Page 89 of Spirit Rites
I glance at Reika. “My place is beside the ruling power, whoever that may be.”
“Okay. Then it’s settled. Let me say goodbye to everybody here, and we will leave.” I stride into the main room where everybody else is gathered. I don’t hesitate. “I’ve got to get back. Things are a mess there, and I need to go back and deal with it.”
Farrah’s eyebrows knit together. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I push on because the longer I stay, the harder it will be to leave and go back. “Thank you for everything. Thank you for taking care of him.” I pause. “Is it okay if he stays here until he’s fully recovered?”
It’s Rysden that answers this time. “You don’t even have to ask.”
“Thank you. Seriously.” I walk over to Farrah, and she moves to me at the same time, and we hug tightly.
“We’ll take good care of him,” she whispers in my ear. When I pull back she squeezes my hand. “Will you be okay?”
I nod, not letting myself get emotional. “I’ve got a job to do. I gave Kaldar my word; it’s time to see it through.”
Her mouth curves into a small smile. “I’m so proud of you, Kins and who you’ve become.”
Her words mean the world to me; I hope she knows that. I turn to Harper next, and my gut tightens. She doesn’t shy away from meeting my gaze. I walk across the room to her. “What do you want to do? Do you want to stay here or come with? I want you to do what makes you happy. You’ve been so good to me, but I’m okay now. I don’t have to have you come with.”
She studies my face a moment. When she glances over at Farrah, I know she’s made her decision, and I have to be okay with that. “Can I stay here?” She asks Farrah. “Just for now. I’ll find my own house and make my own—”
“Of course, Harper,” Farrah says before Harper can finish. I can visibly see the relief on her face, and I’m glad she’s staying here.
I swallow hard, forcing all emotion down. “I love you, Harper,” I say simply. “Thanks for everything.”
She scowls at me. “It’s not like we’re never going to see each other again. I figure you’re coming back for the guy upstairs, right?”
Just like that, my spirit lightens. “Yeah.”
“Then I’ll see you then. And Kins,” she says and stops.
“Yes?”
“You’ve got this. You’re a banished; you’re made of tougher stuff than most. Now, it’s time to prove it.” Then she says six words that rock my world. “You’re the strongest person I know.”
If I let anything get me emotional,thatwould be it. But Harper’s not an emotional person, never has been. I stride towards the door instead. “Ready?” I ask my team. The three of them are right behind me. “Thank you, everybody,” I say to the group we’re leaving.
“I will send word when he wakes up,” Rsyden tells me.
We head outside, and I’m not surprised to see Jamik already has our horses ready. He seems to have a sense about these things. “Thanks, Jamik.” He gives me a head-nod. Like his brother, he’s quiet most of the time. I don’t wait for any assistance and am pretty proud of myself when I mount by myself. "Everybody ready?” I get three nods. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll take the lead,” Jorren says as he rides past me.
It takes a little while to get through the city, but once we’re outside the city gates, we let the horses run. We make it to the border in good time and pass through. On the other side, it only takes a few minutes to find Evren. If he’s upset with us, he doesn’t show it. Then we begin the ride through the Jaguar lands. By unspoken assent, we stay quiet and keep our eyestipped to the skies. It’s a nerve-wracking ride, but the first hour passes peacefully. It doesn’t last, however. Not long into the second hour of riding, I hear a shriek that makes my entire body tighten. I make a note to ask Harper how in the world she made this trip by herself with the jaguars. “Just keep riding,” Jorren says quietly. We ride a little longer, but the guivre picks up on our presence. We dismount and have to fight it. Jorren gives commands as quietly as possible. I try to help, but they keep me out of the action. Eventually, they put it down. My hands are shaky as we mount and continue on our ride. We face two more guivres on the way. Each time, my team brings them down; and each time they keep me out of the fight. I hate it, but I really don’t know how I would contribute in the fight anyway.
We finally make it to the entrance to the Jaguar Kingdom, and we stable the horses. Something settles over me at being back, and it surprises me. “Where would the elders be right now?” I ask Taren.
“We can send word that you’re here and ready to meet,” Taren offers.
“Please do. Thank you. I'm going there now.”
Taren looks like he’s going to say something, but then he nods and turns away. He gives instructions to Evren and Reika, and the three of them set off to gather the elders. Jorren studies me a moment in silence but doesn’t say anything. When I start towards the building where they meet, Jorren falls into step next to me. When I get to the building, I head inside and into the meeting room. I take a minute to pace, thinking through what needs to be dealt with. Part of me wishes I hadn’t told Veyra not to come with me to this meeting, but she needs to rest. It doesn’t surprise me in the least when Seren, Kaldar’s advisor, shows up. I sit at the table with him and listen as he starts talking through all the things that need to be done. I beg a pen and paper off him and begin my own notes. While we talk, the other four membersof the Council show up. They take their seats without a sound. Seren finishes and promises to get back to me on some of the issues we discussed. Jorren stays in the corner of the room. I told him he could leave, but he only gave me a look that suggested the lunacy of that idea.
Now, with four members of Kaldar’s board sitting with me at the table, I study their faces. There are three men and one woman. I don’t really know anything about any of them, and I decide to rectify that first. I lean forward. “I realize we don’t know each other at all, and now we have to work together to run the kingdom. Let’s start by getting to know each other. I’d like you to tell me your name and something you love to eat.”
Four sets of eyebrows rise. “Something we love to eat?” the man closest to me asks. If I had to guess, he looks like he might be the oldest in the group. But he could be tied with the man sitting across from him; it’s hard to tell.
“Yes.”
