But why?
The mist waited across the space, back in the shape of a man, pointing at the wall. But this time, Rhen knew why. Drawings were scratched into the stone. Rough and coarse, the faint lines were made nearly invisible by the passage of time.
"This is what you wanted to show me?" Rhen asked.
The phantom nodded, seemingly content for the first time since contacting Rhen.
He stepped closer, brushing his fingers over the rock. Crudely drawn men and beasts, that was all he could make out. Four human figures were sketched, and below each lay some sort of animal that Rhen did not recognize. And below each of them, a unique symbol of swirling lines.
Rhen stepped back. More drawings circled the walls in various lines, almost as though it were some sort of language, a foreign one he did not know how to read. More figures of men and women. Something that looked like food. Another symbol that could be weapons. Maybe these were depictions of a great war, an ancient one?
Rhen edged along the wall, taking everything in, but it was a jumble. If this was the phantom's message, he had chosen the wrong recipient. Yet something stirred in the pit of Rhen's stomach, an instinctual understanding. His gut tightened, bringing an ounce of longing to his heart, a strong yearning to his veins, but for what Rhen did not know. All he knew was that something on these walls called out to him—something within him understood the mysterious message.
"What—" Rhen turned, about to ask a question, needing to explore the odd sensations coiling in his muscles.
But he froze.
The phantom winked out of existence, mist dissolving into the air, but it was too late. Rhen had inadvertently touched it. His fingers had brushed just barely through the gray coils, but one small bit of contact was enough.
Ice traveled up his veins, stilling his limbs, hardening his body until he could not move. His heart stopped beating. His breath paused. Rhen's mouth fell open, but no sound came out. Not even a scream. It was as though time had stopped, but the flames on his torch still flickered eerily over the walls.
Off balance, Rhen's body started to tip, slipping slowly over until his weight shifted and the fall came swiftly. The floor slammed against his side, making Rhen's muscles scream in pain, but the burn warmed his frozen body, pushing the chill away. Gradually, his body relaxed, molding against the contours of the ground.
Rhen tested his muscles, breathing heavily as he eased into a seated position.
What in the gods was that?
The figure was gone and far in the distance, Rhen heard bells chime through the castle, calling for dinner. He would find no answers tonight.
But he could find one thing. One person.
Jinji.
She was the only human in the kingdom who would believe him.
5
JINJI
~ RAYFORT ~
Lost again.
Jinji shook her head. The forest always had such obvious signs—dirt padded down by the constant step of feet, tree branches bending in unique shapes, the soft trickle of a stream, or the direction of the breeze. Such easy methods to travel by. In the woods, she was never lost.
But surrounded by white walls, all the same with no character to tell them apart, Jinji was utterly confounded. And she had been so certain of her direction, too.
After watching Rhen fall to the ground, an instinctual gasp escaped her lips and before Jinji even realized she had moved, her feet were carrying her across the overpass and down a staircase. At the time, there seemed no doubt that her movements swept her closer to Rhen, pulled by a mysterious force toward him. But the practice yard never came into view. She could not even find a door to the outside.
And now she wandered, looking for any signs of familiarity, but finding none. The halls were growing more crowded, leaving her increasingly flustered. But Jinji pasted a small smile across her lips, determined after her conversation with the queen never to let these people get the best of her again.
Bells chimed, ringing across the stone.
Jinji jerked with surprise, almost letting the curses she so often heard Rhen mutter escape her lips. But she bit down, containing the frustrated words when she noticed that none of the other men or women around looked the least bit surprised. Instead, they collectively paused, and then moved as one like a rolling tide.
Determined to blend in, Jinji followed the human current as it wove through the castle, still brightly lit by the clear sky just beginning to grow pale from the falling sun. After a while, the stream of people began to slow, congested in one spot until Jinji realized where she had been led.
The dining hall.
Stepping through the massive wooden door, Jinji paused, shifting to the left and out of the way as people filed past her.
A lump clogged her throat.
