Page 9 of Spirit Trials (The Spirit Kingdoms #1)

It’s mid-morning when I see the city come into view.

It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Of course, I’ve never been past the woods outside our village.

So, I don’t really have anything to compare it to.

When we get closer, I can see that there’s a thick wall that runs all the way around the city.

I can only imagine that having a wall would keep you so much safer; I’m suddenly envious.

If we had a wall around our village...I let the thought drop.

It doesn’t do any good to dwell on what-if's. We ride toward two huge scarlet doors. They’re open right now, but I assume they close at night.

There are guards patrolling the entrance.

Rysden takes the lead as we move towards the scarlet doors.

I watch as he leans down and talks to one of the guards.

I feel the guard’s eyes on me, but I keep my head held high.

It takes a few minutes but finally, the guard waves me forward.

I follow Rysden; and Lox, Hector, and Jamik ride behind me.

“Welcome to our city,” Lox says easily. I don’t say anything in response because I’m too busy taking in absolutely everything.

The streets are made of thick stone that the horses traverse easily.

There are homes and signs of life everywhere I look.

Carts with colorful flags line the streets and people sell food and other items, calling out loudly to passersby.

There’s a large group working together to build what looks like another home.

A lady is shaking out a bed sheet. Children run through the streets, laughing and yelling.

It shocks me how many people are out and about when it’s this cold.

A shiver runs through me. I glance at the leader and notice for the first time that he has his fur pulled up around his head, keeping his face closed off.

I wonder what he’s hiding; it’s obvious he doesn’t want to be seen.

I notice that the other three have disappeared, leaving me with just the leader.

Eventually, we arrive at what must be a castle.

It’s way bigger than the other homes we’ve passed.

Rysden dismounts and leads us over to a small barn, where Lox, Hector, and Jamik have already started caring for their horses.

I follow their example, leading mine into the last stall.

I look around for a brush, but Jamik stops me.

“I’ll take care of it.”

I pause only a moment before agreeing. “Thank you.” I follow Lox, Hector, and Rysden inside and stare in awe.

The walls are made of large, oval stones.

Cut into the stones are huge, round windows.

Everywhere I turn, I can see out a window.

It makes the room bright and airy, even though it’s made of stone.

I follow the men and walk under a large stone archway that opens up into a large dining area.

There's a long wood table with chairs to my right, as well as another large window. A wooden chandelier with candlesticks hangs from the ceiling; only there is no fire. They’re just glowing with soft light.

“It’s permalight,” Lox says when he sees me staring at the fixture. My eyebrows rise. “It never goes out,” he adds. When I turn to him, his eyes twinkle. “I take from your expression that you’ve never seen something like that before.”

“No, never.”

To our left is a sitting area with soft chairs in front of the largest fireplace and hearth I’ve ever seen.

Rysden is already adding wood and starting a fire.

Along the back wall is a long counter and above it several wood shelves line the wall holding plates and cups.

There’s a large wood-burning stove as well.

There are more lights on the wall and long wooden beams overhead.

The entire house is strong and sturdy and built well.

It’s not feminine or soft in any way, but it’s safe and warm.

I look around for servants or somebody to help keep up the house. “Who does the cooking?”

“We take turns,” Lox says, causing Hector to snort.

“What?” Lox asks. Hector gives him a look. “Okay, Hector cooks, and we eat it.”

“More like it,” Hector grunts.

“Yeah, you burnt the game every time you were in charge on our way here,” I say absently.

“Hey now,” Lox defends himself.

My eyes widen in surprise when I see the large stone basin. “You have water inside the house.”

“We do,” Lox says. “Comes in really handy for hot baths.”

“I bet it does,” I say, shaking my head.

I walk over to the sink and look out the huge circular window.

I gasp in surprise because outside the window is the most gorgeous view.

The window looks out on the mountains in the distance, mountains that are currently covered in snow. “It’s beautiful,” I say softly.

“It’s my favorite view,” Rysden says from close to me, startling me. I turn to look at him. He’s watching me with those intense eyes with an expression I can’t read. “Come on. I’ll show you where you can stay while you’re here.”

“Is it a dungeon?” I ask, only slightly kidding.

“It’s a room,” he responds.

“Hmmm. You kidnap me and then bring me to your home and give me a room?”

He shoots a glance back at me. “Yeah, well don’t get too comfortable. You won’t be here long.” With those ominous words, he leads me up a set of stone stairs.

I follow him to the top, scowling at the back of his head the entire time. “You know you can’t just say something like that and expect me to let it go. Why will I only be here a few days and where am I going next?” He doesn’t say anything in return. Shocking.

He opens a door and steps back so I can enter.

There’s a large bed in the center of the room with light-colored linens and a thick fur on top.

Speaking of fur, I look down. A large thick rug covers the entire floor and looks incredibly soft.

I can’t wait to take my boots off and feel it with my toes.

There’s a huge stone fireplace on the side wall that Rysden is already lighting.

I step around him and walk into the adjoining room.

