Page 6 of Spirit Trials
When I don’t immediately feel searing pain, I open my eyes. The creature jerks back and forth in the air, like it’s in pain. I watch in shock as the leader takes a running leap and jumps on the back of it and lifts his long-curved sword high into the air before arcing it through the air. I close my eyes and then hear a thud. When I open my eyes, I gag. The head is in one location; the body in another. The leader jumps off the back of the creature and stalks towards Hector and me. I move out the way, so he can check on Hector. When I turn around, I see them all gathered around Hector. I walk over that way but keep my distance. Guilt clogs my throat. He’s going to die and it’s all my fault.
I feel a presence in front of me and look up to see Smiley, not looking very smiley at the moment. “Let’s go for a walk,” he says gently.
I narrow my eyes. “Are you going to kill me?”
His eyes widen in surprise. “Are you serious? No, I’m not going to kill you. Why would you ask that?”
“Because I’m the reason your friend is on death’s door.”
“I don’t see it that way,” he says quietly. “You saved his life.”
“After I endangered it.” I point back at Hector. “He shouted a warning at me, and that made that awful...thing go after it.”
“That thing is called a Guivre.”
“That’s the thing that destroyed my village, isn’t it?” Smiley just gives me a solemn nod. I turn my back like I’m going to look at it, but he steps in front of me. “Hector does what he wants to. He’s old and cranky and nobody can tell him what to do. If he wanted to risk his life to save yours, then let the old man die inpeace feeling like a hero.” My eyes shoot to his, but then I see the smile and relax.
“You’re not mad at me?” I’m not sure I believe him.
“I’mnot mad at you,” he responds. The way he says it has me biting my lip.
“Your leader’s mad at me, isn’t he?” He neither confirms nor denies, but I have my answer. If that wasn’t answer enough, the bellow I hear next most definitely is.
“Farrah!”
I wince, and Smiley gives me an apologetic smile. I take a breath before turning around to deal with the leader.
“Wait,” Smiley says. “Lox.” I look up in confusion at him. He smiles and shrugs. “My name’s Lox. I feel like you should know my name if we’re going to be friends.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Friends? First, you threaten my family in front of me. Then you kidnap me and drag me halfway across the continent.” I stare at him like he’s lost his head.
“See? We have history together. Friends.”
“Farrah!” the leader bellows again, and I walk over to him, shaking my head. Lox has a few screws loose.
“You called?” I say dryly when I reach him.
He stands to his feet, towering over me. He leans forward until we’re almost nose to nose. “You ever endanger the lives of one of my men like that again, I will end you.” He whirls around and walks away. I take a breath and fight down my anger. I glance down, and my anger fades when I see Hector watching me. I sit down on the ground next to him, noting that the bleeding has stopped.
“How are you doing?” I ask gently.
“I feel like my insides want to be on my outsides.” I grimace at his words. “Don’t let him get to you.” We both know who he’s talking about, but I don’t say anything in response.
“I’m sorry you got hurt because of me.”
“Eh. It’s not often I get to save a pretty girl. Let me relish in it.” I raise my brows and look down pointedly at my travel-worn clothes. “Well, I think you’d be pretty underneath all that dirt...and stink,” he adds with a grimace.
I shake my head, almost laughing before turning serious again. “Seriously, Hector. Thank you.”
He waves me off. “You don’t need to thank me. I should be thanking you.” He meets my eyes. “Thought I was a goner that time. You saved me.” I open my mouth to argue, but he shakes his head. “You did, and I won’t forget it. I owe you a life debt.”
“You really don’t,” I argue with him.
“I do. Now, can you help an old man up?”
I help him to his feet, grateful for the change in subject. He stumbles for a minute, and I put out my hands to help him, not that I’d be able to keep him up. He’s too big for me. Thankfully, he catches himself. My gaze takes in the fallen creature in front of us, and I swallow hard and look away. But as we walk past it, I can’t help but study it. I’ve never seen a creature like this before. If somebody would have told me two weeks ago that such a creature existed, I would have laughed. Now, I’m not sure I’ll ever sleep again because it’s all too real. Hector stops beside me and stares at it with me. “Lox says it’s a Guivre,” I say somewhat absently.
“It is,” he agrees. “Nasty creatures. They have many ways to kill a man. Their claws can rip a man’s heart clean out of his chest.” I try not to let that mental picture stay with me. “Their tails are full of poison and so is their saliva. Of course, they have brute strength and breathe fire as well.” He shakes his head. “Those bad boys are pretty hard to kill.” He turns to me pointedly. I don’t say anything because we both know it was a lucky shot.