The last time she had been in this room, Rhen was dying. The memory still stung, causing her breath to slow until she was gasping for air.
The tables were new, barely worn. The walls were blank, waiting for tapestries. Silverware gleamed from the tabletops, sparkling in the candlelight. Yet black scorch marks still decorated the floor, faint but visible. No matter how many times these white stones were polished clean, the memory could not be erased. The castle would never forget, nor would its people.
Eyes following the lines to their center, Jinji stared at the spot where Rhen had sucked the flames into his chest. The spot where he had been stabbed. The spot his blood had pooled, escaping into a circle around his body.
What had everyone else seen when she ran to the queen? A mad woman? A deranged guard? Even with all of the time alone in the dungeons, Jinji never wondered how she had been revealed. Had the spirits exploded around her? What happened in those memories she could not recall? In those long moments that found her transported to the dungeons, hidden out of sight, and invaded by a foreign soul?
Jinji glanced away, lifting her head. There was no reason to dwell on minutes she would never get back. The shadow had stolen them. Eyes focusing, Jinji searched the tables. Men and women sat in familiar groups, chatting casually, not even aware of her existence in the corner, concealed behind the shadow of the open door.
"Jin!"
The shout echoed across the entire room, reverberating, seemingly growing louder as it traveled toward her. The room grew quiet. As one, heads turned, curious and then accusing.
Rhen, oblivious, stood from the head table and ran down the length of the room, boots like thunder in the silence.
"The gods, Jin! I've been looking for you for—"
And then Rhen stopped—stopped talking, stopped moving, maybe even stopped breathing. Everything about him stilled, aside from his eyes, which widened and moved up, then down, along the contours of her body.
Heat flared against her cheeks, making Jinji squirm under his scrutiny. But it was painfully obvious what had happened. For a moment, she had been Jin again—his best friend, his confidant. And then Rhen remembered the truth.
"You can still call me Jin," she whispered, hoping to keep the conversation private from the eagerly listening ears around them.
For a moment, Rhen remained unaffected. Then the left side of his lip rose, bringing a lopsided grin to his face and a slight twinkle to his eyes. "Good," he said, and offered his arm, "because that whole Jinji thing was just a little too much for my newly healed mind to remember."
Heart swelling, Jinji tried to contain her overly excited smile. Instead, she bowed her head, shrinking back just slightly as a new awareness of their closeness hit. Reaching out, she slipped her arm through his, resting her fingers on his forearm.
"Come on," Rhen urged, stepping forward.
Keeping her eyes downcast, Jinji focused on the stones beneath their feet—the way she took two steps for each one of Rhen's, and the way he slowed down to help her keep up. Still, the shiver tickling her spine was difficult to ignore. It whispered that everyone was staring, that eyes were boring through her body. A gentle hum rose through the air behind them, stirring
the silence with the buzz of gossip.
Jinji snuck a peek at Rhen, but his eyes were forward, unaware as he marched them unfalteringly closer to the royal table.
"Whylrhen," the queen yelped. Beside her, Whyllem placed his hand out, silencing his mother as he stood.
Rhen halted, finally aware of the scene, and he spared a quick apologetic glance at Jinji—sad, sorry eyes she recognized.
"Brother," he said loudly, so the words would not be misunderstood from any corner of the room. "My guest, Lady Jinji, will be dining with us tonight."
Lady Jinji.
The words rolled over her, sending a sense of calm down her limbs despite the situation. Coming from his lips, they sounded warm—filled with acceptance. And maybe something else, something Jinji would not let herself think on.
"We do not have a place set," the queen commented, voice light as though in jest. But her eyes were hard.
Rhen looked from one side to the other, noting the empty seats—ones his brother and father once filled. "I believe we have room."
"Of course we do. Please, join us," Whyllem added, spreading his arm to the side and welcoming them to sit. His smile was easy, but his gaze held the promise of a future conversation—the content of which Jinji could only imagine. Sure, she was revealed as a woman. And sure, she had been rescued from the dungeon only a few days ago. But still, the hostility overwhelmed her. Why?
