Page 59 of Spirit Trials (The Spirit Kingdoms #1)

Rysden puts his hand on my lower back. “Continue with the ceremony,” he says to Terron, never looking back at his father.

Terron, to his credit, doesn’t miss a beat. “This ceremony will bind your two lives together. One cannot die without the other one dying as well. But on the positive side, one cannot live without the other living as well.”

“I said that this binding ceremony will not take place,” the king calls out, still behind us. I glance back and see he has several of his royal guards surrounding him. I can feel the tension coming off Rysden. This is not going to go well.

In a smooth move, Rysden draws his sword from his back and spins around. “You will not stand in the way of Farrah and I bonding.”

The king looks way too at ease for my liking.

“I won’t have to.” His words don’t make any sense until he snaps his wrist, and a horse and rider come out from among the other horses and rides forward.

The rider lifts their head and pushes the hooded cloak off their head.

I suck in a breath at the sight of Rysden’s mother.

Rysden goes still next to me. Rysden’s mother lifts her head but stares straight ahead; I wonder if she even is aware of what’s going on.

The king lifts his hand. “Get the girl.”

It takes a moment for me to realize he means me.

Uh, no. That is not going to happen. I keep my hands loose at my side, ready to grab my bow the second Rysden makes a move.

Because there is no doubt in my mind, he will make his move.

That’s confirmed a moment later when his hand brushes against mine in just the lightest touch.

“You’re not taking her.” Rysden’s words echo around the open area.

Tensions spreads as the king’s guards spread out.

“The occurrence of a true soul mate is rare in our world,” Terron speaks, breaking the silence. “It is not wise to mess with what the Creator has deemed a—” His words cut off abruptly, and I whirl around.

“No!” I run towards where Terron has fallen, even as Eaglon lets out a terrible screech. I watch as Eaglon flickers a moment. “No!” I run faster.

“Stop her!” the king orders.

Pandemonium erupts around me, but my sole focus is to get to where Terron is bleeding out.

Somebody grabs me from behind, and I lash out in fury, driving my knife into his gut.

I push him off my knife and turn and run.

Eaglon is still making a terrible sound, but he’s flickering in and out of sight.

I drop next to Terron and reach out and take the knife that’s in his heart and pull with all my strength.

It doesn’t come out; it’s too slippery with all the blood.

“It’s okay, Child,” Terron says in a weak voice.

“No,” I say and try again. He groans in agony, and I hate it but I’m not willing to let him die on my watch. I try again but can’t get it. “I can’t get it,” I grind out in frustration.

“It’s okay,” he says softly.

“It’s not okay.” Anger pours through my words.

“Lady Mercy.” His voice is a little stronger, and my eyes snap to his.

“There’s nothing you can do; it’s my time.

” Anger rolls through me, and I can barely contain it.

He squeezes my hand with more strength than I thought he would have.

“The wolves will know how to bond you.” His eyes lock with mine.

“It’s time to end the reign of hate and fear and prejudice.

Times are changing.” He coughs, and blood spills from his mouth.

Utter helplessness pours through me. “You are the one to do it.” If there was any doubt about who or what he was talking about, he meets my eyes.

“End the Wolf King. He—” He coughs up more blood and then goes still.

Eaglon makes a small sound and flickers once, twice, and then disappears into Terron’s body.

I swallow hard as I grieve the terrible loss, and I give myself this one moment to be Farrah.

And when I rise, I rise as Lady Mercy, Champion of the Trials.

My mother’s words ring through my head. 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 take in the scene before me. Rysden is facing off against too many guards to count.

He's winning, for now. I know he can hold his own, but I fire off several arrows as I walk towards him. There seems to be no end of guards, and I wonder just how many the king brought with him. I leave Rysden to face the guards and search the area for the king. I finally see him practically hidden behind a wall of guards. I don’t hesitate a moment as I walk that way.

My bow is up, and I take down any guard that threatens me.

I don’t want to kill them; they’re simply following orders.

But if it’s my life or Rysden’s, I will choose ours every single time.

I feel Solace’s power aiding me in being faster and stronger than I can be on my own.

I’m so thankful we trained, and I can pull from her abilities even at this distance.

I keep firing arrows, but there are so many guards.

Some of them come at me, and I have to fight them off.

I want to look over to see how Rysden is faring, but I can’t lose my focus for a moment, or I’ll be dead.

“Just give it up,” the king calls out over the fight.

“Never,” I shout and shove a guard off me.

Thankfully, the guards aren’t fighting with their spirit animals, or this would be a different story.

The king’s paranoia is working in our favor.

I try to sight him but can’t get a glimpse of him with all the guards in front of him.

In my momentary distraction, I miss the guard on my side.

He gets me with his knife in my side, right at the slit in my vest. I knock it away, but I can tell it’s serious.

If I don’t get the bleeding stopped soon, it’s going to become a problem.

