Page 32 of Spirit Trials
“The kings of each of the kingdoms all have a corporal spirit animal. They’re real animals.”
I’m too shocked to say anything. “They don’t disappear inside of them?”
She shakes her head. “No. They are their own separate beast. They have a mental connection, same as the spirit wolves. From what I understand, the king can see through the eyes of their spirit animal no matter where they’re at.”
“So, the Wolf King has an actual, real wolf, that functions outside of himself?”
“Yeah, and the Jag King has a jag. Now let’s keep moving,” Harper snaps.
I can’t even wrap my head around it. Then something stops me in my tracks. “Wait. What about the prince?”
“He has a spirit wolf that’s corporal too. All those born of royal blood do,” Kinsley says.
“Do you not know anything?” Harper asks.
I bite my tongue as anger rushes through me fast and swift. Rysden lied to me. I specifically remember him telling me I could win this because he won without a spirit wolf. I shake my head. That liar! He had a wolf! A feeling of despair crashes through me, and I realize I am quite literally the only person out here that doesn’t have at least a chance that their spirit animal will show because I know for a fact, I don’t have a spirit animal. I don’t get a chance to dwell on it anymore, because something catches my attention. I grab my bow and nock an arrow just as the underbrush next to us moves. Two twigrens come tumbling out. They’re up and running a moment later, chasing each other. I shoot off two arrows in quick succession, bringing both of them down.
“Bloodthirsty much?” Harper asks. I ignore her and walk over to my kills. I drop to my knees and grab one of my knives.
“I need to skin this. Watch my back, will you?” I ask Kinsley because I don’t really trust Harper to. Minutes later, I have the meat ready for transport. Kinsley grimaces at the sight of it. “These little guys will help us stay alive,” I remind her. I wrap the meat in some brown paper that I’m suddenly glad Hector insisted I bring, and then we’re off again.
Chapter 18
“Do you think the coins are tiny and impossible to see?” I ask. We’ve been walking for a while, but we haven’t seen anything that looks even remotely like a gold coin.
“I have no idea,” Kinsley responds.
The back of my neck tingles with awareness, and I shove Kinsley, and we both fall to the ground. An arrow hits the tree, right where we’d just been standing a moment ago. I crouch on the balls of my feet with my bow in hand. “Do you see where it came from?” I whisper to Kinsley, who’s alert beside me.
“I’ll cover you,” Harper says from somewhere close behind us. “Get behind the tree.”
After another thorough search, I jump up and run behind the tree. Kinsley follows me. I take in Harper’s hold on her bow and relax a little; it’s obvious she knows how to use it. I stand on the other side of the tree with an arrow nocked as well. “See anything?” I ask quietly. We stand that way for a little while. “Whatever it was is gone,” I finally say. We lower our bows and start walking again but keep our eyes peeled.
“Excuse me,” a feminine voice says behind us.
I whirl around with my bow raised. A girl, who looks too young to be in these trials, stands a few yards away with her hands raised. “I’m unarmed.”
I search the woods around her, but I don’t see anything. “Why would she be unarmed?” Kinsley asks quietly.
“Go away,” Harper calls out with an arrow trained on the girl. “We don’t want to hurt you.”
“Please,” she calls out. “I was attacked, and they took my weapons. I’m defenseless now; I’m just looking for a group to join. I don’t want to be on my own.”
I let my eyes run over her; everything she says seems believable. “We should help her,” Kinsley says softly.
“It could be a trap,” I warn in a hushed voice.
“She’s one of the banished,” Harper says just as quietly.
“How can you tell?” I ask.
“I just can,” she snaps.
I make a judgment call that I hope doesn’t come back to bite me. “Cover me, Harper,” I say as I walk towards the girl. I keep my bow up and ready but am careful not to point it directly at her. My eyes scan the woods in every direction. When nobody jumps out, and no arrows embed themselves into my body, I slowly lower my bow and stop in front of her. “What’s your name?”
“Sariah.” She doesn’t look down but holds my gaze.
“Which kingdom are you from?” I ask.