Rhen ushered her to the other side of the table, his face somewhat blank. What memories ran through his mind? She itched to find out, but if Rhen wanted her to know, he would offer the words willingly. And knowing what last occurred in this room, they might be too painful, too private, too difficult.
Keeping her lips firmly pressed together, Jinji sat facing the room as Rhen took the chair beside her. Venomous stares nailed her to the wooden seat and she swallowed, trying her best to remain calm. But when the silence grew too great for her to handle, Jinji leaned to the side, murmuring, "Why are they so angry with me?"
Rhen released an airy laugh, not at all filled with humor. "They are not angry with you." He sighed, shaking his head.
"Then what is going on? Is this one of those newworlder things I would not understand?"
"Yes," he said, holding his gaze forward. "My mother, along with every other lord and lady in this room I'm sure, is worried that I am courting you."
Rhen turned, opening his mouth to continue, but his jaw hung limp as their eyes met. Lightning filled Jinji's veins, zapping her every sense to life. For a moment, the room felt brighter, more alive. Heart pounding, she tried to still her suddenly shaking hands.
"But you’re not…" Jinji whispered. The words filled the small space between them, hanging there like a question needing to be answered.
Rhen shook his head slowly, gaze never leaving hers as the heat continued to build between them.
"No," he breathed the word, barely making a sound. Then his eyes dipped down, singeing her lips, drying her throat.
Time seemed to stop.
The room around them disappeared, fading out of existence.
Then Rhen's entire body twitched and he suddenly looked to his plate, breathing heavily. The moment snapped in two—the world flooded back, awareness overwhelming as the stares turned even more accusing.
Rhen coughed. "No, of course I'm not courting you."
In his disbelieving tone, Jinji realized the truth—the words he would not say. How had she not seen them before? An invisible fist punched her gut, releasing all of the air from her stomach, emptying her lungs.
Breathy, she whispered, "A Son of Whyl would never court an Arpapajo."
Rhen scrunched his brows, wincing, but remained silent. He would not deny her words. The meaning behind the hostile stares became so clear. Thoughts rose toward the ceiling, filling the room with a judgmental haze only Jinji's eyes could see. That was what they were all so afraid of—that the prince would want an oldworlder. That was why the queen had sought her out, had questioned her—not because she was afraid Jinji would reveal her secret. Not really. No, she had been afraid that an Arpapajo girl had grown too close to her son, too close to royalty.
Jinji's eyes flicked to her skin, barely visible beyond the hem of her sleeve—a deep copper beside the golden silks. Rhen's coloring had never seemed so pale, even covered with freckles it was undeniably different. A pink flush decorated his cheeks, matching the red highlights in his hair. The opposite of earthy.
Scrunching shaky fingers into a fist, Jinji pulled her hands together and rested them on her lap, trying to contain the fury coiling her muscles.
"I," Rhen started but stopped.
Jinji closed her lids tight, looking away from him before she broke. "Why were you looking for me?" she asked quickly, changing the subject to one less painful.
"What?"
"Before, you said you were looking for me…" Jinji took a long deep breath, clearing her face of any hurt before turning back to Rhen.
Rhen sighed, not at all trying to hide the pain from his features. But Jinji ignored it, not wanting to deal with the questions circling her mind, all melding together and boiling down to one—why?
"I was looking for you, but I can't talk about it here, not with so many people around." His shoulders hunched, falling with defeat.
"Can we leave?" Jinji asked. As soon as the words left her lips, hope filled her. Could they escape the scrutiny? Could they be just the two of them again, for a little while? Normal. Friends. Without the stares, the expectations, and the new emotions stirring her heart.
Rhen grinned. "Wonderful idea. Let's go."
As one, they stood, once more grabbing the attention of every noble in the room. Rhen apologized to his brother, quietly this time, murmuring that it was of great importance. But when he turned around, the impish smirk on his face told Jinji something else—that like her, he truly just needed to escape.
