Page 41 of The Blade in the Ashes
He loved knowing that others had to bow before him.
Even if they were only doing so because Hyrax was behind him.
When he turned towards me, there was no softness in the lines of his face. There wasn’t a single sign of compassion in the shadows of his eyes.
Not my friend.
I forced myself to repeat the reminder over and over in my mind.Thiswas who Caldrius would always be. He was nothing more than a mad king hungry for more influence and eager to stand at Hyrax’s side if it meant a little of that power might leak off the God and onto him.
“Something to say, darling?” His gaze flicked to my lips, anticipating what I might level at him.
But I could only shake my head in disappointment. There were no words to fully convey the confusion he inspired in me.
“Theadora.”
A chill fell over me at Hyrax’s tone. There was a call in it. A demand.
Hyrax’s eyes narrowed as he took me in and noticed the growing tension between Caldrius and me. His head tilted contemplatively, his mouth opened—
Caldrius was next to me then, his head dipping towards mine and his fingers wrapping around my wrist. His dark eyes bore into mine, filled with silent warnings.
Hyrax watched us, his attention a heavy weight as I swallowed down every violent, hateful protestation that came to my lips and let Caldrius lead me up to the dais. Hyrax watched us climb the steps before waving a hand to his right, a silent order regarding where he expected me to stand.
“You look unhappy, dear,” Hyrax said over his shoulder.
“Only surprised,” I lied.
He chuckled, scratching the skin under his beard as he focused on the monarchs. “What is it you have come to offer me?”
Caldrius’ hand fell away from my back as he moved to take the place to Hyrax’s left.
“We flew ahead of our ships,” Emperor Kamon announced after clearing his throat. “But they are sailing here now with a large bounty.”
Kamon started listing the offerings Tenebris planned to bring—horses, spices, lavish fabrics, and jewels. The list seemed never-ending, and they recited it all from their knees.
How long would he force them to bow? Surely, they would bruise eventually.
Hyrax nodded along every so often, but his gaze bounced around the room, focusing on the monarchs, then the windows, then the sculptures, then the monarchs again. At one point, he turned back towards me, frowned unhappily, and motioned towards some servants standing in attention at the doors to the throne room. A few moments later, one of them brought a chair for me.
“Thank you,” I muttered, unable to hide my confusion.
Moments ago, Hyrax had looked like he was ready to deem me a traitor. Now, I’ve been brought a chair at his side?
Hyrax only patted my hand affectionately before glancing out the large windows to watch the setting sun, humming a soft tune under his breath.
Kamon paused for a moment, noticing the God’s waning attention before he cleared his throat again and continued once more.
Caldrius listened with rapt attention, nodding along if he agreed with the gift, while pinching his lips and narrowing his eyes at others if he determined another offering was lacking. He gave them the kind of focus that Hyrax should have been.
Hyrax seemed remarkably bored, though.
I frowned as I watched him, staring at him while he stared at the landscape outside the windows. The lump in his throat bobbed as he swallowed and leaned his head back against the throne impatiently.
His behavior didn’t make any sense. Isn’t this what he had wanted all along? Wasn’t the point of all of this for him to be worshipped?
“And the temples?” he asked, turning his attention back to Kamon. “You have temples?”
A slow dread began itching its way up my spine, and I leaned forward in my seat, resting my palms on the tops of my knees.
