Page 51 of Beholden
“Then you would have one of these other maidens face Grendel?” Gabriella glanced over the other young women standing amongst the crowd, their beauty and emerald gowns setting them apart from everyone else, along with the fear that had now returned to each of their faces.
One of the fair maidens sidled closer to her dance partner, a gray-haired man that must be her father. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her head, his eyes bright with unshed tears.
How could I stand by and allow any of these women to face Grendel? I couldn’t. And yet, what alternative did I have? If not Gabriella, the queen would select another. After the weeks of training, at least Gabriella would have some knowledge of how to defend herself.
Was this, then, our only choice? That we sacrifice our lives to Grendel together?
Gabriella nodded. She must have seen my capitulation in the droop of my shoulders.
“Your Highness.” She lowered herself to one knee, bowing before the queen. “According to the custom of the Midsummer’s Eve ball, I offer myself as a willing sacrifice this night.”
I’d learned enough about the ceremony to know that if a maiden offered herself voluntarily, the queen and her priests must still decide. Of course, they could only use the heart of the fairest maiden in their alchemy. Was it wrong of me to pray that they would determine one of the other women was more beautiful than Gabriella?
But even as I fought for some glimmer of hope, the queen extended her scepter. “I accept your offer.” Her voice rang over the assembly. “And on behalf of the people of Warwick, I thank you for your willingness to sacrifice one life for many.”
Gabriella bent her head so her copper tresses fell and covered her face. Even in her state of subservience, she was exquisitely beautiful, so much so that a mingling of helplessness and rage gripped my heart. I could do nothing but spin and stalk out of the grand hall.
An hour later, attired in full armor, I stood on the cliff overlooking Wraith Lake and the grassy pit below that was to be my battleground. It was not lost on me that, in leaving the mine, I’d exchanged one pit for another.
Though I’d donned armor from the queen’s weapon room and equipped myself from amongst the offerings there, I kept my seax at the front of my belt, along with the sword my father had given me on the day of commissioning for the Testing. I’d left the special weapon with Lord Kennard upon our arrival in Warwick, and somehow Ty had managed to get him word of my predicament. He’d only just arrived in the capital city, breathless and worried, pleading with me to reconsider my course of action.
“I’ve been present at the sacrifice before.” He spoke gravely beside me, staring out over the walled area below. “And to this day, I have nightmares of the monster and his bloodthirsty massacre.”
“I thank you for your concern, my lord. But I’ve already made up my mind to face Grendel, and nothing can convince me otherwise.” Especially now that Gabriella would be there. I was left with no choice but to kill him before he reached her.
“This sacrifice exceeds the bounds of your Testing.” He was familiar with our Testing, since he’d lived in Scania during the years he’d been Warwick’s ambassador.
“I have given up the Testing.”
At the finality of my statement, Lord Kennard fell silent, his heavy breathing filling the night air along with the calls from the guards now stationing themselves around the upper perimeter of the pit. I searched for Gabriella but could not find her yet amongst those who’d gathered.
The crowd was small, encompassing only those who’d attended the ball. I’d learned the queen required them to also watch the sacrifice, heaping upon them only more trauma.
The rest of the citizens of Warwick were hiding behind closed doors, no doubt praying Grendel would be satisfied with this sacrifice, so he didn’t break free of the pit and seek more death and destruction.
The guards began to light the torches in the cliff walls, illuminating the arena. Already I could make out the forms of the livestock, resting peacefully in the grass, heedless of the brutality to be unleashed upon them erelong.
I could only pray the torchlight wouldn’t reveal the boat where Ty, Curly, and the others waited, ready to lend me aid when I signaled for them.
“You may have given up the Testing,” Lord Kennard finally said, “but the Testing has not given up you.”
“I have no time for riddles, my lord. I give you leave to speak freely.”
The stately man clasped my shoulder the way my father might have had he been here. The pressure was kindly, even against my armor. “The engraving on your sword.” He nodded toward my belt.
Be slave of all. I skimmed my fingers over the words before I sheathed the weapon.
“During my ride to Kensington,” Lord Kennard said, “I have been pondering the message behind the engraving.”
“Then you are not alone in your musings, for I have sought to know the true meaning of my challenge since the first day.”
“I cannot lay claim to knowing thetrue meaningas you call it. But I could not keep from thinking of the Scripture verses connected to the words of your engraving. They are found in the Gospel of Mark and say something like: The Lord did not come to be served, but to serve, and to lay down his life as a ransom for many.”
Since leaving Scania, I’d had no access to the rare holy verses and hadn’t been able to put my challenge into the context of Scripture. I shouldn’t have been surprised to find so strong an admonition, but I was nonetheless.
“While I cannot condone what you are doing here tonight,” Lord Kennard continued, “I believe you are following in Christ’s footsteps in being willing to serve, even unto death itself. In doing so, you are fulfilling your Testing.”
“I’m battling Grendel for myself, not for the Testing.” I glanced around, making sure none of the queen’s men were nearby to hear my confession. “As I said, I have given the Testing up. Even if I should live past tonight, I cannot go back to being a slave in the mines.”
