Page 200 of A Tribute of Fire

That wine had led me to so many bad decisions last night. All the eyes in the courtyard turned toward me. Some wore questioning expressions, others accusing.

Suri’s eyebrows raised as Ahyana asked, “Is that true?”

Well, at least now I had proof that Io had kept silent. Our sisters would have been the first people she told.

“Yes, it’s true.”

Ahyana looked devastated. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

“You know why,” Zalira interjected. “They’ll never let her stay here now that they know who she is.”

“I didn’t say anything because I was trying to prevent this from happening. The prince is going to demand that I marry him to solidify his claim to the throne. I had hoped I had another week at least. I’m sorry I kept this from you. But, as you can see, this secret coming out is going to jeopardize everything I’ve done.”

Soon I wouldn’t have a choice. I imagined that Theano would happily hand me over to this Thrax, and as soon as I got close to him, I was going to kill him. Which meant I was going to wind up in prison or executed for crimes against the soon-to-be king and his personal representative.

To my surprise, Antiope turned toward me and said, “Lia, do you want to go with this man?”

“No, I do not,” I called back.

She returned her gaze to the captain. “There. You heard her. She doesn’t want to go with you. She is under our protection and will not leave the temple grounds. No woman here will be taken by the likes of you. You’re welcome to come and try to claim her but I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Everyone was going to wind up dead. I was about to be the reason for a war between the royal family and the temple.

He nodded, as if he had expected this response. “The temple is surrounded and will continue to be until Princess Thalia is handed over. No one will be allowed to leave and no supplies will be permitted in.”

“Io,” Ahyana breathed. “Will she and the others be able to return? Or will they take them captive?”

“They won’t hurt Io,” I said confidently. “She will be fine.” These were her people, after all.

Although I couldn’t predict what might happen to Tryphosa and the other acolytes.

Antiope scowled. I could see she didn’t like this threat. She might even go out there and eliminate the king’s army by herself.

The historical sieges I’d read about usually did not end well for the people being invaded. This Thrax had robbed me of Quynh and now he was going to starve us into submission.

To force us into a position where we would have no choice but to surrender.

I wasn’t going to let him hurt any more of my sisters. But if I went with him, this would all be over. Locris would be doomed and I would never get the answers I’d been looking for.

“Back inside!” Antiope called to the crowd, and we all filed into the dining room. Again I was treated with names and curses and glares from women who obviously wished me dead.

It wasn’t anything new but it was never easy to deal with.

My sisters lined up next to me, shoulder to shoulder. I knew they would fight to help me if necessary.

There was a lot of yelling and confusion until Antiope stood up on the dais and ordered, “Shut your mouths! Now! I will not have this kind of disorder!”

“Our supply of food is not limitless!” an older priestess said. “We will be fine for a time but eventually we will run out.”

“We can ration,” Antiope said.

“What if they cut off our water supply again?”

Were the prince’s men responsible for that? But if they had been, wouldn’t Io have said something? Wouldn’t she have recognized the red dirt?

Or maybe she had kept quiet to not risk giving away her own identity.

Did that mean Prince Alexandros was responsible for the pirate attack on theNikos? Why would he have done it?

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