“Our power flows from her, daughter. Chaela is the source of all firebloods. WorshipHERnow and forever.”
She could no more refuse than she could change her form back to the human she used to be. She moved across the chamber and lowered herself to the floor, sliding her flaming hands back into the barrier in obedience. She waited for the terrible torment to strike.
Daughter of my blood. Daughter of my fire, Chaela said, as the goddess caressed Brienne’s hands with scalding, molten heat until she lost herself to it, screaming at the unending anguish. Memories of betrayal and exile flowed between them through this fiery connection. She saw the ancient ones. She watched their attack. She felt their powers against Chaela and saw her defeat.
Released a moment or an hour later, she crawled away from the barrier and lay on the floor.
“Brienne!” her father said. Opening her eyes, she watched as he crouched down next to her and put his hand into the very heart of her flames. “Come back now.”
She pulled the fire back deep inside her, gathering it back into her blood so that her human body returned then. Her skin was singed black and smoking while the birthmark on her human arm still blazed. The pain of it mixed with something else. Some feeling like the pleasure that she felt at William’s touch filled her body and blood then. Waves of pain and pleasure blended as her skin cooled and healed.
Lord Hugh took her by the shoulders and gazed at her with pride.
“Now you understand?” he asked, caressing her cheek and smoothing her hair over her shoulder. “The gift you have been given? The honor paid to you?”
Brienne’s thoughts were a jumbled mess. The memories of the goddess in her moment of defeat mixed with the horror and fear of her own mind, and she struggled to figure out what was real and what was not. She glanced over at the wall, where something unspeakable had happened and saw nothing there now. But she felt the power, now banked, waiting.
“The goddess is so pleased with you, daughter,” Lord Hugh said, stroking her arms and placing his hand over the burning brand on her skin. She hissed as his fire touched her skin. “We owe her much for the power she has given us. So much.”
He turned his head and looked at Gavin and James, who now stood in a haze of terror and disbelief in the corner. She tried to go to them, to explain that she was still . . . she was . . .
What was she? Truly, she did not know at this moment. Her father held her in place for a moment until she stopped trying.
“She is in need, Brienne.” He gazed into her eyes until she realized what he meant.
Them. The goddess needed them. Just as in her vision, a human must be offered.
“Sacrifice is the supreme way we worship her.” Once more she could not move. He walked over to the two men who had meant so much to her—one who’d raised her and loved her as his own and the other who’d accepted her when no one else would. “Choose, Brienne. Choose the best sacrifice to show the goddess how we are her servants.”
Lord Hugh came back to her, kissing her forehead and her mouth and whispering in her ear, “Go and bring one of them to the goddess. Your willingness to choose one of the humans shall please her.”
Her mind emptied itself. Nothingness filled it. She could not think of such a thing. She stood there mindless, stunned by such a horrific choice. It jolted her back to the true Brienne hiding within. And William’s words were the first she could hear there in the blankness.
You must know in your heart which one you are. Who and what you are, Brienne. And let no one take that from you.
She was Brienne, daughter of Gavin and Fia. She was human.
When Lord Hugh eased his hold on her so that she could make her choice, she did, choosing to throw herself at the opening in the wall. No one would die for her or by her hand. But the barrier held, and she hit it hard. Flung away by the impact, she tumbled to the floor.
“Stupid bitch!” he yelled, slapping her with the back of his hand and then flinging her at the wall. “Too damned human still. I will teach you the way of this,” he said.
She turned to flame and attacked him then, throwing every bit of what she’d learned in those hard lessons at him. She also needed to protect the two who watched. Lord Hugh disappeared and formed again behind her, wrapping himself around her flaming form and forcing her toward Gavin and James. Though Gavin stood firm, James backed away until the wall behind him stopped him. Lord Hugh grasped her hand, still flames, and reached out toward James.
Brienne fought him. She pulled away and tried to free herself from the fire she was, but his power encircled her and made her reach for the terrified James.
And Gavin stepped in front of him.
“Take me, Lord Hugh. Leave the boy,” the man who was her father said with a quiet braveness. His selfless words gave her the strength she needed to change to her human form.
“Nay, my lord,” she begged. “What do you want of me? Do you want me to obey you? I will,” she promised, kneeling before him. “Do you wish me to use my powers as you say? I will.” She put her head down at his feet. “I swear. Just let them live.”
Minutes passed as she prostrated herself before him.
She prayed with all her soul that he would relent.
“Ah, the sight of my obedient daughter abasing herself before me has moved me to mercy,” he finally said. “Rise and take your place at my side, daughter.”
She pushed herself to her feet and wiped the tears out of her eyes with the back of her hand. Lord Hugh’s expression was empty as she walked to stand beside him.
