Page 57 of Spirit Trials
“What’s a bad idea?”
I whirl around at the voice. “Rysden, you scared me.” He advances on me and stares at me.
I suddenly remember that he asked a question. “Oh, nothing. Just...never mind. I’m off to take a bath and try to warm up.” I disappear inside my room and lightly hit my head against my door because I have absolutely no game. I shake my head at my own stupidity the whole way to my bath. I soak in the tub until it turns cold, and then I dress in the warmest clothes I can find before pacing around my room, questioning all my life choices. When I’m sure it’s late enough, I leave my room quietly and head downstairs. Kinsley and Harper are already in the kitchen. There’s enough light because of the fire that hasn’t gone completely out yet. They’re shoving something into bags; I can’t quite tell what. Honestly, I don’t really want to know. I’m already trying to figure out how I’ll pay Rysden back. My stomach cramps, and I about shut the whole thing down. But I think of the times when we were desperate for food and that hopeless, helpless feeling that would fill me. I square my shoulders and help them pack up the food. I’ll figure out a way to pay Rysden back; I vow it.
A few minutes later, we each have a heavy sack on our backs. “Did you leave any food for the guys?” I ask in a hushed whisper.
“There’s so much food here,” Harper chides.
“She’s right,” Kinsley adds.
Part of me can’t believe Kinsley’s even in on this; she’s seems too sweet to be doing something like this. But I get desperation, so I lead them to the front door. I unlock it and open it slowly, holding my breath. When nothing happens, I step outside and motion for them to follow me. We make our way to the stableswordlessly, and I make quick work of saddling a horse for each of us. “I don’t want to ride by myself; horses make me nervous,” Kinsley whispers. In the silence of the night, it feels like she’s yelling.
“You can ride with me,” I say softly.
Within minutes, we’re loaded up and begin to make our way through the city. Though it’s quiet this time of night, there are plenty of permalight lanterns to light the way. When we get close to the gates, and I see the guards, I start to rethink this whole thing. “Harper,” I call out quietly.
“It’s fine,” she calls back, just as softly.
I notice in dismay that the large double doors are closed, and I wonder what in the world we’re going to do. I pull my horse to a stop behind Harper. I can’t hear the conversation between her and the guard, but it only lasts a few seconds. Then a door to the side opens, and Harper guides her horse through. The door closes behind us, and I glance behind us and the closed entrance into the city.
“What did you say to get out?” I ask, pulling my horse alongside Harper’s.
“I just told him we had business outside the walls,” Harper says.
“And he didn’t question that?”
Harper gives me a side eye. “The people aren’t prisoners, Farrah. They can leave whenever they want.”
“Even if it’s the middle of the night?” She shrugs again. “What about getting back in?”
“That will be more difficult,” she admits.
My stomach falls. “But you have a plan, right?”
“Sure.” But the way she says it doesn’t give me much confidence.
“Harper, how are we getting back into the city?”
“So, they don’t open the gates to the city for anything during the night. We’ll have to wait until morning to get back in.”
“What?” I lower my voice and try again. “Are you kidding me? We can’t get back in until morning?” I’m trying and failing to keep the panic from my voice.
“Chill. It’s not that big a deal,” she says. “Besides, we slept during the day today, so it’s perfect.”
I can’t argue with her there. I’m not nearly worried as much about losing a night’s sleep as I am about what will happen when Rysden realizes we’re gone and doesn’t know where we are. “What time do the city gates open?” I ask.
“At sunrise.”
Her words give me hope. All we have to do is make it back here right when the gates open and get back to the house. Rysden will never know if all goes according to plan. It’s thatifthat makes me nervous. To get my mind off it, I ask, “So where are we headed?”
“There are several areas where the banished live outside the city,” Harper says. “We’re taking you to the larger one, where we’re both from.”
“Are you both happy to go back, or will this be hard?” I ask, unsure.
“This is all we’ve ever known, Farrah,” Kinsley say softly. “Neither of us have family living, but we have people that we know and love.”
My heart tugs at their words. I can’t imagine not having any family in this world. I’m suddenly glad we’re doing this. The further away we get from the city, the darker it gets. It doesn’t make me nervous, though. I relish it; it reminds me of our village. I look up at the stars and wonder at the fact that my mom and brother could be looking up at these same stars. The silence settles around us, and I breathe it in. We ride for probably close to thirty minutes or so before Harper begins to slow. I don’tsee anything at first. And then I see a fire, and it casts light on the area. I take in the tattered tents, the shelters made from branches. Harper talks to someone and climbs off her horse. She whistles, and the noise of it pierces the silence. Suddenly, the place around us comes alive. Kinsley climbs down, and I watch as she’s welcomed and hugged, just like Harper was. I watch as people gather around them, both young and old. Even though it’s nearly the middle of the night, everyone acts as if it’s the middle of the day. They laugh and talk, and the kids run around.
