Page 90 of Spirit Trials
“And the Jag Kingdom,” Jamik answers.
“That’s a lot of people,” Kinsley says with wide eyes.
“Yeah. Let’s find a seat at the back, so we can get out as soon as it’s done,” I say as I dismount and tie my horse to a tree.
“Contestants have to sit up front,” Lox says, putting an end to my plan.
I resist the urge to groan out loud. “Really? Why?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because you competed in this or something?” Lox says with sarcasm. I resist the urge to punch him in the arm, even though he deserves it.
“Fine.” I gaze at all the chairs and then turn back to Lox. “Where even is the front anyway?” He points, and we start inthat direction. There are so many people, it takes forever for us to make our way up to the front. When we finally get there, I notice that we’re some of the last of the competitors to find their seats. I refuse to acknowledge how many fewer of us there are than when we started. The three of us manage to find seats by each other. Somebody taps me on the shoulder, and I turn around.
“Hey, I just wanted to say thank you.” I frown a moment as I take in the girl’s words. I don’t recognize her and have no clue what she’s talking about.
“I wasn’t going to make it...in the water. But you helped me. You saved my life. Thank you.”
I don’t really recognize her face, but I figure I didn’t really ever see her after the incident in the water. I just helped her get to safety. “You’re welcome. It wasn’t a big deal.”
She scoffs and looks around. “That’s just it; itisa big deal. Anybody else would have let me drown, but you didn’t.” Her eyes search mine. “Why?”
I shrug. “I was just in the right place at the right time and was able to help.”
She stares at me, and I don’t know what she’s looking for. “Well, thank you.”
I nod at her and turn back around, just as Kinsley about mauls me in a bear hug. “What was that for?” I ask when she finally releases me.
“Because you’re the most amazing person I know.”
I roll my eyes. “I am not.” Before I can say anything else, my eyes are drawn to the front where Terron steps up onto the large stage, followed by Rysden’s father, the Jaguar King, and Rysden himself. I can’t help but grin at the fact that his father is wearing his royal crimson robe, while Rysden is in all black, of course.
Terron steps forward and using magic, amplifies his voice so we can all hear. “Good morning and welcome to the crowningof the champion of the 221stSpirit Trials. Before we do that, I want to invite you in to get a glimpse of just what took place over the course of these spirit trials. This review is obviously not everything that took place during the trials. Think of it as merely the highlights of the trials. Using magic, Eaglon will cast the images into the mind of every person here today. Everyone will see the exact same images and details. The magic will make it seem in time to you, but it will actually be sped up so we can get through all the time without being here for days on end. Relax and enjoy watching the 221st Spirit Trials.” Harper and I look at each other a moment, and I find myself stiffening. I don’t know if I want to watch any of this; I lived through it. “Competitors,” Terron continues. “You will not receive the images, as you were there. Some of you may not want to relive certain memories, and we won’t make you. Sit back and relax; this will only take a few minutes.”
I sit back against my chair and relax somewhat. I’m glad we don’t have to see it again. I don’t know what all Eaglon will show, but I know I wouldn’t be able to handle seeing Sariah dying again or any other events I really want to forget. An eerie quiet settles around us, and I watch as the eyes of everyone except the competitors lose their focus. It’s really kind of creepy. I turn back around and focus instead on Rysden. He stares straight ahead, and even though I can’t see his eyes from here, I know they’re that blank stare just like everybody else’s. There's a collective gasp from the audience that startles me. Not long after that, a bunch of people shriek. I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I really don’t like this. I wish Solace was here, so I could run my fingers through her fur. I wanted to bring her, but Lox told me that Rysden said not to. When I questioned Lox, he said that Terron said specifically not to bring her. I tried to get more from Lox, but he didn’t know anymore. It certainly isn’t the most difficult thing I’ve had to endure lately.More shrieks come from the audience, and I shift in my seat, wondering how long this is going to last. I feel a hand on my thigh and shoot a glance at Kinsley. She nods her head towards the front, mouthingRysden. I face the front and take in Rysden. He’s sitting ramrod straight in his seat, his hands in fists on his thighs. I can tell from here he’s not happy. I cringe, wondering what he’s seeing. Just when I think it’s going to go on forever, the air seems to loosen. People lift their heads and begin to shift in their seats. I blow out a breath, thankful it’s done. I face Terron but stop moving when my eyes meet the angry gaze of a certain wolf prince. I can’t move beneath that stare; he’s furious. I return his gaze, refusing to look away. Thankfully, Terron starts talking, and Rysden turns his gaze to him.