It took all of her control to keep her steps steady as they passed through the center aisle of tables. But the heat of Rhen's hand on the small of her back was just comforting enough to make everything okay.
"Are you hungry?" he asked as soon as they exited the dining hall.
The longing in his tone made Jinji realize he was likely starving. But she wanted desperately to hear his news—something told her that the only topic he would be too afraid to mention in public was the shadow. So she shook her head.
"Perfect, I know just the place where we can talk."
Without hesitating, Rhen grabbed her hand and tugged her along. The move felt natural, as though their palms were made to touch. His callused fingers were soft against her skin—large and firm, yet gentle, making Jinji feel delicate under his care. Her chest cringed painfully, but still she held on, wanting to absorb the moment because she was unsure if it would ever happen again.
"This way," Rhen said, dropping her hand and pulling Jinji from her reverie. The heat from his touch slowly faded away, bringing an awareness of her surroundings back to the forefront of her mind.
A winding staircase rested before them, one Rhen was already eagerly climbing. Wanting to keep pace, Jinji lunged to follow, circling round and round, dizzy from keeping her focus on the triangular steps below her feet. The stone was barely worn, making her wonder if this was another of Rhen's sanctuaries, just like the crow's nest on the ships.
He's obsessed with heights. She sighed as her breath started to grow more labored and her thighs began to burn. But she would not slow down. Judging by the fleeting glances through small windows, the view would be something magical to behold.
A grunt trickled down from above, followed by the scrape of a door.
She was close.
One more turn, and Jinji's breath caught.
Rhen waited, leaning against the frame with a knowing smile, expecting her reaction yet enjoying it all the same. But her eyes glazed past his body, drawn to the scene beyond.
All of Rayfort waited below them, the homes, the walls, the turquoise sea made richer by the sof
t colors painted across the sky. Deep midnight faded to lavender, brightened to gold, and then popped to a brilliant magenta silver just above the horizon. Far off mountain peaks were made more visible as they sparkled like fire with reflections of the dying sun.
Jinji walked to the edge of the small landing, turning her entire body to catch the magnificent view. From here, she could see every inch of the city, from the green trees of the forest behind to the calm waters before her.
"It's the tallest spire in the castle," Rhen said with a shrug, though a small part of him seemed mesmerized as well. "Mostly it's just used in case of war, so we can see an attack coming from any angle before it strikes. But I've always loved this spot, especially at this time of day."
He leaned his forearms against the stone, and Jinji walked over next to him, careful not to place her body too close. Yet somehow, not touching made it worse, made her even more aware of their nearness. The small distance ate at the back of her mind, stealing her thoughts until all she could concentrate on was the trickle of heat drifting between their skin.
All her instincts yearned to sit and curl into a little ball, to fold her knees into her chest and hide. Instead, she leaned over, brushing her shoulder lightly against his arm. Rhen did not move away. So she relaxed against his frame, suddenly calmer than ever.
"I saw something earlier today, Jin…"
As the name rolled off his tongue, Jinji shivered. Whereas before, the sound only reminded her of her lies, now that Rhen knew she was a woman, the meaning had changed. Now hearing Jin was like a small promise of their friendship, a secret the two of them shared. Though so much had changed, their connection hadn't, and wouldn’t—she hoped.
"Was it the shadow?" she asked, almost waiting for the voice to invade her thoughts. But the invisible spirit remained silent.
Rhen shook his head. "I don't know, but I don't think so. More like a phantom, some sort of soul come back to life." He sighed, long and heavy. "It sounds ridiculous when I say it aloud."
"You can tell me," she urged. Rhen glanced across the small space, meeting her gaze briefly. His eyes were open, honest—vulnerable in a way he had only been with Jin the boy. But now he was letting Jinji inside, he was trusting her, and this time Jinji promised she would live up to the faith he bestowed.
The Spirit Heir (Book 2) Page 6