Page 68 of A Tribute of Fire

“Yes, you are. I am Aianteioi. As a religious institution, by law you must offer me hospitality and sanctuary if I seek it or risk offending the goddess.” I was extremely grateful my father had required me to memorize all the laws that protected the Aianteioi.

Because those laws were about to save my life.

There was a very long silence as I got to my knees. Everything hurt and I didn’t think I would ever feel whole again without Quynh, but I was prepared to do whatever I needed to stay right where I was.

“I wouldn’t think that a priestess of the earth goddess would willingly break her laws,” I said. “I would assume that there would be great consequences for doing so.” Although I could not see her face, the other two women’s expressions were answer enough. They were shocked and even looked a bit ... frightened?

Another long silence, and then finally the priestess spat, “Fine. Stay. But you will be treated like the Locrian that you are. Find her more suitable clothing and shave her head.”

The younger woman left the room, presumably to carry out the instructions.

For a moment I thought I had misunderstood. Had she just told someone to shave my head? She couldn’t be serious. Did they not know what my hair meant to me? But two more women entered the room carrying black cloth, scissors, and a razor.

“No,” I protested, but my arms were held in place and I was hauled to my feet. I nearly passed out from the pain, but noticed that these women seemed ridiculously strong, lifting me as if I were a child when I was a head taller than most of them.

Or maybe I was incredibly weak after all I’d endured.

My tunic was roughly removed, and a black one put on. The same kind that criminals and outcasts wore.

I was pushed back down onto my knees, and a strong hand on my right shoulder held me in place.

They were going to cut my hair. Shave my head. Again, as if I were a criminal.

“You cannot cut a Locrian woman’s hair! It is sacred to us!” I protested, but no one responded.

With a sense of resigned dread, I understood that this was going to happen. I couldn’t stop it. There was nothing else they could have done that would have dishonored me more.

Demaratus would have rather I strike down everyone in this room than let them take my hair and my honor.

But I wasn’t a Daemonian. I was a Locrian who still had a mission to carry out.

It was only hair. It would grow back.

I clenched my teeth together and held completely still as they pulled and tugged at my hair, unpinning the careful braids Quynh had made. They cut them off with scissors and I watched as the braids fell like thick ropes onto the floor around me.

With my gaze pointed down, Quynh’s bracelet caught my eye. I reached over to touch it, to feel the flower knot under my fingertips.She had known at the hetaera house what she was going to do. She had been planning her sacrifice even then. Maybe longer.

I couldn’t think of her alone somewhere, in the dark. She would be so scared. No, not scared. She would never be afraid again. She was gone. And they were going to burn her with wood that bore no fruit, her ashes tossed into the sea. I wouldn’t even have the chance to give her a proper burial, to say goodbye to her. She would never know peace. That was another unimaginable loss.

The razor was being dragged over my scalp carefully and I fought back the furious tears that filled my eyes. I would not cry. I would not give these women the satisfaction.

I would channel all my hurt, my loss, my suffering, my pain into anger.

Vengeance.

I would find the eye of the goddess, rebuild my nation, save my sister, and then I would come back here and burn this entire city to the ground.

My lungs seemed to grow tighter and tighter until I could no longer breathe. I fell forward, the world going black before I passed out.

I woke up with a start, reaching for my weapon.

It wasn’t there.

Everything came rushing back, crashing into me like a giant wave. Pain lanced through me, striking every extremity.

Quynh was gone. I had made it to the temple and forced them to keep me even though they hadn’t wanted to.

I raised my wrist and felt a rush of relief that her bracelet was still there.

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