planted several bombs at the Temple d’Elja. It took three cycles to track down the bombers, but we did several sunsets ago—to your encampment.”
I clench my fists. “I would know if we’d planned that kind of attack.”
“I’ve done some things I’m not proud of, but I’ve done it in the name of protecting my people. You would do the same, would you not?” She looks at me again, and it’s clear that she knows the answer. She’s already seen me do as much. “I’m willing to overlook your transgressions, but I need you to extend me the same courtesy. I need you to pledge to protect me with your life.”
I bite my lip. Force the heat down into my stomach. Take a breath. What would my family do? Day would’ve attacked her the moment he entered her room. He would have ended her life and tracked down Dima while he had the chance. He would have thrown his life away in the name of protecting his loved ones.
But not Nol. Nol would tell me to think clearly, to think with my heart and my mind simultaneously. He would ask me to consider what options I have that don’t involve violence. He would ask me to do everything I could to protect my people in the most diplomatic way possible.
I’m not Day, but I’m not Nol, either. And yet, considering their choices helps me make mine.
“I’ll agree under two conditions.”
Kora nods. “And what are your conditions?”
I straighten my shoulders. “You’ll swear to me that you’ll stop searching for my people. You’ll allow them to recover and live out the rest of their lives in peace.”
She pauses. “As long as my life, or my people, are not threatened by yours, I agree. Next?”
This one will be trickier, but I say it as confidently as I can manage. “You’ll flush the nanites from the women and children who you enslaved from my camp and release them.”
She hesitates. Purses her lips. “I’m not sure I can do that.”
“Not sure you can, or not sure you want to?”
“I—”
“You’re the queen, aren’t you? I was under the impression everyone has to do what you say without question.”
“They do, but—”
“Then I don’t see what the problem is. Agree to cleanse and release them, and I’ll pledge to you right now.”
Kora bites the corner of her lip. Taps her fingers on her leg. “The court and council will be very displeased.”
“If you’d rather deal with a displeased Sirae Court when you tell them I exist and find someone else willing to keep you on the throne and protect you …” I shrug and try to look apathetic, but to be honest, if she did choose to report me and use someone else, I’d be dead.
She arches an eyebrow. “I wasn’t aware you had a preference as to who held the throne.”
“I didn’t. Until I met your brother.”
She smirks. “He’s a bit difficult to get along with.”
I snort. “That’s putting it mildly.”
“Fine. I accept your terms.”
“You do?”
Kora nods, steps over to her dresser, and rifles through the drawers. After a moment she pulls out a shimmering gold scarf and steps in front of me. “Do you know how to pledge?” My hesitation is all the answer she needs, and she nods again. “Kneel.”
I obey, and she takes my right hand in her left and wraps the scarf around her arm, over our clasped hands, and tightly onto my forearm. She does it swiftly, like it’s been ingrained in her muscle memory. How many others have pledged their allegiance to her? Finally, when the scarf runs out, she tucks the end beneath a loop and meets my eyes.
“This golden fabric is representative of the holy oath you are making. Just as the cloth binds us, your oath to me binds us together until death. Do you swear this to be true?”
A part of me rebels at those words— until death. But what did I expect? I’m a slave now, and will be for the rest of my life—the tattoo on my arm makes that clear enough. Sweat beads the back of my neck and, for a terrifying moment, my hand goes slick against
I clench my fists. “I would know if we’d planned that kind of attack.”
“I’ve done some things I’m not proud of, but I’ve done it in the name of protecting my people. You would do the same, would you not?” She looks at me again, and it’s clear that she knows the answer. She’s already seen me do as much. “I’m willing to overlook your transgressions, but I need you to extend me the same courtesy. I need you to pledge to protect me with your life.”
I bite my lip. Force the heat down into my stomach. Take a breath. What would my family do? Day would’ve attacked her the moment he entered her room. He would have ended her life and tracked down Dima while he had the chance. He would have thrown his life away in the name of protecting his loved ones.
But not Nol. Nol would tell me to think clearly, to think with my heart and my mind simultaneously. He would ask me to consider what options I have that don’t involve violence. He would ask me to do everything I could to protect my people in the most diplomatic way possible.
I’m not Day, but I’m not Nol, either. And yet, considering their choices helps me make mine.
“I’ll agree under two conditions.”
Kora nods. “And what are your conditions?”
I straighten my shoulders. “You’ll swear to me that you’ll stop searching for my people. You’ll allow them to recover and live out the rest of their lives in peace.”
She pauses. “As long as my life, or my people, are not threatened by yours, I agree. Next?”
This one will be trickier, but I say it as confidently as I can manage. “You’ll flush the nanites from the women and children who you enslaved from my camp and release them.”
She hesitates. Purses her lips. “I’m not sure I can do that.”
“Not sure you can, or not sure you want to?”
“I—”
“You’re the queen, aren’t you? I was under the impression everyone has to do what you say without question.”
“They do, but—”
“Then I don’t see what the problem is. Agree to cleanse and release them, and I’ll pledge to you right now.”
Kora bites the corner of her lip. Taps her fingers on her leg. “The court and council will be very displeased.”
“If you’d rather deal with a displeased Sirae Court when you tell them I exist and find someone else willing to keep you on the throne and protect you …” I shrug and try to look apathetic, but to be honest, if she did choose to report me and use someone else, I’d be dead.
She arches an eyebrow. “I wasn’t aware you had a preference as to who held the throne.”
“I didn’t. Until I met your brother.”
She smirks. “He’s a bit difficult to get along with.”
I snort. “That’s putting it mildly.”
“Fine. I accept your terms.”
“You do?”
Kora nods, steps over to her dresser, and rifles through the drawers. After a moment she pulls out a shimmering gold scarf and steps in front of me. “Do you know how to pledge?” My hesitation is all the answer she needs, and she nods again. “Kneel.”
I obey, and she takes my right hand in her left and wraps the scarf around her arm, over our clasped hands, and tightly onto my forearm. She does it swiftly, like it’s been ingrained in her muscle memory. How many others have pledged their allegiance to her? Finally, when the scarf runs out, she tucks the end beneath a loop and meets my eyes.
“This golden fabric is representative of the holy oath you are making. Just as the cloth binds us, your oath to me binds us together until death. Do you swear this to be true?”
A part of me rebels at those words— until death. But what did I expect? I’m a slave now, and will be for the rest of my life—the tattoo on my arm makes that clear enough. Sweat beads the back of my neck and, for a terrifying moment, my hand goes slick against
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