Page 58 of Spirit Trials (The Spirit Kingdoms #1)

“I’m going to get down and walk,” I tell Lox as I dismount and tie up my horse.

I pat the coins I slipped in my pocket before coming.

I still can’t believe the amount of money I won from the trials.

In all the craziness of everything, I’d forgotten about it.

But Rysden hadn’t. He made sure I got my prize money.

“I’ll be around,” Lox says before slipping away.

I breathe in the morning air and start walking between the vendors. I wander from cart to cart, taking in absolutely everything. I stop in front of a vendor. “That smells amazing.”

An older woman beams at me. “Here. You must try my sugared dough.”

“How much is it?” I ask.

“For Lady Mercy, it is free.”

“Oh, no. Please let me pay.” But the woman is resolute, and she hands me something hot in a napkin.

I tear off a piece and chew it. I swear my eyes nearly roll back in my head. “That is amazing!”

The woman grins. “You like it?”

“I love it.” I notice for the first time the spirit wolf lying down on the ground beside her. “He’s beautiful.”

The woman glances at her spirit animal and then back at me. “He is.”

I take another bite and groan. “Thank you. I’ll be back to buy some of these to take home.”

She smiles again. “Okay, Lady Mercy.”

I walk away from her cart and wander. A hand grabs my wrist and tugs me hard.

I spin around, ready to throw off my attacker; but I pause when I see it’s a woman probably the same age as my mother.

“Lady Mercy, my sister’s family was just banished.

My nephew failed to produce a spirit animal, but he’s a good boy.

” Her hand tightens on my wrist, but her voice stays quiet. “You can save him. Please.”

Her pleas gut me. “I’m so sorry. I wish there was something I could do.”

“You can. You’re the Champion. Just speak to the king; he’ll listen to you.

You’re Lady Mercy. You won the trials without killing.

Please don’t let my family die. They—” She’s suddenly jerked backwards, and I stumble back in surprise as one of the guards appears out of nowhere and grabs the back of her cloak.

“What do we have here?”

My stomach recoils at the sound of that voice, and I squeeze my hands in my pants tightly before taking a breath and turning around to face the king.

He looks between the woman and I and smiles connivingly.

I try not to show my fear. This is not going to end well; I just know it.

What is he even doing here? Rysden says he never leaves the safety of his castle.

He stares at the woman, and I try to figure out what’s happening.

“Did I hear talk of the banished?” He looks between me and the woman.

I don’t say a word; I’m not sure what all’s at play here.

The woman shakes her head quickly, and I see the fear in her eyes.

She meets my eyes for just a moment, and I nearly close my eyes at the desperation there.

I look away, trying to keep my calm. My mind scrambles for what to do.

“Your Majesty,” I say, taking a step forward.

Several guards surround him, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

Am I really that much of a threat that you need all these guards to protect you from me?

I meet his eyes as I think these words, hoping somehow, they penetrate.

His eyes narrow on me, and I almost wonder if he can understand my thoughts.

“Guard?” the king barks out.

He doesn’t even know the guard’s name; I bet Rysden does. The thought hits me suddenly, and I do my best to scan the area, looking for Rysden. When I don’t see him, I turn back to the king. “Looking for someone?” he asks, his lips tugged up in a smirk.

I continue to meet his gaze. “No.”

He looks over to his guard. “Well?”

“She was speaking to Lady Mercy about her nephew, one of the banished, Your Highness.”

“No,” the woman cries out, and I take a step towards her, unsure what is happening right now. The guard grabs her arms and yanks her back.

“Wait, stop,” I say without thinking, stepping towards her.

“I suggest you don’t go any further,” the King’s voice booms. “Unless you want to join her.” I turn towards him as he faces the crowd.

“Watch and learn what happens to those who speak of the banished in my kingdom.” I hear a terrible sound and turn to see the woman’s head hit the ground next to her body.

A scream rips through my throat but is silenced by the hand over my mouth.

I’m tugged backwards, and I don’t even fight it.

I can’t. My mind is replaying that horrific moment over and over again in my head.

“We’re leaving now.” I don’t respond to Lox's words; I couldn’t if I wanted to.

I bend over and throw up the sugared dough I ate just a few minutes ago.

Lox practically shoves me up on my horse.

By force of habit, I grab the reins and kick my feet into his sides.

When Rysden’s castle comes into view, I barely see it through my tears. “What happened?” a hard voice demands. I blink and realize Rysden is standing next to my horse. “What did you do to her?”

I dismount and stumble on shaky legs. Strong arms catch me and steady me. Dark eyes meet mine. “What is it? Are you hurt?” I can only shake my head; I can’t find it in me to find the words to tell him what happened. “Farrah, talk to me.”

“It was the King,” I hear Lox say.

Rysden’s eyes go cold. “What did he do to you?”

I shake my head and pull away from him. He lets me go, and I can feel his eyes on me.

But I don’t look back; I can’t. I step inside quietly, hoping no one will realize I’m back.

I can’t handle talking to anyone right now.

