Chapter 40
When they leave, I walk over to the bed and stare down at Kaldar. I think of what he said to me right before the fight—how we never get to spend more than a few minutes together. I feel that now. “Where is Harper?” Farrah asks.
I blow out a breath. “I didn’t tell her I was leaving. I didn’t know I was leaving. It all happened so fast.” Regret fills me. I should have brought her with; she should be here right now with all of us.
“Hey.” Farrah’s voice is soft as she puts her hand on my knee. “It’s okay. You have enough on your plate; don’t add guilt to it.”
“You have no idea,” I mutter.
I sit in the chair next to the bed and reach forward and take Kaldar’s hand in both of mine. His hand is so cold, and I hate that. “What’s going on, Kinsley? I’m trying to be patient. I really am. But they brought Kaldar here, and he was barely alive.”
My head snaps up at this. “He was barely alive?” My words are barely a whisper.
“And then you guys show up, and they say you’re the Queen now?” She puts her hands up. “I don’t know what to make of any of it.”
I continue to hold Kaldar’s hand, trying to warm it. I stare down at his hand, wondering if I’m making a difference. “I don’t know where to start.”
“How about at the beginning?” she asks softly.
I continue to stare at his hand; it feels easier than looking at Farrah.
“Everything in the Jaguar Kingdom is so,” I pause, trying to think of what I want to say.
“Different. Everything is formal and ritualistic and built on old magic. You already know I had to do the Rites to prove myself, but that wasn’t it.
I had to do what’s called the Jade Ceremony. ”
“Jade Ceremony?”
“Yeah, it’s basically another test to see if I’m worthy to be queen, Kaldar’s mate, and all that. I passed that, though that was stressful. If I’d failed, I would have been burned alive.”
“What?” she shrieks.
“That didn’t happen, obviously. I survived.
Anyway, when it got done, Kaldar showed up.
He was beyond furious. I don’t really know how the next part happened.
Kaldar’s uncle called for a kind of challenge, called the Reckoning.
Oh, Kaldar’s uncle is crazy and has wanted the throne for forever.
So, he called this challenge. I guess it was for me; I didn’t even know.
” I think about how Kaldar responded at the challenge.
“Then he and Taren fought against his uncle and another guy. Okay, here’s where it gets crazy. You ready?”
“Like the rest of it hasn't been crazy?”
For this, I turn to face her. “They each got to choose another person to fight with them. Kaldar chose Taren, one of the guys downstairs. And the uncle chose this other big guy with a scar. During the fight, the man with a scar turned into a guivre.”
It’s silent in the room. “I don’t understand,” she finally says.
I sigh what feels like the world’s heaviest sigh. “Join the crowd.”
“Kinsley, are you messing with me right now?”
I look over at her. “Why would I mess with you over something like this?” I close my eyes a moment. “It was pretty awful. More guivres came. People got trapped inside the arena.”
“Kinsley.” Farrah’s voice is shaky.
“I know,” I say quietly.
It’s quiet, and only the sound of Kaldar’s heavy breathing remains. “Do you think all the guivres are doing that?” Farrah asks.
“I don’t know. It’s terrifying to think about.”
“Did you know the man, the man that turned into one of those things?”
“No, but Jorren and Taren did; and I'm sure others.”
“Oh, my goodness,” Farrah says suddenly.
“What?”
“Do you think this is happening because Terron died?”
I think about her words and think about the man that was the figurehead of the Spirit Trials.
His spirit animal was a gryphon, one of the last of his kind.
He’d been killed during a battle between Rysden and Farrah and the former king, Rysden’s father.
“I hadn’t really thought of it, but it would maybe make sense. ”
“The guivres were once part of the dragon kingdom and were cursed. Part of their curse is that they're forever stuck in their animal form. The gryphons were the ones that gave them that punishment. But with the death of Terron, I wonder if it weakened the magic or even released it all together.” Farrah continues to make sense of it all, but I can’t even think of it that way.
It was all too much. I close my eyes, just wanting a break for just a few minutes.
My night of little sleep is catching up with me.
“Kinsley.” Farrah shakes me gently. “You’re exhausted.
Why don’t you crash for a little bit. I’ll tell Rysden what you’ve told me, and we can talk when you wake up. ”
I don’t even bother arguing. I’m so tired; I can’t hold my head up any longer. “Jorren and Taren?” I ask.
“We’ll set them up in rooms, and they can rest as well if they want.
Don’t worry about it. The most important thing right now is for you to get sleep.
Don’t forget that I want to know how it is that you became Queen.
” Her words are a reminder that we can’t be here for a long time.
I need to get back and make sure things run smoothly until Kaldar can come back and take his rightful place as King.
I look at him and squeeze my eyes shut. I have a feeling it’s going to be a while.
“Where do you want to sleep?” Farrah asks softly.
“Do you think it’s okay if I just sleep in here?”
“Of course. You’re welcome anywhere; you know that,” Farrah reminds me.
