The Mayaware's reign must end.
In a world of demonic beings with a hunger for human flesh and thirst for blood, Hesi Renen knows it well. When her siblings are taken to the harvesting farms, she must do everything she can to get them out, even if it...
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The Mayaware maids knew about it before Hesi did. They rolled her out of bed by force and shoved into the bathing chambers before sleep fully left her eyelids. Her memory vaguely registered water splashing from heaven in heavy torrents, the cold seeping into her shoulders and legs. Yards of thick wool patted her hair dry, absorbing every drop. Then, oils slicked her scalp, and clawed fingers ran through her long strands until her head was heavy with woven plaits, golden combs, and netted pearls.
The hem of her gossamer dress, one that cut too low on her chest, brushed against the floor with every step her sandaled feet made. A see-through shawl covered her shoulders and ran down her arms. It did nothing to cover her up. She passed by the communal chamber and caught attention from some of them. Rehema's face brightened at the sight of Hesi's dress, giving Hesi a frantic wave and alerting the other women to the door.
By the time they made it to the entrance, the Mayaware maids yanked her towards the palace's gardens, sauntering nearer to the entrance. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled at them—the only penance she could give them for being kind in this hostile place.
What meager amusement settling in her nerves vanished when she turned to the Mayaware maids handing her over to the demon soldiers posted at the palace's entrance. "Who summoned me?" she asked.
It was the soldier wearing a golden collar over his chest and carrying a pointed spear who answered. "The Great Prince."
A shiver ran down her spine. The individual meetings were suspended after Mensa got hurt, and they never reached Hesi. But now...
She was the first slate chosen after the second trial.
Why didn't Kharta tell her about this? He should know the High Prince's schedule of bridal summons after every trial. Was Berheqt in on her and the steward's plan and put a stop to it? Perhaps this was a warning, a gentle reminder of what it would be like for humans to cross the Mayaware.
That, or she was being paranoid. She had every right to, considering the state she saw Mensa in. She dreamed about it most nights long after the rumors subsided. It couldn't end that way for her, not when she has a fight to win and an empire to topple.
Kharta's advice rang inside the hollow tubes of her brain. They have to take it slow, to get everything they need before making a move. Until then, they have to play by the rules and not send out strong flares about their goals. The Mayaware weren't forgiving. They were ruthless.
She gulped the lump of fear on her throat. This was another opportunity for her. Mensa didn't show any signs of remembering what happened to her in the High Prince's chambers, leaving her in a darker place than when she started. When she knew light, when she found out the royals had a secret, going back to the shadows of ignorance and indifference was harder. So, if Mensa would not help, the second best thing was to set out and find an answer for herself. Human memory could be faulty, but if she saw it with her own eyes, if she witnessed the cruelty she feared, maybe she would achieve what she wanted—an upper hand in this game of chances.