I take a calming breath. “He is m-a-d, mad,” Kinsley whispers in my ear.
“Got that,” I mutter dryly. I refuse to look at him again and keep my focus on Terron and his gryphon.
“Members of the Wolf Kingdom and Members of the Jaguar Kingdom, now that you have seen for yourself the events of the trials, we will move to the crowning of our champion.” He turns his gaze to those of us in the front two rows. “Competitors, you survived. Congratulations.” We give ourselves a round of applause that’s echoed in the rows behind us. “We are pleased to announce that there was a manifestation of thirty-seven spirit wolves, twenty-one jaguars, and zero dragons.”
“Kind of makes you wonder why they even include dragons when nobody ever produces one,” Harper mutters quietly next to me. I elbow her but keep my attention fixed on Terron and run the number in my head. That means either a lot of people died or a lot of them will be exiled after this. I shift uncomfortably in my seat as anger stirs in me once again at the unfairness of the entire thing.
“And now, we move to the counting of the coins. We will start with those competitors with the fewest coins.” I sit back in my chair, ready for this to be over with. I don’t have a clue how many coins I ended up with. I’m not even sure how they keep count; it must have something to do with Eaglon’s magic.
I listen as they start listing competitors with no rings. Terron moves quickly through the list. Harper and Kinsley are listed at the bottom of the list, and I hate that they gave me their coins. They should have kept them. I turn to Kinsley, but she just shakes her head. “You earned them,” she whispers, seeming to know what I was going to say before I even say it. I start to get more uncomfortable the closer we get to the top of the list. When there are only three contestants left, and my name still hasn’t been called, I shift nervously in my chair.
“In third place in this year’s trials,” Terron calls out. “Sophie Lander.”
Kinsley puts her hand on my thigh again and squeezes. I resist the urge to remove her hand as I wait for what Terron’s going to say next. There’s no way I won. There’s just not. I can’t remember how many coins I collected, but I know it’s not enough. It can’t be.
“This year, for the first time ever in a lot of years, we have a tie,” Terron continues. My stomach tightens as an excited whisper runs through the audience. “Would competitors Gavrin Lorn and Farrah Bromean please rise and come up to the stage.”
I hear my name called, but it doesn’t register. Well, not until Harper practically shoves me from my seat. Suddenly, I’m walking forward on shaky legs. I don’t look at the stage, and I certainly don’t look at Rysden. I simply focus on putting one foot in front of the other and not tripping. When I get to the stage, I hear a muttered whisper run through the crowd. It takes a moment to discern what’s being said, but I swear I hear Lady Mercy said at least once. I lift my head, refusing to cowerin front of all these people. I try to keep my legs steady, even though they’re shaking beneath me. When I glance at the other competitor, my blood runs cold. It’s the boy who led the group that killed Sariah. I feel my heart begin to race.
Chapter 46
“Each of these competitors retrieved exactly eight gold coins.” I hear Terron’s words, but they sound far away. A smattering of applause sounds and then fades. “Now, in the event of a tie, there is a way that we break the tie.” I hold my breath, waiting to hear what he’s going to say next. “We will host one more trial. Only these two will participate in the trial...” His words fade away, even though he’s still talking. I try to focus, but it’s a losing battle. All I can think of is the fact that I have to compete in another trial against this guy.He’ll kill me for sure.I feel like I’m going to be sick. Terron continues on, but I can’t hear a word he’s saying. Suddenly, a voice calls out from the crowd.