“I just don’t want to hurt him or hinder his healing.”
“No, not at all. If anything, it will probably help him relax even more and get the healing sleep he needs.”
I lift my head. “I don’t know how long we can stay. We should get going back soon.”
“You’re not,” Farrah says firmly. “No matter what they decide, you have to stay here and sleep. You’re exhausted, Kins.
Just sleep for a little bit. I’ll talk to the men.
If they want to go back, they can. You’re obviously safe here.
If they want to crash here, we’ll get rooms ready for them.
” Exhaustion swamps me. “Kinsley, sleep now. We’ll worry about everything else later. ”
An urge to hug her takes over, and I step forward and do just that. “Thank you.”
“Of course. Now get some sleep.”
As soon as she leaves, I climb onto the bed, being careful not to bump Kaldar.
I stare at him for a moment through the light of the dying fire.
Being extra careful, I lean forward and kiss his cheek softly.
“I’m here, Kaldar.” That’s all I say before I pull a heavy fur over me and lay down.
Sleep finds me as soon as I close my eyes.
I hear a sound that wakes me up. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were in here; I can come back later.” Hector says gruffly and starts to leave.
“No, please. It’s fine. Don’t not treat him because of me.”
“Okay.” He closes the door behind him and walks over to the bed.
He places the bowl he’s carrying down on the table next to the bed.
Then he pulls out a bag with all kinds of herbs and spices; I know that’s what’s in there from experience.
He uses the small bowl to crush some herbs in and then disappears into the bathroom for a moment.
When he comes back, I can smell the ingredients in his bowl.
It’s strong enough my eyes start to water.
“Wow, that’s strong. What is that?”
“Draws the poison out,” he answers gruffly. He gets to work on Kaldar without a word. Something about watching this big man be so gentle with Kaldar makes me emotional. He doesn’t have to do this; Kaldar isn’t from this kingdom. And yet, here he is.
“Thank you, Hector, for all you’ve been doing for him.”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing. It’s everything, and I appreciate it so much.” I watch as he works on Kaldar for a while. “Do you think he’s going to be okay? Shoot straight with me.”
“I always shoot straight.”
When he doesn’t say anything more, I prompt him. “So...”
Hector looks up and meets my gaze. “He’s young and strong; he will make a full recovery if...”
I hug a pillow to my chest. “If what?”
“If we can get the poison out of his system in time.”
A sense of dread fills me. “Is that not happening?”
He’s quiet a moment before he reluctantly answers. “Not as quickly as I would like.”
I glance at Kaldar’s still body and then back at Hector. “What can I do?” I can hear the panic in my voice, but I don’t now how to keep it at bay.
He finally turns to meet my gaze. “Nothing, Young One. Just be close to him. I’m sure that’s better than any medicine.”
If he thought my being near Kaldar would help, then I’d stay in this bed until he was able to get out of it. He finishes his treatments and packs up his supplies. “I will treat him again later.”
“Thank you so much, Hector. For everything.”
He doesn’t respond as he walks over to the door. Before he leaves, he turns back to me. “Dinner is almost ready. Come and eat.”
“I’m not hungry,” I tell him, while still looking at Kaldar.
“It wasn’t a suggestion.” He closes the door, and I blow out a breath. I watch Kaldar carefully, hoping for some kind of sign that he’s getting better. But there’s nothing. I’m not sure how long I sit there staring at him, counting the rise and fall of his chest movements.
Somebody knocks on the door. “Come in.”
Farrah slips inside, looking fresh and alert for the day. “I was sent to make you come down and eat dinner.” She disappears into the bathing room and comes back a moment later. “That’s why I was sent to make you. But first, you need a bath.” She tugs the pillow out of my grasp. “Come on. Let’s go.”
I debate arguing with her, but honestly, I don’t have the energy.
I climb out of bed and head into the bathing room.
I feel the steam coming off the water, and suddenly, I can’t wait to get in.
When I come out of the bathing room a little while later, I have to admit, I do feel a lot better. “Thanks. I feel better.”
“I knew you would. I took the liberty of setting out some clothes for you. Hopefully, you can make something work.”
“Thank you, Farrah.”
She smiles at me. “Of course. I’ll give you a few minutes to change.”
After she leaves, I make quick work of pulling on the clothes she gave me.
Thankfully, we’re not too far from each other, size-wise.
She left me black training pants and a black tunic; thankfully, both fit okay.
I braid my wet hair and pull on fresh socks and my boots.
Before I leave the room, I walk over to Kaldar and bend down and kiss him softly on the cheek.
“I’ll be back. Don’t do anything fun without me. ”
As I head down the stairs, I mentally think through all the things I need to tell Rysden.
When I enter the main room, I take in the smiles on Jorren and Taren’s faces, and something eases in me.
I’m glad they feel comfortable here. Lox is sitting at the table with them, and now I get the smiles. Lox can make anybody laugh.