They spent the next few hours on theory. Raziel drew maps of the Five Territories, the Shadowlands between them, and the geographical layout of each King's domain.
"Geography matters." He explained, drawing the Wolf territory to the north. "Darius's land is dense, dark, and perfect for ambush. His people hunt in packs, use coordination and communication to catch prey."
"So, if his trial involves being hunted…"
"Which it probably will." Raziel added rivers, caves, clearings on the map. "Stay in difficult terrain like rocky areas, that breaks up pack formation. Wolves are faster on flat ground."
He showed her the Bear territory on the mountains to the east.
"Korran's domain is brutal. High altitude, cold air. His people value endurance as much as strength."
"Which means his trial will test both."
"Possible. Bears fight one on one usually, but they fight to exhaustion. Last one standing wins." Raziel looked up from the map. "You can't overpower them. Use speed, use terrain, use anything that's not a direct strength contest."
Nyx studied the maps, memorizing details.
"Serpent territory?"
"Swamps to the south." Raziel's sketch showed waterways, and wetlands. "Poisonous plants, venomous creatures, diseases that can kill in hours."
"Their trial won't be physical."
"No. It'll be psychological. They'll put you in scenarios where every choice has consequences. I can only warn you, can't prepare you for that."
"And Hawk territory?"
"Sky peaks to the west. High plateaus, cold air. Zephyr's people are observers. They see everything from above. Their trial will probably involve navigation, strategy."
"I've never been good with heights."
"Then don't look down."
Nyx would've laughed, if the situation wasn't so terrible.
"What about you?" She asked. "Where does Lion territory fit?"
"Here." He pointed at the center of the map, where all five territories converged. "The Pride Lands are neutral ground. We're the balance between the others. We don't excel at one thing, but we're competent at everything."
"And your trial?"
Raziel was quiet for a moment.
"I don't know if I'll give you one. Technically, you've already survived mine. But the others might demand something more formal."
"What would you test?"
"If it were up to me?" He looked at her. "Loyalty. Whether you'd sacrifice yourself for something greater than survival."
"That's not a trial. That's philosophy."
"Leadership is philosophy." He stood up and stretched. "But it doesn't matter. The others will decide what's tested."
A commotion outside interrupted them. There were shouts, the sound of wings, something massive landing nearby. Raziel walked towards the exit immediately.
"What…" Nyx said.
"Zephyr is here." He glanced back at her. "Stay close. Don't speak unless spoken to. And for the love of god, don't call them kitty."
Before Nyx could respond, he walked out. She grabbed her knife and followed him.
Outside, hundreds of lions had formed a wide circle around the landing area. In the center, a massive bird folded wings.
He was Zephyr Stormbeak. He was six and a half feet tall in bipedal form, but the wings made him seem enormous. He had sharp eyes, hooked nose, brown and gold feathers instead of hair. His eyes found Nyx immediately.
"Well." Zephyr's voice was neutral. "The anomaly. How fascinating."
He walked towards Nyx, and circled her twice, studying her from every angle.
"Human physiology." He muttered. "Smaller than records suggested. Multiple injuries, some fresh, some healing poorly. But still alive."
"I'm right here." Nyx said.
"You speak. Of course, you speak." He leaned closer, studying her face. "Eye contact maintained. No submissive posturing. Either extraordinarily brave or too ignorant to recognize me."
"Definitely the second one." Nyx replied.
Zephyr laughed.
"Humor. Defensive mechanism or genuine personality trait? Interesting." He straightened and addressed Raziel. "I want to examine her properly."
"She's not a lab experiment." Raziel replied.
"She is a lab experiment. She's also alive, which makes it more interesting." Zephyr looked at Nyx again. "Do you give consent for examination?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Of course. I'm a scientist, not a barbarian. Though refusal would suggest fear of discovery. What are you afraid I'll find?"
It was a trap. But Nyx understood the game. Zephyr was testing her reactions, calculating her responses.
"Fine." She said. "Examine me. Just keep the talons to yourself."
"No promises." Zephyr looked pleased. "We'll begin after the council gathers. For now…" He turned to Raziel. "Where's Darius? He was supposed to be already here."
"Late, apparently. Though he's never late."
"There's first time for everything or something has delayed him."
As if summoned by the words, a howl pierced the air. Every Lion went still. Nyx felt goosebumps rise on her arms.
"He's here." Raziel said.
The Wolf King had arrived.
From the north hundreds of wolves were coming. Some were fully beast, others were bipedal. In their center was Darius Bloodmaw.
He was both terrifying and beautiful. He wore leather and furs. His blue eyes found Nyx immediately standing behind Razeil. Then he walked towards Raziel and Zephyr.
"Raziel." Darius's voice was dangerous. "Still playing with your human pet?"
"Darius. You're late." Razeil replied in a neutral tone.
"I'm exactly on time. You're impatient." He again looked at Nyx behind him. "So, the ghost is real."
