Page 16 of Firstborn of the Sun
‘Have they?’ L’?r? asked, panicked. In her mind’s eye, she saw herself standing on a platform alone in a desert of black sands and stones, surrounded by two pillars that held a shade over her head – shielding her from the blistering heat. At that moment, one of those pillars cracked at its base, the split running all the way up to its top, shaking the platform she stood upon. Her world was crumbling. He could be taken from her.
No. She shook away the thought. ‘Have they?’ she shouted.
‘You’re right, they won’t,’ Alawani said, shaking his head.
L’?r? let out a deep shaky breath and pulled him into an embrace. ‘Damn these trials and rituals, damn the Holy Order and their murderous ways.’ She pulled away and wiped the tear that hung on his eyelids. ‘This is what you’ll do. You’ll go about your life like normal. Like you were born to. A prince with no claim, no title, no responsibilities. And if for some senseless reason the gods call you their own, you tell them no.’
‘Your father left the priesthood and look at his life. He’s an outcast. He’s been branded a –’ Alawani didn’t complete his sentence.
Her eyes widened, and she could feel her fists clenching with rage. The only thing that kept her from punching him was the crestfallen look on his face. He knew he’d gone too far.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said quietly.
L’?r? leaned in closer to him. ‘There’s no way your father wanted death for you.’
‘I don’t think he thought the trials would kill me.’
‘But he’s not here to keep you alive, is he?’
His eyes fell, and with those words she’d tipped the scales. It was her turn to be sorry.
‘It’s you and me against the world, Alawani. Against it all. Don’t let the gods ruin your life and take everything from you. Please, I’m begging you.
‘Promise me,’ she said, her voice, soft with the night’s breeze. ‘If the Order calls for you, you’ll choose us. Choose me. Choose this life with me.’
A light-hearted smile tugged at the edges of his mouth. His gaze turned towards the flames, fixed as though the dancing sparks spoke to him.
The pillar cracked again. The deep split branched off in all directions. The lonely life she had lived before he came into her world threatened to return.
L’?r? brought out a knife from her pocket, drew a cut across her palm and handed the blade to him. He looked at her, his jaw dropping in surprise. He hadn’t seen her do it, so the blood startled him. But he knew what she meant.
‘Nothing in this world binds stronger than the words of oath spoken in blood. Even the gods won’t dare break it,’ she said, her voice cracking. ‘If one breaks it they will go mad; this is your way out of whatever oaths they want to bind you to.’
He stared at her bleeding hand for so many heartbeats that she worried he might not agree to the oath. But finally, he took the knife from her and made a similar cut on his palm.
L’?r? placed her bleeding palm in his and said, ‘Us against the world. Till the sun falls from the sky.’
Alawani’s face softened into a smile, and he nodded in agreement. He intertwined his fingers with hers and squeezed, then lifted the bond to his chest. ‘Us against the world. Till the sun falls from the sky. This is our vow.’
To seal the oath, he turned on his agbára and waited for her to awaken hers.
‘Close your eyes,’ she whispered.
His forehead creased in a frown as he contemplated her request.
‘Do you trust me?’ L’?r? prompted.
He sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging in resignation before he obeyed. Gently, she led both their hands into the flames. One heartbeat. Two heartbeats. Three heartbeats. His powers would protect him from the heat, but she had nothing to protect her. Only the will to keep her secret hidden. So even as the flames burned her skin, she said in unison with him, ‘Hand to flame, we burn the same.’
The moment lasted only a few heartbeats, but she felt every sting of the fire. She clenched her jaw to keep from screaming and allowed him to pull her into an embrace, and it was all she could do not to cry in his arms.
Her hand hadn’t burned but the pain was so agonizing she felt dizzy and allowed her body to rest on his, placing her head in the crook of his neck.
‘Tomorrow,’ L’?r? said abruptly. ‘Tomorrow we’ll get tattoos.’
Alawani cocked his head. ‘Tattoos? You literally have no tolerance for pain.’
L’?r? smiled and glanced at the flames, then hid her bloody palm. ‘You’d be surprised.’