There’s a toilet and a large tub with a spout. I shake my head in wonder.

“Is this a castle?” I ask when I step back into the room.

Rysden gives me an odd look. “This is my house.”

“It’s a castle,” I declare. “Who all lives here?”

“My men and I.” He doesn’t say anything more, and our time for connection is over.

Feeling uncertain, I fold my arms over my chest. “So, do you bring all your kidnappees here and give them a nice room?”

“When you get hungry, come down. Somebody will be working on food.” He looks around the room. “There are a few clothes for you in the wardrobe just to get you through. We’ll get you more soon.”

My eyes widen in surprise and then suspicion. “Whose are they?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes. If they’re some woman you brought here and murdered, then I’d like to know.”

"They’re Jamik’s,” he says dryly. “I’m heading out for a while. Let the guys know if you need anything.” He’s almost out the door when I finally cave.

“Thank you.” I don’t want to thank him; I want to hate him. And I do...and yet, I’m standing in here in this incredible room.

“Don’t thank me yet. You don’t know what’s coming.”

With those ominous words, he leaves the room.

I’m left trying to figure him out. I walk around the room, taking it in.

I can’t get over the sheer amount of space in just this one room, let alone the rest of the castle.

..that Rysden insists isn’t a castle. I walk back into the bathroom and stare longingly at the tub.

The one bath I took at the inn was too long ago and cut short.

After fiddling with the handle, I get hot water.

I run my hand through it for a few moments, marveling at it.

Then I add a few drops of scented oil and climb in.

I want to sit in here forever and soak, but my growling stomach keeps me moving.

After scrubbing my hair and my body with a bar of soap, I climb out and dry off.

I open the wardrobe and finger the few items. Two more dark shirts and a pair of dark pants.

Thankfully, there are a few underclothes too.

I’m not going to think too hard about where they came from or whose they are.

After pulling on the trousers and shirt, I comb my bright red curls and try to get all the tangles out before giving up and braiding my hair.

I take in the room again and wish my mother and brother could see this place.

A pang hits me, and suddenly I don’t want to be in this room anymore.

I make my way back down the stairs and towards the fireplace in the great room.

Lox, Hector, and Jamik are sitting at the table laughing about something.

I take them in for a minute before they realize I’m standing here.

I don’t really know how to take them; they’re different from how I think captors should be.

It’s easy to see that they’re relaxed and comfortable here.

I can’t quite piece together the fact that they all live together, almost like a family but not.

“Farrah,” Lox calls out, startling me. “Come get some food.”

I walk over to the table and take in the bowls of food, more food than we could possibly eat. “You need something on your feet; the floors are too cold for bare feet,” Rysden says as he walks into the room. I stare at him as anger suddenly fills me at the injustice of it all.

“Why am I here? And why couldn’t my mom and brother have come here?

You have all this space and all this food?

” I say picking up a bowl and setting it down harder than necessary, and some kind of stew sloshes over the edges.

“You’re safe in this fortress surrounded by thick walls. You have everything!”

His eyes harden. “They can’t.”

He turns and walks away. I make the mistake of meeting Lox’s eyes; they’re full of sympathy, and it just pushes me over the edge. I storm after Rysden. “Why not?” He keeps walking. “Answer me!” I demand. He turns to face me.

“Outsiders aren’t welcome here.”

“Only prisoners, right?” I ask as fury wells up in me.

“Exactly.” He grabs my wrist, stopping me before I hit him.

“You need to work on your form.” I shake my head in fury, but he doesn’t release his grip on my hand.

“You should have been killed upon entry. The only reason you weren’t is because you were with me.

Your brother and mother would most certainly have been killed before they made it into the city. ”

Hatred wells up within me, and I yank my hand away. “No, they wouldn’t have. If you would have brought them with you, they would have been safe too.”

“No, they wouldn’t have been.”

I grit my teeth; I've never met a person who frustrates me so much. “You’re lying.”

He steps close. “I am many things, but a liar I am not.”

I shake my head. “I don’t get you.”

He turns and walks away but not before he calls out, “You’re not supposed to.”

I stare after his retreating back. “Stubborn, impossible male. Better sleep with one eye open,” I mutter. I tip my head up and stare at the ceiling, feeling frustrated and absolutely lost.

“Come, Young One,” Hector says from behind me. “Get something to eat; it will help.”

“I don’t feel like eating.”

“You still need to,” he says in response. I stand there a few minutes longer before finally caving.

Lox kicks out a chair for me across from him. “Welcome.”

I slide into the chair, looking around the table, irritated. “Are you trying to fatten me up before you kill me?”

“Are you always this distrusting?” Lox asks with a slight smile.

“Of people who kidnap me? Yes. One hundred percent of the time.”

“At least we didn’t kill you,” Jamik says without looking up from his food.

“Is that supposed to be a comfort?”

Jamik gives me a rare smile, and I sigh. I guess he has a point. “Since I’m stuck here, why don’t you tell me why I’m here.” Not one of them says a word. Lox only shakes his head.

“You have to talk to Rysden about that.”