Page 64 of Spirit Trials
I stare at Jamik. “I’m sure my well-being is none of your brother’s concern.”
He gives me a look. “Right.” Then he disappears with his food.
Unsurprisingly, Lox is the last one in the kitchen. He must have already worked out because he looks awake and alert. “Mmm, smells good in here. What are these?” he asks, picking up one of the small cakes.
“Maple fig cakes. They’re—”
I don’t even finish what I was saying before he takes a huge bite. “Mmm, these are amazing,” he says around his bite.
“I guess you’re not like Rysden then. He doesn’t eat sweets for breakfast,” I mimic in a low voice.
Lox grins. “That’s his loss and my gain.” He picks up two more. “You ready for today?” He’s uncharacteristically serious, which makes my nerves ratchet up.
“Yes,” I say confidently.
He grins. “You’re terrified, aren’t you?”
“Scared to death,” I tell him.
“You’re going to be fine. I think you’re better trained than I was when I went in,” he says, putting his hand on my shoulder. “You’re going to do great.”
“Lox!” Rysden barks from the doorway. “Stop flirting and let’s go.”
Lox grins down at me and winks and then steps away. I face Rysden, who looks more angry than usual. I think of Hector’s words and wonder if maybe he’s nervous for me. “If you’re done staring at me, we can go,” he snaps at me.
Or not. “Yep. I’m ready.” I throw my sack over my shoulder and then my quiver and finally my bow.
“You have your bag?” I nod. “Knives?” He scans my body, mentally checking off each one. “Bow? Quiver? A blanket for nights? Rope? Dried meat? A waterskin?”
“I’m good, Rysden,” I tell him softly. I wonder if just maybe Hector is right; maybe he is a little worried. “I’m going to be fine.”
His eyes meet mine. “Yes, you will.” His words are stiff. “Let’s go, or we’re going to be late.” Shade meets us outside, and I’m surprised to see the other guys aren’t with us.
“We’re going by ourselves?”
“Jamik’s going too.”
Thankfully, I get my own horse for this ride. When we get close to the gathering place, Rysden pulls his horse to a stop. “I can’t go any closer with you.”
“Oh, right. Of course. Okay. Well, thanks for everything. I’ll see you at the end of this trial.”
He doesn’t say anything, and I shake my head and turn to Jamik. “Thanks for everything, Jamik. I’ll see you soon.” He nods.
I slip off my horse. “I’ll just leave her here with you now, so you don’t have to collect her later.” I leave the two somber brothers behind and walk to where the contestants are all gathered. My eyes scan the crowd for Harper and Kinsley. When I don’t see them, I feel a sense of loss. I feel just as lonely and confused as I did before trial one. I push those thoughts aside and focus on the competitors that are left. The numbers are smaller; we lost several in the first trial. Unbidden, Sariah’s face comes to mind before I push it from my mind. That won’t help me now. It doesn’t take long for the Wolf King, Jaguar King, and Terron to join us.
After the long-winded Wolf King finally finishes welcoming all of us, as if this were a fun outing instead of a trial designed to kill us, Terron steps forward. “Trial Two is upon us. Welcome and congratulations on making it to this trial. This trial is a nod to the Jaguar Kingdom, so I would like to welcome the Jaguar King to tell you about it.” I watch intently as the Jag King, the one I met briefly at the dinner before trial one, steps forward.
“The challenge for this trial is simple. All you have to do is stay in the trees until the horns blow. If your feet touch the ground, you’re done.” After that, he steps back. I turn to Harper and Kinsley excitedly before I remember that I’m alone. Still, I’m excited about this challenge. The trees are my second home. I’m feeling really good about this one. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Rysden warned me, and I was able to pack accordingly.
Terron steps forward once again. “Do not forget that while your goal is to remain in the trees; that is not your sole goal. You also need to collect gold coins. Listen for the first horn. Once you hear it, you will have twenty minutes to find your tree and climb. The trial ends when the second set of horns stop blowing. Now, this challenge will start a little differently. Each of you will be flashed to the area in which our competition takes place. Gather in groups of ten, please. That’s as many as Eaglon can take withhim for each journey.” I’m still staring at the stage when the people around me start grouping up. I’m still stuck on the fact that we’re going to be teleporting somewhere.
“Farrah.”
I turn in surprise to Kinsley. As excited as I am to see her, a wariness fills me. “Hi.”
She surprises me with a hug. “I’m so sorry about everything that went down. You didn’t do anything wrong. Maritus should have never held a knife to your throat. What happened to him was his own fault. I told Harper she was way out of line, if that helps.”
I smile, relieved to have at least one friend back. “It does. I really am sorry, though, about what happened to your friend.”