But I can’t focus on that, I need to focus on staying alive.

Suddenly, there’s a force behind me. I almost take a breath of relief.

Almost . Rysden closes in, and we go back-to-back, fighting every guard around us.

I can tell from Rysden’s victims that he’s not trying to kill them.

But being careful is harder than just killing them.

I look in vain again for the king, but I wouldn’t even know he was still out here if I didn’t hear his taunting voice every little bit.

I meet the eyes of Rysden’s mom. She doesn’t say a word or even act like she sees me across the field.

But for just a moment, the world slows down around me.

And then she puts her shoulders back and drops her hands to her sides and stares at me. Our conversation comes back to my mind.

“There will come a time...I don’t know when...but an opportunity will present itself to take the king’s life. Do not falter; it will be the only chance you get.”

“I can’t do that. It will kill you.”

“You will. When the time comes, it will be easy.”

Her eyes lock on mine, and she gives me the smallest nod. I understand what it is she wants me to do. I shake my head, and my hands start shaking because there has to be another way to kill the king besides taking her life. The last words she said to me ring in my head.

“My son will never be able to do it. Aim true.”

I can’t do it; I would never hurt the man I love in this way. But when she mouths one word, my resolve crumbles.

Please.

Even from this distance, I see the agony in her eyes.

In this moment, I have a choice. I may lose the only man I’ve ever loved, but I have a chance to end her suffering and kill the king and give this kingdom the kind of ruler they deserve.

Every emotion falls away, and I lift my bow in one smooth motion and send an arrow straight into the queen’s heart.

She jerks back in her seat, and her eyes lock on mine.

And then she smiles, and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

Tears are already falling as I race towards her.

“Rysden!” I scream. “Your mom!” I don’t get a chance to say more than that, because she only has seconds to live.

My aim was true; I didn’t falter in my task.

But I want him to be able to say goodbye.

I get to her first and reach up and try to catch her body as she starts to slide from the saddle.

Her weight is too much for me, but Rysden’s there a moment later, catching her and lowering her to the ground.

“Mom,” the cry rips from somewhere deep inside him. I step back and let him have his moment with his mom.

I turn around, guarding him and his mom.

Nobody will take this moment from them. A shout of rage echoes through the area, and I jolt but hold my ground.

“What have you done?” the king roars. Guards run in his direction, leaving us alone; but I don’t drop my guard for a moment.

Moments later, silence descends. I don’t look down at Rysden or his mom; I can’t bear to.

I keep my gaze on the guards and know when the king is gone.

The guards around him spread out and turn towards us.

I keep my bow raised, but nobody makes a move in our direction.

I see movement next to me, and I see Rysden stand to his feet.

I don’t chance looking at his eyes; I’m not ready to see the anger that’s going to be directed my way.

I want to remember a little bit longer how he used to see me.

Then his voice fills the clearing. “My father is dead. I am King now.” I hear the sound of him drawing his sword.

“Anybody that won’t serve me, face me now.

” Nobody makes a move, and the silence and tension grow thick.

And then one of the royal guards steps forward.

Rysden takes a step forward with his sword raised, but the guard drops to one knee and puts his hand over his heart.

“My King.” Another guard does the same. “My King.” Then another guard and then another.

Soon, every guard still alive is on one knee.

I still don’t glance at Rysden, but I take a breath.

It’s finally over. The Wolf Kingdom will get the ruler it needs.

The banished will get to come home, and the widows won’t live in squalor.

There’s no doubt in my mind that all of these things will come to pass because I know Rysden’s heart.

He’s good, and he’s fair; and he will rule well.

Rysden sheaths his sword. “I am not my father.” Absolute silence reigns after his words.

“I won’t rule like him. You should know right now that I will be bringing the banished back.

” My gaze flits over the guards. They’re too trained to let any expression show on their faces, and I wonder how they’re taking this news.

“If anybody has a problem with that, now’s your only chance to leave. ”

One of the guards, a big man with dark black hair tied back, stands to his feet. “We will follow you, My King. It is time to change things in this kingdom.” His words reverberate around us. I watch as Rysden walks over to him and puts a hand on his shoulder.

“Thank you, Brak. You will lead the Royal Guard.” Rysden puts out his hand, and the shocked guard shakes it. “They’re yours to lead, Captain. I only ask that you see to it that the queen gets a proper burial, a private one,” Rysden says.

Brak nods solemnly. “It will be done.”

Rysden turns around and walks back to me.

I’m careful to keep from meeting his gaze.

He doesn’t say a word to me as we walk over to the horses and mount up.

It’s a long, silent ride back to his home.

“I have to head to the castle; things will be in an uproar.” He runs his hand over his head.

I want to reach out and comfort him but don’t; I'm not sure he would allow it. “I’ll see you tonight.” He rides away, taking my heart with him.