I hear laughter coming from the dining area, but I head up the stairs to Rysden’s room.

I close the door and stare at the bed, closing my eyes as visions of the woman’s head hitting the ground run through my head.

I think of the nephew and family she pleaded for, the ones she died for.

Somebody will have to tell them she’s dead.

A tidal wave of emotion flows over me, and I drop to the ground and wrap my arms around my knees.

The door to my room opens quietly. I don’t tell whoever it is to go away; I don’t have the energy.

I figure it’s Rysden, and I don’t know if I can handle talking to him right now.

But it’s not Rysden’s voice that hits me. “My girl, what is it?”

I lift my head. “Mom?”

She kneels next to me and puts her hand on my shoulder.

“What is it?” The damn bursts. I can’t tell her what happened because I’m crying too hard.

She never leaves me; she just runs her hand over my back.

Somehow, even in the midst of my grief and anger, I realize that she’s giving me comfort.

New tears fall because she hasn’t done that since I was a little girl.

When the tears finally stop, I tell her what happened today.

“I’m so angry.”

She nods. “You should be. What’s happening is not right.” She’s quiet a moment, and I suck in a shaky breath. “The question is—what are you going to do about it?”

I laugh bitterly. “There’s nothing I can do.”

She’s quiet again. “Are you sure?”

“Mom, he’s the King. There’s no stopping him. He’s cruel and evil, but he’s the leader here. Besides, if we kill him, it kills Rysden’s mom. They’re bound together.”

“Is she a good person?” my mom asks.

I smile in spite of myself. “She is.”

“Sounds like it’s complicated then.”

I nod. “Yeah. It’s a mess.”

“How does Rysden’s mom feel about the king?”

“He’s awful to her. I think she’d kill him herself if she could.” I shake my head. “She told me to basically kill him, to aim true.”

“Hmmm.”

I turn to my mom. “What’s that mean?” She shrugs, but I’m not fooled. “What?”

“It sounds like she told you what to do, Lady Mercy.”

I scowl. “Now you’re calling me that? I hate that name.” When she doesn’t say anything, I turn to her. “How do you even know about all this?”

She smiles. “Lox likes to talk.”

“That’s the truth,” I mutter.

“Farrah, the people call you that. You didn’t name yourself that; the people in this kingdom did. You need to think about why.”

“What? So, I can kill their king?” I say with a laugh. “I don’t think that’s showing mercy.”

“Perhaps the greatest mercy you can show this kingdom is to kill their king and let his son, who is good, rule in his stead.”

I blink in shock and glance around the room, even though I know it’s empty. “Mom, words like that could get you killed.”

She doesn’t bat an eye. “Sometimes the greatest acts take the greatest risks.”

I stare at her. “Are you serious right now?”

She doesn’t look away from me. “Farrah, you came into this kingdom without a single person knowing you outside of the men that brought you here. Now, every man, woman, and child in this kingdom know you as the Champion. They’ve given you a nickname.

You’ve become something of a legend to them.

” She stands to her feet slowly before looking back down at me. “Now live up to it.”

I’m not sure how long I stay on the floor and let my mother’s words run through my mind.

Sometime later, the door opens quietly. I know without looking that it’s Rysden.

He doesn’t say a word. He just helps me to my feet and places one of his shirts in my hand.

He disappears into the bathing room, leaving me alone to be able to change.

I'm in bed before he comes back out again. When he climbs into bed, he surprises me by taking me into his arms. “I’m sorry. That should have never happened, and you shouldn’t have had to witness it. ”

“She pleaded with me to help bring her sister’s family back.

Her nephew was in the trials and didn’t manifest a spirit animal.

” I close my eyes. “The desperation in her eyes.” When I open my eyes, I meet his eyes.

I can see the intensity there by the light of the fire.

“All I could think about was what if it was my family?” I stare into his eyes.

“What if it were our child that didn’t produce a spirit animal. ”

His jaw tightens. “I would never let that happen.”

“I know. That’s why things have to change.” I lay my head on his chest, and he wraps those strong arms around me. I was afraid that I would never sleep after today, but safe in Rysden’s arms, I fall asleep faster than ever.

The next morning, we ride out to meet with Terron.

Rysden received word early this morning that he would meet with us.

Rysden’s been quiet all morning, but I’m not surprised, not after the day we had yesterday.

We leave the city behind and head to the area where the trials started.

“Why are we meeting all the way out here?” I ask when we get close.

“Terron doesn’t like being in any of the kingdoms.”

I turn my head to look at Rysden. “Why not?”

“I think it has to do with showing partiality to any of the kingdoms, but that’s just a guess.” We enter the open area, and I see Terron just ahead. Eaglon stands next to him in all his gryphon glory. Terron waves us over after we dismount.

“Welcome, Prince Rysden and Lady Mercy. Let’s get started. If you would both come this way, we—”

“I forbid this bonding ceremony to take place!” a new voice booms behind us. I don’t even have to turn to see who it is. I close my eyes for a brief second. The King has arrived.