Nyx also looked back at him despite her every instinct screaming to look away.
"I'm real." She replied. "The ghost part is negotiable."
Darius laughed at her response. He was genuinely amused.
"It speaks and it has a mouth." He walked towards her. "Tell me, human. Do you know who I am?"
"Darius Bloodmaw. Wolf King. You watched humans kill your family during the Culling." Nyx explained. "You hate humans more than anything else in this world."
"Good. You've done your research." He circled her slowly like Zephyr. "Do you know what I did to the last human I met?"
"I'm guessing nothing good."
"I skinned him alive but slowly. It took three days." Darius stopped in front of her, and leaned down to be at her eye level. "He screamed for two days. On the third day, he just whimpered like a wounded animal."
"Why tell me that?"
"So you understand exactly what I want to do to you." He smiled."The only reason you're still alive is because Raziel claimed you first. Otherwise, I'd already be wearing your skin as a trophy."
"Charming." Nyx replied.
"I'm not here to charm you. I'm here to judge whether you deserve to exist." He straightened and addressed the other Kings. "Where's Korran and Sylthis?"
"On their way." Zephyr answered. "Should arrive within an hour."
"Then we wait." Darius walked to sit on the throne prepared for the visiting Kings. "Raziel, bring the human closer. I want to examine what all this fuss is about."
Raziel held Nyx by elbow as he walked towards Darius.. Hundreds of predatory and hungry eyes were on her.
"Kneel." Darius commanded.
"No." She replied immediately.
The crowd gasped. Darius raised his eyebrows.
"No?"
"I'll stand. I'll answer questions but I won't kneel." Nyx's hands were shaking, she clasped them behind her back to hide it. "I've never knelt to anyone."
"Bold." Darius leaned forward with his elbows on knees. "Stupid, but bold." He glanced at Raziel. "Is she always like this?"
"Unfortunately." Raziel replied.
"Mmm." Darius looked at Nyx again. "Tell me, human. What did you do to earn exile here?"
"I was a poacher. I killed endangered species for money."
"How many?"
"47 confirmed but probably more."
"47." He repeated the number. "What kind of creatures?"
"Everything. Siberian tigers, snow leopards, elephants, rhinoceros, anything that paid well." Nyx didn't lie. "I was good at it, in fact, the best in my field."
"And you feel no remorse?"
"I feel a lot of things and remorse is one of them." She looked at him. "But I also survived in a world that didn't want me to exist, I did what I had to do. Same as you."
"Don't compare us. I killed to protect my people. You killed for profit."
"And after your people were safe? Did you stop?" Nyx asked. "Or did you keep killing because that's what you were good at?"
Darius stood up.
"You have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't I?" She stood her ground. "I became the thing I hated. A killer for hire, not survival. You became the thing you feared, someone who judges an entire species based on what some of them did. We're both trying to justify our choices by pretending we didn't have others."
"Enough." Raziel put his hand on her shoulder as a warning. "Nyx…"
"No." Darius raised a hand, stopping Raziel. "Let her finish. I want to hear this."
"That's all." Nyx knew she was signing her own death warrant but couldn't stop. "You hate me because of what humans did to your family. I get that. It's easier than admitting maybe not all humans deserved genocide and maybe some were innocent."
"My ancestors made a choice that kept us alive."
"And mine made the choice that got them all killed. So, here I am. Last human in the Beastworld. I'm a proof that maybe we could have coexisted if anyone had tried."
Darius stared at her for a moment. Then he turned to Raziel.
"I see why you kept her." Darius sat back on his throne. "Then let's see if you'll survive my trial or die trying. Either way, it'll be entertaining."
"The human will face the Five Kings' judgment. Five trials, starting tonight, starting from mine." He announced. "We begin at sunset. Prepare the Hunt."
Some cheered while some protested in the crowd. Nyx's heart was pounding loudly. She looked at the sun above, she has approximately six hours.
"That was either the smartest thing you've ever done or the stupidest." Razeil whispered in her ear.
"Which do you think?"
"I'll tell you after you survive." He straightened. "Come. You need to rest before tonight."
As they turned to leave, Darius's voice stopped them.
"Human."
Nyx looked back.
"My grandfather's name was Fenrir. The human who bonded him was named William Chen. He commanded Fenrir to slaughter seventeen pack members, including his mate, Skadi. Then he made Fenrir eat her heart. Then he commanded Fenrir to kill himself."
"I'm sorry…"
"Don't be sorry. Be better. Prove humans can be more than monsters or die confirming we were right to kill you all."
"I'll do my best."
"Your best probably won't be enough but I'm curious to see you try."
As they walked away, Nyx's mind was already making plans and strategies.
"I can survive this." She' muttered.
"You'd better." Raziel said. "Because if you die tonight, I'll have stood against my own people for nothing."
"No pressure, then."
"None at all." He smiled.