Page 27 of A Tribute of Fire

There was a reason “brief as a Locrian rose” was a common saying.

At first Locris had simply refused to send any maidens to Ilion. A terrible plague broke out that killed nearly half of the Locrian population. The oracle in Phocis had been consulted, and she said that it was a punishment by the goddess for not sending the maidens—that our entire nation would be utterly destroyed if we did not obey.

Then the Locrians looked for ways around the decree. They sent two infant daughters with their nursemaids, thinking it would stay the Ilionians’ hands.

It did not.

Some maidens wore armor for protection under their tunics, but all it did was slow them down and allow them to be caught faster.

Locris tried to argue to the council of nations that we should only be required to send one maiden, but the ruler of the council, King Antigonus, disagreed. The law was the law. Two maidens would be sent, drawn by lot, with certain compensations made to their families. Nothing would change.

So every year, without fail, the Ilionians arrived to take their human tributes, and the Locrians did not resist.

The historian said, “We sacrifice to the goddess two of our treasured, precious daughters so that we may keep the rest. We know that those who are called upon to serve have the strength to endure this ordeal.”

This was another aspect that had always bothered me. This belief that women were special enough to be pleasing to the goddess, but that we were ultimately easy to discard and unimportant. Strong enough to be slaughtered but not important enough to fight for.

And so it had fallen to me to step forward. I would fight.

I would change the curse and the fate of every woman destined to follow by myself.

“The maidens will enter Ilion by night and race to the temple of the goddess. If they are caught they will be killed, and their bodies burned on a pyre of barren branches and their ashes thrown into the sea.”

It was how criminals were executed. With the branches of trees that produced no fruit, and not allowed the privilege and honor of a proper burial in the earth. It was said that the spirits of those who had not been buried lingered, unable to find peace in the next life.

I had wondered more than once whether Haemon was a spirit, never able to find his way home.

“The parents of the chosen maidens will receive fifteen minae and they will be exempt from taxes as gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice that they have been called upon to make.”

A restless murmur shifted through the crowd. It was nearly time.

The historian had finished his recitation and nodded to the selector. The selector was dressed in a black tunic and the dust of Locris clung to him. His clothing marked him as an outcast. He was the most hated man in our nation—not only because he drew the two names every year, but because he profited off the misery of so many.

He held up the leather bag that had the name of every eligible girl from the capital city of Naryx, as it was our turn this year for the lottery. He opened the top and reached his hand inside.

This was it. I held my breath, clenching my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms.

“The first maiden selected is ...”

Despite how many people stood in the agora waiting, there was absolute silence.

“Thalia, daughter of Ephesus and Hypatia.”

The first thing I felt was a strange kind of relief that everything had worked the way I had planned. The events were now in motion.

The second was sheer agony at the inhuman sound that ripped from my mother’s throat. I turned to watch her collapse, my father kneeling down beside her, holding her close as she screamed. The noise pierced my very soul and it took all of my strength to step forward so that the witness could see my face.

I knew my mother didn’t want to lose another child.

But I didn’t intend to be lost.

Maybe I could even find a way to end the tribute. To protect all the Locrian maidens.

I knew this would be hard for my parents, but if I succeeded?

I would save all of Locris.

Although I should have been facing forward, I couldn’t help but turn my gaze toward my loved ones. I wanted so badly to run to them,to comfort them. To let them know that things were going to be all right.

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