refusing to respond to him.

“So, you two are the new powerful couple. Have you bound your souls together yet?” Neither Rysden nor I answer that question, but he must be able to see right through me.

He grins. “Why not? Haven’t decided if you really want to bond your souls together for all eternity?

It is a pretty big deal. Of course, I’d hate for something to happen to one of you before that happens.

” His smile is nothing but evil, and I feel Rysden’s fingers tighten on my side.

I meet his gaze head-on. “Where’s your wife today?” I ask. Two can play this game.

His eyes narrow on me. “She wasn’t feeling well, not that it’s any of your business.”

I cock my head to the side. “She wasn’t? Or she wasn’t allowed to come?”

His eyes darken dangerously, and his eyes snap to Rysden. “Keep your woman controlled.”

Rysden laughs so low in his chest, I can feel it reverberate through his chest against my back. “Did you watch any of the replay of the trial? You can’t contain a woman like Farrah.”

“Well, if you can’t, somebody else can!” The king snaps.

I feel Rysden step closer to me, putting our bodies impossibly close. “Careful, Father. That sounds like a threat.”

“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’t think 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 spirit animal 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.”

“During the trials, Terron changes the magic so that all the competitors can see them to keep things fair.”

I ponder his words. “What about Lox’s? I saw his before the trial.”

“That was my power that enabled you to see Lox’s.

I’m not sure why, I think Shade has something to do with it, but I can force a spirit animal to show.

” He shrugs. “I don’t normally need to do it, but I can do it.

I’ve done it a time or two over the years just to prove that I can. Lox is usually the one I practice on.”

I take all this in. “I think being able to see them and then not is almost worse—being able to see them and then never again? That’s so sad.”

He’s quiet a moment. “I want to show you something.” With that, he takes the lead, and I follow him.

We ride for a little while through the city, and I’m grateful.

I haven’t really had much time to take in the sights and sounds of the kingdom.

The path eventually starts to go uphill, and the houses become more sparsely spread out.

The horses easily pick their way up the path.

When we reach the top, Rysden turns Noctis around, and I mimic his movements and stare out over the city.

“This is one of my favorite spots to sit and watch the city,” he tells me quietly.

“I can see why.” It’s a pretty amazing view. We’re not so high that we can’t see people, but it’s high enough that you can see so much of the city. “It really is a beautiful city.”

“It is.”

Neither of us say anything as we take in the sights of the city. Eventually, Rysden leads us back down the path and back to his castle. Right before we go inside, I put my hand on his arm. “Rysden.” I wait for him to look at me. “Thank you for showing me that.”

“You’re welcome.”

As soon as we step inside, I take one sniff of whatever’s cooking, and my eyes nearly roll back in my head. “Hector,” I call out as I walk into the gathering area. “Whatever you are making smells divine!” I take in Kinsley, Harper, and Lox all at the table with empty plates. “You ate without us?”

“We didn’t know how long everybody would kiss the feet of their champion,” Harper says dryly.

“Hey now,” I say with a grin. “Don’t be jealous.”

She scoffs and throws a chunk of bread at me. I catch it midair and stuff a piece in my mouth. I catch the grin she’s trying to hide and can’t help but smile. “Where are Hector and Jamik?” I ask after swallowing.

“Business,” Rysden says as he walks past me and into the kitchen area. He comes back a moment later with two plates piled high with food.

“I sure hope one of those is for me.”

He doesn't skip a beat. "It is.”