Page 48 of Spirit Trials (The Spirit Kingdoms #1)

I eat until I can’t eat anything more. My stomach hurts both from eating too much and from laughing too hard.

Although I miss Hector and Jamik, I can’t remember when I’ve had a better evening.

But after I yawn at the table for the third time, Rysden stands up and picks up my plate.

I try to follow him, but Rysden waves me off. “I’ve got these.”

I ignore him and grab a towel, so I can start drying the ones he’s already washed. “How come they didn’t do anything to the banished?” I ask him softly.

“They will after the Champion’s Ball.”

I stop drying the dish in my hand. “The what?”

“The Champion's Ball,” he repeats.

“Please don’t tell me that is anything like what it sounds like.”

“Oh, it’s exactly like what it sounds like, and you’re going to hate it.”

I take in his smirk and use my towel to smack him. “Rysden!”

“You will be the center of attention for the night. Better dress the part.”

I drop the towel to my side and close my eyes. “Why is this my life?” My eyes snap open. “You’ll be there, right?”

He turns to me and looks into my eyes. I notice his eyes drop to my lips for just a second before they meet my eyes again.

The action surprises me. “Yes.” I forget for a moment what he’s responding to.

I force my focus back on the topic we started with.

“So, after the ball, they’ll what...just round up everybody without a spirit animal?

” He nods after a moment, but he doesn’t look pleased.

“And you’re just going to let that happen?

” I walk out of the room before I say something I might regret.

Solace comes to my side as I pass the dining area.

I know I’m too keyed up now to sleep, so I detour and instead head to the basement, snagging my bow and quiver on the way.

It's quiet and cool when I get there and just what I need.

I set up near the targets and pull out an arrow.

The movement is fluid and fast, and the arrow hits just off the center.

I roll my shoulders and settle into it. It feels good to work with my bow, and I find myself lost in the movements.

I’m not sure how long I stay down there, but when my arms feel heavy and are shaking too much to be accurate, I finally stop.

After gathering all my arrows, plus the ones I used from the supply down here, I throw my bow and quiver over my shoulder.

“Ready?” I ask Solace as I walk past where she’s lying on the floor.

Feel better? She asks.

Yes.

She joins me, and we head up the stairs.

I slip into my room and put down my bow and quiver.

I’m about to take off my clothes when I hear a sound; it sounds like Rysden’s door closing.

I debate a moment. Part of me is still frustrated with the whole banished issue, but the other part of me feels bad about how I left things.

After another moment of indecision, I open my door, leaving it open so Solace can slip out with me.

I walk over to the stairs and look down.

I’m about to call his name when I notice he’s about to leave.

Frowning, I watch as he opens the door and slips out into the night.

“He didn’t take Shade with him,” I say out loud.

I’ve wondered where Rysden goes when he leaves all the time.

I’ve always thought he was doing whatever Prince business he has to do at the castle, but why would he be going out this time of night?

I make my decision. I run back to my room and grab my bow and quiver and throw them over my shoulder.

“Let’s go,” I tell Solace. I’m not foolish enough to go out in the dark of night without my wolf at my side.

When we get to the front door, I slip it open quietly and close it once Solace is clear.

I hear horse hooves coming. Not wanting to get caught, I slip down into the shadows.

Solace drops down next to me. I want to follow him and see where’s he going, I explain to her through our link.

Noted.

Why didn’t he take Shade? I ask.

You’ll have to ask him.

I make out two riders—Rysden and Lox. We wait until they ride past us, then race to the barn. I saddle Asha quickly and head out. Can you track them?

Solace gives the equivalent of a snort. You could too if you would learn to use my abilities.

I need to work on that, I agree.

Wherever they’re going, they’re going fast, Solace says.

We follow but keep our distance. When they head West, I frown but keep moving.

As we move through the city, it becomes evident that I’ve never been to this part of the city before.

The further we go, the smaller and rougher the houses become.

There are a few torches burning to light the way, but I don’t need much light to see how bad it is.

The smell.

I take in Solace’s comment but don’t notice it right away.

I certainly notice it a few minutes later.

My eyes water, and I pull up my tunic over my nose to try to block out the worst of it.

The further we go, the more obvious it is that this is the most neglected part of the city.

My mind buzzes with unanswered questions.

Why would Rysden come here? I ask Solace, but she doesn’t answer.

