Page 45 of The Sun God's Prize
Screw this.I can take them all.But the dragon sighs in my head.
Go see what the petulant god king wants, she says.I’m sick of his meddling, but fighting them will only slow your arrival.Hurry, Flame.
Fuck.Fuck.
I let the woman see that I’m choosing to let her live.“Take me to your Sun God,” I snarl like it’s my idea.
***
Chapter Twenty-Two
They disarm me, of course, before I’m led into the temple, up the broad staircase, and through the massive, gold-plated doors.I’ve only been here in daylight, just this morning—years ago--the interior now lit with seemingly endless rows of lanterns that fill the shining interior with an ethereal glow.It’s a far different experience than it was before, the temple’s main concourse empty and quiet.Perhaps I’m meant to be impressed by it, but I am not, the seething anger I’ve been simmering in since I rose from the pool—long before then, if I’m honest—bubbling like magma ready to surface and burn all of this down.
On the one hand, I should be grateful.I’m about to get the chance to kill the Sun God.
Please don’t, the dragon whispers to me.That would complicate matters.
We’ll see.Because on the other hand, I’m here for a specific reason and I’ve come too far, been through too much, to throw it all away on revenge.
While it might have to wait, I can cling to the chance to cut him down for the time being, at least.
The temple’s massive interior rings with the footfalls of the guards who surround me, only one of Brem’s former order in their number.She leads me directly toward the thrones at the far end, though we turn right at the pedestal where those seats rise above us, striding through an arched doorway and into a broad corridor beyond.It’s lined with open arches overlooking an equally lit garden, lush and quiet at night, but beautiful for its stillness.The sound of splashing water precedes a massive fountain’s appearance as we exit the hallway and stride into a large, circular opening, paths leading off in the four cardinal directions, the giant water feature dominating the center.I barely glance up at the golden depiction of the Sun God, massive and towering over us all, one of his carved hands reaching up toward the sky, his benevolent expression only infuriating me further.The black-clad warrior chooses the right path yet again, and we’re entering yet another of those garden-lined corridors that ends in a massive door depicting a massive sun with rays shooting off in stylized and gem-encrusted golden beams.
I’m unsurprised to find myself in the entry of a throne room, the arching ceiling painted like the sky at midday and lit carefully to look like it’s still light out.A marvel, but one I can’t appreciate as I’m led as much as I’ll allow myself to be without pushing past the warrior leader down the length of the massive room, polished stone beneath me reflecting back the gorgeous ceiling’s artwork and light, as though I’m walking on a flat, glassy pool of impossibly still water all the way to the base of the dais at the end.
His throne here is backed by another towering statue of himself, this time reaching out toward me with both hands extended, palms up, a sun resting above them, somehow suspended over them in a manner I can’t see.Like I fucking care.
I donot.
The Sun God is not alone, and of course, my former patron and owner of the Dome of Women, Yiratille Rae, is seated at his feet.She’s sipping wine and eating candied fruit like she’d been there all along.I’d missed her departure from the Dome.She must have exited the orgy when she’d had her fill, come scurrying here to tell the Sun God that his prize was leaving.But why does she care?Her excitement when Romouth revealed my identity earlier was paired with an odd understanding, a sort of relief to find me here.She’s played a part in my arrival, of that I have no doubt, but is she being manipulated by the dragon?Or is there someone else pulling threads I don’t know about?
Why do either of them give a shit about me?
“Your highness.”The Sun God speaks directly to me, his dark eyes disinterested, his attitude as uncaring as before, though at least he’s addressing me like I’m a person.“Welcome.”
“I don’t feel welcome,” I say, glancing around me at the guards who still circle me.“I feel like I’m still a slave.”
“Unfortunate,” he says, flicking his fingers at the women who brought me here.The guards salute and retreat, though the black-clad and scarved leader seems hesitant to do so.Does she know I would love nothing more than to leap onto the raised platform and break the neck of her little toy god with my bare hands?“You are a guest here, Princess Remalla of Heald.”
I snort a laugh, because he’s got to be fucking kidding me.“I won your stupid game,” I say.“I’m free.So, I’ll be leaving now.”
“You were never meant to the fate that befell you.”He speaks over me, shaking his head, mournful look a melancholy apology that startles me.“In fact, your presence here was requested long before your arrival, and your discovery in the Dome today was a shock to us all.”
I call bullshit.“You saw me on the sand,” I say.“You knew who I was.”My gaze flickers to Yiratille.She doesn’t even flinch.“You had every opportunity to pull me out of the contest.And yet.”I spread my hands.“You left me to fight.So, you’ll forgive me if I call you a fucking liar.”
Someone gasps, the warrior woman in black half-drawing a thick, heavy dirk from her waist, shifting her weight to the balls of her feet.I know Brem’s moves.I’m prepared and, like it or not, I can take this bitch down with the gift of my friend’s knowledge.But she’s not alone, and there are only so many I can fight before I die.
Taunting the god king is not what I meant, the dragon sighs with some sarcasm.
Then you shouldn’t have led me here, I snarl back at her.
The Sun God doesn’t seem to notice I’m even unhappy, ignoring the fact I’ve just insulted him altogether.“You were already engaged in the battle,” he says, sorrow increasing as he shrugs as though we’re discussing a minor matter of inconvenience, not the deaths of hundreds.“The crowd’s demands had to take precedence.But I was assured you would prevail, as you have.Congratulations on your impressive win, your highness.Your mother’s reputation, and your own now, are intact and reinforced, dare I say, in the hearts and minds of the Sunnish people.”
I’m about to tell him where he can shove that hollow sentiment, when he rises and comes toward me, clearly lacking in self-preservation, because he has no idea he’s walking into his own death.“I ask you to accept the apology of my people for their errors and for the way you were treated during your journey here.”Not his apology, though.I guess gods don’t say they’re sorry.“The guilty parties have been dealt with appropriately.”
Who those parties are, I don’t care, though now I’m really confused.Enough that I don’t take advantage of the situation and kill him then and there.“Fuck you,” I say.
Again, he doesn’t even register my curse, as if he didn’t hear me at all.Is he soft of the mind?Or does he simply not listen to anyone but his own prattling?“You are here to serve me, as was agreed to by your ruler.You will join my concubines, and all of what happened will be forgotten.”
