Page 29 of I Summon the Sea

“You can’t save people who don’t want to be saved,” Arkin says, “am I right, human lady? You can’t change people.”

“You know what torments him,” True snaps. “So don’t act as if it’s his fault.”

“How do we know it isn’t?”

“Men.” Neere sighs. “Relax. Nobody is saving anyone.”

Torment?I wave a hand to get Tru’s attention.

“Don’t go looking for excuses for his assholery,” Arkin mutters, scowling at his friend. “Let’s be honest here. He’s a prick.”

“You don’t know?—”

“I know enough to tell you this: stop trying to save people, Tru. And stop trying to save the king’s champion. You know his latest evil deed.” Catching my look, he says, “The number of sacrifices has doubled this year.”

I jerk. What in the world? I gesture,Why?

“It’s been three hundred years since the last Reversal. I suppose he wanted a grandiose event.”

“You should be cowering in one of the human towns, not showing your face during the biggest games of the last hundred fucking years.”

How many are the victims? Is the number of sacrifices fixed? I count on my fingers and shake my hand at him. Is it?

“Twelve. Normally, we sacrifice twelve. This year, twenty-four.”

Bile rises in my throat. Twenty-four people are being sent to their deaths for a spectacle. For a celebration that requires blood and gore.

For a king of tricks and lies, a scion of tragedy, a glutton for pain and suffering.

Twenty-four.

My teeth are gritting together, an ache traveling up my jaw, and when I realize it, I force myself to relax.

They don’t just throw the humans into the sea arena. It won’t be as simple as that. The numbers matter. Glancing back at the gleaming cages on the barges of the convoy, I wonder whose place I will take and how.

I mime wearing a crown, then tap my chest and point at them.

“Is she asking if we will meet the king?” Arkin doubles over laughing. “Are you seriously asking, lady?”

“Gods, she’s a pest.” Neere casts me a narrow look. “You’ll never meet him…lady?”

Rae, I form the word.Rae.

“Her name is Rae,” Arkin says.

“Fine. Rae.” Neere shrugs. “Only fae nobility will catch a glimpse of him.”

“And the human winners of each round,” Tru supplies, confirming what I know.

“Yes, them, too, for all the good it will do them. Oh, they’ve tried to kill the king so many times, stupid creatures. Only magic can harm the king, and nobody with magic is allowed near him.”

“Except for Athdara,” Arkin says. “But he’d never harm the king.”

Why?I gesture.Why not?

What is his connection to the king? Is he fae royalty? Is he a fanatical believer in the king’s power and righteousness? It’s funny how I’m asking all these questions as if hoping for a negative answer, as if somewhere deep inside I don’t want to believe it.

What is wrong with me? A fae who serves the king, collecting his sacrificial victims and meting out royal justice, a fae who asked for double the victims this year can’t be a good person. Does he enjoy it? Does the humans’ pain give him pleasure? How twisted is he?

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