Page 19 of The Sun God's Prize
“He’s not wrong,” I have to admit, and even Carrigan grins.
“He’s not,” he sighs.“Still, I’d like to think it was my idea instead of being forced to it.How did you…?”He doesn’t finish asking the obvious because he doesn’t have to.
“Betrayal,” I say with a stiff shrug.“I trusted someone I shouldn’t have.”Portuk better hope he’s dead in that water.If not, his days are numbered, and his end won’t be easy.Then I’ll deal with Vivenne.“You?”
He shakes his head, sad suddenly.“We were ambushed at the edge of Lake Duranthis,” he says.That has me cold despite the humid room.Heald ends at the waterfall and deep chasm that swallows the river of the same name, our sliver of a country bordered by larger kingdoms like Sarn.The lake marks the return of the water’s flow to the surface just outside our border.“Near the mouth of the South River.”He nods at the porthole over my head.“The very one we’re on now.”
Of course, we are.How had I not guessed as much?And while it’s not helpful in the moment to know we follow that large and mysterious waterway that begins at the southern border of Sarn, it brings me comfort nonetheless.“My company was decimated, most of them killed.”Carrigan doesn’t try to translate for Onu, most likely has already attempted as much in his little bit of Sunnish.It must be a relief to be able to speak to someone, so I let him go on without interruption.“The few who survived were taken, chained, loaded on that ship.”He shrugs.“They were sold along the way, or died of their wounds.”His jaw jumps as he looks down at Onu’s fingers softly stroking his as though knowing he needs comfort, even if the Sunnish man can’t understand him.“I was the last of my patrol unsold.I knew they had a plan for me, but I didn’t know what.Until Onu was brought on board.He taught me some of their language.”His eyes turn to me again.“Is it common in Heald?To speak Sunnish?”His cheeks are already flushed from the heat, but darken further under his sunburn.“I know your soldiers comingle with them sometimes.”
There’s that arrogance Mother always hated.I shake my head, trying not to judge him for it, too.“My grandfather,” I say, leaving it at that.
He nods then, forehead smoothing out.“I see.Well, I wish I’d had you all along.It’s been…”
Difficult.“You survived,” I say.“Not many would.”Or had, in fact.It’s a small comfort to offer, but he takes it anyway.
“As did you, sister,” he says.
“An odd term for a daughter of Heald from a son of Sarn.”I don’t mean to be sarcastic, but it’s hard not to be cynical, considering our countries' mutual animosity.I think of his tiny, blonde princess, Vae, and her hate—for the first time in what feels like an eternity—as he speaks again.
“I’ve found that I’ve shed my countrymen’s views of the world,” he says with his gaze turning to Onu, who smiles back, even if he can’t understand what we say to one another.“Life is simpler now.And, hopefully, Onu is right and the life we come to will have its own rewards.”
“The arena,” I say.“What does that mean?”
He shrugs.“Ask him.”Carrigan shifts languages again, still odd in my ears that he’s not speaking the same at all, apparent in his accent and halting speech.“Remi want arena talk.”
“Of course,” Onu turns to me.“What do you want to know, little sister?”
Maybe it’s a bad idea to confess ignorance, but these men appear to be at the very least honest, if not trustworthy.I don’t know them well enough for trust yet.But I’ve been too long alone, and without someone I can speak to without heavy reservation or having to guard against response, so I give in to admitting my lack of knowledge and offer a little grin.“Everything.”
Onu’s laugh is deep and satisfying.Even more so when he begins to tell me what I want to know.
***
Chapter Nine
I stand on the deck in the dark red dress with my shoulders back and my hands now bound at the wrists, ankles shackled together like my two large companions, quiet and patient on the outside, at least, as the ship docks.It’s a busy port here, far busier than the small one where we landed previously, that spot a simple little town built on slavery, I guess, while it appears we’ve reached a more extravagant stretch of civilization.From the tall, colorfully painted buildings and lush greenery that lines both sides of the river, bustling with ships, smaller boats and ferries transporting crates and bundles on their open decks, this destination appears to be my final stop.
At least, on this leg of my journey to the voice in my head.
The temptation to fight for freedom has dulled, but not out of reservation or dismay.The two conversations I took part in last night are, instead, still very fresh in my mind when Vunoshe tugs gently on the dainty chain attached to my neck.I step forward, leading the way, the two men behind me taking the same mincing steps I’m forced to, rattling along behind me as we are led by the slavemasterredown the gangplank and onto solid ground.
This is the first time I’ve touched land in days, and the wobbling sensation surprises me.I’d thought that the lack of coordination I’d felt at our first stop came from weakness.Apparently, it’s from being on the moving deck of a ship for so long, and it takes me a moment or two to adapt again to a world that isn’t constantly rocking and swaying.The heat increases as we leave the water, sweltering sunlight beating down on me, the humidity overpowering while I shuffle my way across the powdered dirt at the edge of the dock and turn right on Vunoshe’s heels.His head is high and he’s refreshed his spicy scent, laughing and waving as we go, small children staring at us like we’re strange beasts they’ve never seen before, though it’s clear this is far from the first time slaves have come to be purchased.That much is apparent from the large, open space at the far end of the port that we approach, the dusty ground giving way to cobbled stones, rough under my bare feet, hot from the sun.I lick my lips, tasting the sweat that runs down my cheeks, my hairline soaked with it, but I don’t complain.
I’m still lost in thought and possibilities, thanks to all I’ve been told.
It’s active here, loud and boisterous with people and slaves, but I barely notice.I must take the opportunity presented to me.Despite my vow, that is.
Because Onu’s explanation gave me so much to think about.
“The arena is a spectacle,” he’d said, “a place where people like us,” he included Carrigan in it, “can elevate our station, no matter how lowly our birth.”His enthusiasm was contagious, and had me leaning in to listen, would have even if this information wasn’t important.“The smaller ones, no,” he wrinkled his nose.“There’s no glory in that kind of fight you might find in an ordinary Dome.But the Sun God’s city, the Dome of the Temple, that’s where true salvation lies.”He rolled his eyes and let out a quick breath.“That’s where we can fight our way to freedom and riches you can’t imagine.”
“Fight,” I said.Riches, yes, Vunoshe mentioned the same, though I hadn’t really believed him.Nor the suggestion I could do the same for freedom.But with confirmation from a fellow warrior… true or not, a pipe dream to lead us to death or reality I can count on, one thing was certain.
He had my full attention.
“In contests of will and strength and battle,” he nodded.“The winners are revered, some freed, most not.”He seemed reluctant to admit that.“Each fight has its own rules, though it’s the ones to the death that have the best reward.”He sat back a little, gazing into nothing, lips smiling as though he lost himself in the hope laid out before him.“I have trained my whole life to win my freedom, and now I finally have the chance to do it.”
I’d listened to him lay out the rest, but the more I heard, the more an idea formed.Not to fight my way free in the traditional sense, as much as I would have liked to.But to do so in the arena, to win and gain my liberation, withranan—the gold currency of the Sun Kingdom—as a reward with it.Then I would be free to pursue not only the voice’s bidding, but to return to the Overkingdom without fear of being pursued or hunted.