She stops moving suddenly and stands closer to me, and I have to step to the side to avoid her.

My eyes try to focus in the dark. I see a light up ahead and head that way.

When I get close, I see Rysden and Lox standing in an open area.

Lox holds a torch, and I watch as Rysden lifts his hand to his mouth and makes some sort of trilling sound three times.

I step back into the shadows. What in the world is going on?

Several doors open, and I step further back as people begin coming out of their houses.

Shacks, really. By the light of the torch, I can see children dancing around Rysden and Lox.

Even from here, I can see how thin they are.

I watch as women gather around Lox and Rysden.

Rysden pulls a huge bag off his horse and drops it to the ground.

Then he reaches inside and starts pulling out.

..something. It takes me a moment to realize what it is.

Bread. I stare as he continues to pull food out of his bag.

Loaf after loaf of bread, figs, plums, meat of some kind.

..It’s hard to tell exactly what everything is.

In the midst of passing out the food, he talks with each woman that he hands food to.

I can’t hear from here what he says, but they respond to him as if they know him well.

When the bag is empty, he pulls another bag from Lox’s horse and continues.

When that bag is empty, he calls out to the children.

They gather around him and grab his arms and drag him further away.

I lose sight of them in the dark, but I hear the children’s delighted voices.

Suddenly, there’s something hard and cold at my throat. “Who are you and why are you here?”

I go still at the feel of the knife against my throat.

I hear Solace’s quiet growl and immediately send my words to her.

It’s okay. Let me talk my way out of this; don’t do anything and stay out of sight.

I’m not really sure why Rysden didn’t bring Shade, but I don’t want to use Solace to find out.

Another low growl is her only response, but she doesn’t pounce.

I take that as a good sign. “I’m a friend of the Prince’s,” I tell the woman who has a knife at my throat.

“Don’t look like a friend over here hiding in the dark,” she hisses at me.

“You’re right. He actually doesn’t know I’m here, but I followed him. I wanted to see where he was going at night. I wanted to make sure he wasn’t cheating on me.” It’s not exactly the truth, but hopefully it will work.

The knife slackens at my throat. “He’s not cheating on ya.”

“I see that now.” I pause a moment. “Does he come here often?”

The woman doesn’t say anything at first. “He’ll have to tell you that.” I admire her protecting him. “Let’s go.” She shoves me forward, and I stumble before I get my feet under me.

“Where are we going?” I manage to get out.

“Going to the Prince to see if he knows ya. If not, my blade will find its way across your throat.”

“Okay.” My voice is calmer than I expect it to be.

Want me to take her out? Solace asks in her calm voice.

No.

“In full disclosure,” I tell the woman as we get closer.

“He may not respond well to you holding a knife—” It’s at that unfortunate moment that Rysden whirls around.

His eyes lock on the knife at my throat, and I know his intent immediately.

I barely get a chance to throw my hands up.

“Don’t!” The hand holding his knife pauses just before he releases it.

I turn to the woman. “Is that good enough?”

Her eyes are wide, but she keeps her composure. “Who are you?”

And then Rysden’s there. “Is there a reason you have a knife to my mate’s throat?” His voice is low and full of danger.

The woman becomes a totally different person. “I apologize, my Prince. I did not know who she was to you.” Her words are calm and quiet, nothing like they were just minutes ago.

I watch Rysden. He’s clearly still angry, but he gives her a tight nod. “See that it doesn’t happen again, Patrice.”

She nods, a smile tugging at her lips. “It won’t.” She moves away from us over to the group without as much as a nod at me or an apology, for that matter.

Rysden turns his gaze on me, and I resist the urge to take a step back. I fully expect him to ream me out for following him, but he doesn’t say a word. Lox joins us. “Evening, Lady Mercy.”

“What else do we need to do here?” I ask Rysden.

“We’re leaving.” Rysden puts his hand on my back and all but propels me forward.

“You could ask, you know,” I mutter.

He makes a sound. “And you would listen?”

I open my mouth, but Solace beats me to a response.

He’s right. I scowl but don’t respond. Rysden doesn’t say a word the entire time we walk back to the horses, nor does he say anything on the ride back to his home.

Once we’re inside, I manage to make it two steps towards the stairs when his voice stops me.

“Is there a reason someone put a knife to your throat again and lived to tell about it?” His words are dark and dangerous.