Page 34 of I Summon the Sea

Jostled and pushed, I hiss and kick and shove back, but it’s no use. I’m dragged along, tackled by the guards, herded toward one of the two-story buildings behind the docks.

It’s not until I’m thrown inside and I stumble and fall, until I find myself on my knees, pressed between a number of cold, smelly bodies, that I realize my pouch is missing. It must have fallen in the jostling and bustling that landed me here, on this hard floor.

The pearls are gone.

My stomach sinks to my toes.

This was my one chance to get to my goal without entering the games, to buy my way into the palace.

Evaporated. Done.

I draw a deep breath and pat my side some more, relieved to find my dagger still in its leather sheath hanging from my belt, hidden in the folds of my dress.

Calm yourself. It was probably meant to be. The chances of passing as a highborn human lady weren’t high. Being allowed in the king’s presence even less so.

Now the question is, how do I become part of the twenty-four sacrificial victims when right now there are twenty-five of us crammed inside this house?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Lefe? Where’s Lefe?” a woman is calling out. “Lefe!”

“Lakon! Where are you?” a man shouts. “Has anyone seen him?”

It’s chaos. The humans crawl across the floor, shoving one another, searching for people they know. Cage-mates, most probably. Probably also fellow villagers or townspeople. Familiar people they care about.

The room stinks of stale sweat, urine, and despair.

Finally, after a lot more jostling and shouting, the exhausted humans grow quieter and huddle together for warmth.

It’s dim in here, the only light coming through a high window. I make out dirty, gaunt faces, eyes filled with anguish.

Twelve young men and twelve young women.

A world of fear and pain.

Then they start to pray. I should have expected it, but I’m still startled when the whispers start.

“By all the gods and revered heroes,” one of them is whispering, “Persephatta and Marsyas, Elissa and Aides.”

“Remember Penrick Adrius Frost and Ewfellyn Gillen,” another one picks up the thread of the prayer, “who fell for us.”

“Remember Rheanon Aethre and Katri Margery,” a third says, “may they forever be revered.”

I start.Wait…I hadn’t expected to hear certain names spoken out loud. Never expected people to get them all wrong, either. Surely, it hasn’t been all that long since?—

“Who are you?” a timid voice beside me asks, causing me to turn. “Haven’t seen you before. You weren’t in my cage.”

She’s mousy and cute, with short brown hair and large, dark eyes. Her dress was blue once, but it’s now drenched in muck, the sleeves half-torn and the bodice hanging loose as if she’s lost weight.

She probably has.

Anger rises in me, and I try to swallow it back down.

Rae, I mouth my new name, pointing at my chest.Rae.

“That your name? Why don’t—Oh, can’t you speak?”

I shake my head.

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