Page 66 of The Sun God's Prize
Chapter Thirty-One
Sheelan’s not the only one screaming, but she is the only one who falls beside her father, cradling him in her arms, while Theille turns away with the dagger still in his fist, maniacal grin wide and horrible on his face.
At least the arrows have stopped, the guards as stunned as everyone else, princesses fled to the far end of the garden, sobbing in a huddle.Only Hallick remains seated, staring blankly at the heir—correction, the new Sun God—as Theille drops the knife at last, addressing the guards.
“Bow before your God,” he says.
They hesitate.I see it, feel it, and so does he, that terrible grin fading a little, eyes tightening, mouth turning down into a scowl of hate so quickly that I’m now certain he’s as mad as the Chancellor.
“I SAID BOW!”
They do, prostrate on their faces a moment later, throwing themselves to the ground where they stay.
Stupid choice.
I’m up, and he’s my prisoner a moment later, the blade he used to kill his father in my hand, at his throat, and I’m pinning him to the ground where I threw him after spinning him in place, my knee at the small of his back.He can’t breathe, all the wind knocked out of him, though his arms and legs thrash ineffectually while I grit my teeth and strike.
A hand catches my wrist before I can plunge it into him, end his life, too, the way he killed their father.Sheelan’s father.But it’s not the princess who stops me but the black-armored warrior.She doesn’t try to kill me, either, though, merely blocking the heir’s death.
Sheelan looks up at both of us, clinging to her father, his blood is on her fingers, the dead Sun God’s head in her lap, and she crouches next to me, her beautiful face sheathed in tears.
Why the warrior stopped me, I have no idea, but I’m not wasting the chaos Theille’s created.I jerk my hand free and deliver a single blow to the back of his head.It’s enough to knock him unconscious, surprised when the dark-eyed warrior allows it.
Pulls back, moves to protect Sheelan.Her priority is clear, now.
Which the other guards are rousing, already realizing something is wrong, looking up.
I have a split second, that’s all.I need to go.
Now!The dragon’s voice explodes in my head.Flame, run!
I’m on my feet, but her hand is around my wrist, Sheelan up and running with me, pulling me along with her when I hesitate one more time.The guards are slow, too slow, stunned and shaken, and we escape without harm out of the garden, into a corridor where I choose a direction at random.
She’s stopped guiding our flight and doesn’t fight me when I take over, running beside me, sobbing as she does.I’m now dragging her because she’s not fast enough, but I can’t and won’t leave Sheelan behind.
Turn right, now.The dragon isn’t asking.I skid to stop and take the next turn, Sheelan speeding up as her weeping quiets, though she’s panting now, clearly not conditioned for such flight.
Stop!My guide’s warning is just in time.I tuck the two of us behind a pillar as guards appear and run past, shouting in the distance, joined with the sound of a horn.Now, Flame.I step out, wincing in anticipation of an arrow, but there’s no one, no threat close to us, and we’re fleeing again while the sound of conflict and chaos echoes further and further behind us.
There’s no sign of the black-armored warrior.Where is she?
We’re almost to my quarters.I know this place, recognize the little arena we burst into.The swords have been taken away, but someone left the staff behind.
I claim it and quickly head back toward my room.
“We have to go back,” Sheelan mutters at me when I push through my doorway and hurry to the armor racked near the bed.I’m already shedding my dress, jerking on the main pieces and grabbing for the others, shoving them into her hands to hold for me.I need a sword, but that will have to wait, the staff sufficient for now.At least they didn’t leave guards at my door when they took me to dinner.
That will change shortly, no doubt.We have to keep running.
“Sheelan.”I grasp her by the upper arms, shaking her.It’s clear she’s dazed, lost, not crying openly anymore, but in shock.She looks up at me, lips quivering, opening and closing before she shakes her head in short, hard little strokes.
“Remi, we have to go back.”She’s changed her mind now that we’re free.Does she know she’s used the nickname our fellow kinsparks use for me?She’s only ever called me Remalla.It’s an odd detail to focus on, but it gives me hope as I inhale and let the sizzle ride between us, reminding her of it as I do.“I can’t go now.What was I thinking?”
“Your brother just murdered your father,” I say.“And if he catches you, Lan, he’ll kill you, too.”I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.“You’re all that could stand between him and the throne.”
“He would nev—” She stops herself, bites her full bottom lip, more tears rising.“Remi.”She sags into me.
There’s no time, the dragon says.I’d feared her dead, and she’s proving me wrong, never more powerful than now.You either go now or you die, Flame.
