Page 42 of Crown of Serpents

“Whose then?”

“As the crown princess of Joppa, it was her decision to forfeit her life for the sake of our people. She … is a brave young woman who loves her kingdom and people. She is willing to die for them,” the king declared with a bobbing throat — yet his chest was swelled with pride.

Medusa blinked in surprise.Her decision. The king and queen had never wanted to sacrifice their daughter. The heartbreak written across their faces told her that they would have rather seen their cities burn than lose their child. But the princess considered the survival of Joppa to be a cause worth dying for.

“So … how does my crew fit into this?” Perseus asked.

“As much as Andromeda loves her kingdom,” the king’s voice cracked, “she is still my daughter, and I cannot allow her to make this sacrifice — not when fate has brought you to our shores in our hour of need … to save her.”

“Save her?” Perseus echoed.

Medusa bit her tongue in disbelief. She knew deep down that it would not be right to perform the sacrifice yet … yet a tiny part of her had marvelled at the princess’s courage. Andromeda’s determination and selflessness would have made her a great ruler – far greater than her loudmouthed mother and her father grovelling at the feet of what he believed to be a great hero. That tiny part of Medusa hoped Andromeda’s decision would be respected — even if that meant she would die to appeasehim. Her death would be her choice, and that would be a triumph.

“Andromeda will be tied to the rocks come sunrise,” Cepheus continued, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “She woulddisapprove of this plan. That’s why we had to wait for her to retire to her chambers before having this discussion. We will proceed with the ritual, but I want you and your men waiting ... to slay the beast before it claims her.” King Cepheus fell silent, fighting back the tears.

The queen took over, “We are asking you to save our daughter and take her with you. You may even take her as your wife, if that would persuade you. We will offer a lamb in her place, the innocent blood masking the deceit ... and she cannot return here, we will lose our princess, but she will live."

What?

“Do you really think that this will fool the gods?” Medusa blurted out, unable to hold back. She could not fathom how the king and queen believed that diminishing Andromeda to a prize for some hero’s noble deed would be a better fate than dying as her kingdom’s saviour.

Before Medusa could get a response, Perseus declared, “I’ll do it. I’ll save your daughter.”

Of course, he would.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Two guards led Perseus, Kleos, and Medusa from the empty throne room toward the armoury, where they would meet the sentinels, who had pledged their support to the rescue mission. These Joppan men would officially join forces with Perseus’s crew accompanying them back to Seriphos, for they would be banished for committing treason — if one could commit treason in the king’s name. Their loyalty belonged to Cepheus, not the kingdom, and they were willing to lay down their lives to rescue Andromeda. Perseus admired their bravery. Still, that meant he would be responsible for even more lives on their way back to Seriphos.

As the guilded doors closed behind them, a forceful shove interrupted his thoughts.

Medusa’s eyes flashed dangerously as she seethed, “You cannot mean to go through with this!”

Perseus blinked in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Medusa’s behaviour was just as puzzling to him today as theday they had met. Why had she stormed off the dance floor earlier? Had his question about Poseidon offended her? He wouldn't have judged her for breaking her oath for love. But if that wasn't the case, what did she mean when she said Poseidon hadclaimedher? Had she dedicated herself to a different deity? But then, why had she been so utterly terrified when Linus had threatened to throw her into the Aegean Sea? She had begged the guard not to give her tohim.

Medusa’s angry snarl pulled him back to reality, “Don’t interfere with this ritual. The princess decided to sacrifice herself for her kingdom; you should respect that.”

“You would have us stand by and do nothing when an innocent girl is being slaughtered?”

He couldn't fathom her stance. It wasn't right for Andromeda to die for her mother's vanity. Was Medusa's twisted relationship with Poseidon – whatever that looked like – clouding her judgment?

“At least, she would have died a truer hero than you will ever be. It was her choice to —”

A muscle ticked in Perseus’s jaw.

“Her choice? What choice did Andromeda have? Sacrifice herself or watch her kingdom starve and bleed? Nobody should be forced to make that kind of decision. And when there is a third option where she can live, shouldn’t we take it?”

His breath caught. Wasn't that what he secretly yearned for himself? A third option, a way out of his own impossible choice between condemning his mother or becoming a murderer.

Kleos, who had watched their argument with arms folded in front of his chest, interjected, “Why do you care anyway?”

Medusa’s head whirled around as she met his glare. “I care because I know what it’s like to be your captive. A swift death would be much preferable rather than being a hostage on that wretched ship.”

“Who said anything about taking Princess Andromeda hostage?”

“Whether you call it kidnapping or forced marriage … in the end, it boils down to the same thing, don’t you think?”

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