Chapter 37 Seth
Seth
Blood heirs who contested a sitting ruler for the throne had one week to make good on their challenge. I’d challenged Eris to single combat on the seventh day—toppling her from Ma’at’s throne required sufficient dramatic flair.
Even with such an important task looming over me, leaving Aethra was difficult. I brushed the hair from her face and stroked her cheek. She mumbled something, still in a deep sleep. Typical princess.
I’d said my goodbyes last night, in case this happened. Aethra had made me swear to wake her up. Our tryst in the garden had reopened her wounds, and I couldn’t bring myself to disturb her.
Nothing would keep me from returning to her. Nothing.
I’d promised never again to leave her.
Though I wanted nothing more than for her to stay here until the danger passed, I wouldn’t control her anymore. That was how I lost her.
Aethra would help ensure Cerys’ safety with the others.
And I would face Eris alone.
I planted a soft kiss on Aethra’s head and snuck out of bed. Dressing quietly, I glanced at her sleeping form, wondering if we’d ever get the chance to sleep in one day, untroubled by all this.
Slipping out the door, I gently closed it behind me and padded down the stairs. Dawn had only just arrived, leaving the safe house drenched in shadow.
Eleos leaned on the wall beside the door. “She won’t fight fairly,” he warned.
“No, of course not,” I agreed, stuffing a knife into my bracer. Noticing a spear leaning on the wall beside him, I tilted my head curiously.
“Here. You should take this.” He kicked the spear off the wall and handed it to me.
Running a hand down the haft, I studied its details: the wings wrapping the base of the blade belonged to the royal house my mother descended from, and the onyx and rubies represented the House of Hades. Even before I found the inscription bearing my name, I knew the weapon had been crafted for me.
“Ma’at must have meant to give it to you,” Eleos said. “Aethra stole it from the treasury.”
A breathy laugh escaped me. I turned to him with a smile, but it quickly washed away. Dark circles underlined his eyes, and his bangs hung over his face.
“Don’t,” he said, “ask me if I’m alright. I will be when this is over.”
“Stop reading my mind,” I retorted. “I thought it wasn’t polite?”
“Hm.” Eleos’ expression softened. “You’ll shoulder the same burden, Seth. The same fate.”
“I know, El.”
“Do you think she wants to lose you? Do you think she’d accept that trade?”
“She will, given time,” I said quietly. “But maybe with two of us, no one will need to pay a price.” Smiling, I nudged his arm. “We can hope, right?”
“Go already.” Eleos tried to wear his usual half-smirk, but it wavered and disappeared.
He brushed back his hair, shifting the folds of his white robe. I noticed a hint of brown underneath.
“El?” I asked. “Are you wearing armor?”
“I thought it best to prepare for the worst,” he said. “And, I do know how to fight, in case you forgot.”
“Hold on—you were a priest. Who taught you?”
“Me, at first. Then Seraphim.” Eleos glanced away. “I used to think we could avoid violence. But now I know better. The only option is to kill them.”
The words didn’t feel right, coming from him. I clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Keep Aethra safe.”
“I’ll die before anything touches her,” he promised.
Nodding, I pushed open the door and stepped out into my city.
I hid behind no cloaks or masks today. Wearing the regalia Percy had designed to resemble my mother, I strode down the alley and stepped onto the main road, spear clutched at my side.
I marched toward Apet Square—where Eris had made her first speech, and where long, long ago, Ma’at’s father had killed his half-brother to take the throne.
Dozens of Ma’at guards flanked the streets, watching me as I passed. None moved to stop me or speak. I glanced at each as I passed, wondering if Eris truly meant to honor my challenge.
Flexing my hand around the spear, I realized it needed a name. Percy would hound me for hours, coming up with ludicrous titles. ‘A royal weapon needs a royal name,’ he’d say.
I was a simple man. As I reached the square that rested beneath Ma’at’s’ watchful gaze, scales held aloft in her statue’s raised hands, I decided upon its title.
Justice.
Two dozen Hades Knights gathered around the square, crimson cloaks fluttering under the growing breeze, glaives held at their side, tips pointed toward their vulture helms. Slipping through the walls of ebony armor, I found Eris standing at the foot of the statue.
She wore a simple, elegant gown, hair pinned back with a red flower. Her scarlet eyes met mine as I stood before her.
“There he is,” she said. “Earlier than expected.”
“Would you have preferred a last-minute entrance?” I asked. “Last chance to surrender, Eris. If you step down, I won’t hurt you.”
Folding her arms, she waltzed closer. “What do you think will happen if you succeed? Do you think you can avoid Father’s gaze?”
“I have every intention of drawing his gaze.”
“For what purpose?” She hissed. “What is it you really want, Set? You’ve never coveted the throne.”
“I want the Acheron,” I said in a low tone. “I’m going to destroy the source of your immortality.”
Her eyes flared, and she staggered back. “Fool. Do you think you’d be free from the consequences?”
“I know very well that I wouldn’t.”
“That you hold a grudge against father, I understand.” She laughed, throwing her hands wide. “By the divines, do I understand. But the rest of us?” Her hands fell, and her voice grew cold. “What have we done to deserve your hatred?”
“Hatred?” I echoed. “Father thought he was punishing me with exile, but I found myself over there. Found my purpose.” I narrowed my eyes. “Make your choice, Eris. Surrender your crown, or surrender your life.”
Eris’ eyes hardened. “Father is so bloated by arrogance that he would lead us all to destruction. I thought you’d be better than him.
Kinder. But I was wrong.” She leaned in, her words cutting like a knife point.
“You’re his spitting image. He’d be proud.
” She raised a hand, and one of the Hades Knights rushed forward, positioning himself between us.
Crimson mist swirled around her fingers, but it did not caress the men around us. Thinning into a line, the fog trailed away, toward the west.
“What are you doing?” I demanded.
“When dusk falls,” Eris said. “Your challenge will expire, and you will become an enemy of this city, losing your right to its throne, forever. So tell me, Set.” She twisted her fingers, and I heard something crash in the distance. “Which matters more to you? Your people, or your throne?”
Screams echoed from the west, and a plume of fire flared toward the sky, catching several buildings alight. Great wings spread above the rooftops, but the growing smoke obscured the creature they were attached to.
“Because my blood . . .” Eris smiled. “Works on more than mere humans.”
Spinning my spear, I raked the tip across my back. Crimson wings erupted from the wound.
Turning from Eris, I did precisely what Ma’at would have—I raced toward the disaster without a second thought.