Page 48 of Of Songs and Silence

We have barely drifted off to sleep when we are awakened by the sound of the ship’s alarm bells.

CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT

MELODI

The silence that stretches between Ari and me is almost painful in its precision. The world continues around me with more lessons from my aunt and cryptic conversations with the king, but I don’t get so much as a vague impression from Ari.

The aching doesn’t go away, though.

He asked me to trust him, and I’m trying. For that matter, I have no choice.

A gong sounds from across the room, the sound reverberating through the water in a low, ominous pulse that pulls me from my thoughts. I snap my attention up from the food I’ve been halfheartedly pushing around my plate.

Next to me, the king sits back in his chair, a wide grin stretching his lips upward as he shoves his own plate away. I can practically feel Ari tensing behind me, but I don’t turn to look. And I don’t open my mind to him, either.

Still, I brace myself. I know whatever is coming isn’t going to be good.

“I have a treat for you tonight, Melodi.” Cepheus’ words rake over me with the finesse of a rusted blade, and I force myself to smile.

“Thank you, Grandfather,” I say, before slurping down another oyster at his pointed glance.

I’m not really hungry, and the mollusk curdles on my tongue as men in chains are led into the dining room. Dark circles line their eyes, matching the scattered bruises on their bodies.

Some are missing limbs. Others are missing an eye or ear. One man is missing his nose. And yet, no one in this room seems to care. At least, not that they let on. Instead, they all cheer and excitedly raise their fists toward the king, bloodlust filling their eyes.

I wash down the rising bile in my throat with the liquid beads from my goblet, consuming every last one. Tonight’s flavor reminds me of rye whiskey. I hope the effect is the same.

Once Cepheus rises from his chair to signal that dinner is over, we file from the room and out into an arena at the back of the palace. Hundreds of seats form a ring around a trench that dips low into the seabed.

Two thrones are erected at the front of the U-shaped space, separated from the rest of the crowd on a raised dais and walls on three sides. This is where my grandfather leads me. Danica and two of his favored commanders, along with Ari, are allowed in our box, as well, though they are forced to stand around us.

My stomach churns as the chained men are led to the center of the ring.

Voices ring out from the crowd, some calling for the hand, some for the rack, and others for the dragon. My mind races, visions of the giant statue coming to the forefront of my thoughts.

I must not have my shields in place because whatever the king sees on my face has him grinning like a hungry shark. Finally, he raises his hands, quieting the crowd before fixing the full weight of his attention on me.

“What do you say, Granddaughter? Since these are the first games since your arrival, you decide.”

My heart thrums violently in my chest, and I swallow down the rising panic threatening to take hold of me. I have been forced to witness torture before, more times than I care to recall, but I have never had to play an active role in someone else’s suffering.

I don’t want to do this. I can’t.

“Peace, Kala.” Ari’s voice is a feather light touch in my mind, somehow closer than it should be, as if he is at my side, whispering the words so that only I can hear.

I check my shields, but they seem to be in order.

“No one else can hear me,” he says. “Don’t turn, and don’t react.”

I quickly rearrange my features into nonchalance, but not fast enough. My grandfather tilts his head curiously, and I force another false smile.

“Allow me a moment to consider,” I say evenly, and he arches an eyebrow.

“Good.” Ari’s reassurance is a balm. “There are no good choices here, but the dragon will be faster.”

He doesn’t say that my grandfather will choose the worst one if I don’t choose at all, and he doesn’t remind me of the consequences of showing weakness here. We both know those things already.

So, I tuck away my trembling fingers and give my answer.

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