Three more came in simultaneously from three different sides. “I wish to speak, my king!”
Dortak’s arms dropped, he took a step back and his head swung around to take in his brothers, his face now distorted with rage.
His bride didn’t twitch.
More warriors came forward and shouted the same words.
“Enough!” Lahn boomed, I looked to him and saw he had his hand up.
He did not look at me.
I turned back to the clearing to see it now nearly filled with warriors, Dortak and his bowing bride in white.
The air pressed in as I and the silent crowd held our breath.
Finally, Lahn spoke. “Bride of Dortak, give your king your eyes.”
She didn’t hesitate to push up to sitting on her calves and her eyes lifted to Lahn. She was wearing a wide strip of gauze around her breasts and a thin one was wrapped around the cut on her throat. Her face had been cleaned but her left eye was nearly swollen shut, purple and bruising.
I swallowed again.
“The warriors of Suh Tunak speak for you,” Lahn told her.
She lifted her chin.
“Their wives speak for you,” Lahn went on.
She lifted her chin again.
“Is it your wish for my queen and her women to resurrect your spirit?” Lahn asked and I held onto my throne as Diandra’s fingers clenched into my shoulder.
He was giving her an out!
She shook her head.
No!
I tensed to shoot out of my chair but Diandra’s hand held me down.
“You understand that judgment has been passed?” Lahn asked.
She lifted her chin.
“And you accept that judgment,” Lahn stated.
She lifted her chin again.
No!
I felt my lips tremble as my body shuddered with the effort to stay seated and unmoving.
I wanted to reach out to Lahn. I wanted him to tell her that it was his decision that she must allow me and the wives of Suh Tunak to resurrect her spirit. I sent this thought into the night and hoped it found his mind.
It didn’t.
I knew it when he said quietly, “Very well, my sister.”
My head snapped to the side and I saw his head turned away and he was lifting his chin at something. My eyes flew there and I saw The Eunuch come forward with a long, thin blade.
Lahn turned back to the woman and I did too, seeing her sitting on her calves, apparently calm. I looked at Dortak to see him smiling.
God, God, God but I fucking hated that man.
My fingers tightened so deeply into the horns I feared they’d break through as The Eunuch positioned behind her, bent forward, cupped her, what appeared to be strangely tenderly, under her jaw and held the blade to her throat.
Then he lifted his eyes to his king.
“Do you have words, sister?” Lahn asked softly.
The woman in white stared at him. Then, slowly, her eyes slid to me.
Then a small, tragic smile drifted across her mouth and she said one word.
“Rainbow.”
And then so fast it was almost as if I didn’t see it, her hands shot up, she grasped the knife, tearing it away from The Eunuch who shouted in surprise. She took it by the hilt, pointed it to her belly, shoved it in and drew it up.
Blood spewed from the wound, loud gasps, cries and exclamations could be heard all around but I shot to standing, my arms straight down, my head tilted back and I shrieked to the heavens.
