Pressing my dagger to my wrist, I ducked into the shadows of the nearest building and peered around the corner.
Soldiers swarmed the street ahead, Hades Knights and Ma’at guards alike. This was a residential district; homes of various sizes and colors clustered on both sides of a broad, broken-stone road.
The soldiers walked door to door, while others corralled the people—shoving some away while herding others into groups. A woman oversaw the chaos from her raised throne, carried by four servants.
Eris reclined in her seat, legs crossed, foot bouncing impatiently.
A hand gently touched my shoulder, and I whirled around. Seraphim crept up beside me, finger pressed to her mouth. “They’re demanding someone from each family step forward and submit to questioning.”
Phaedrus caught up to us, pressing his back to the wall. “Most of our people are down in the tunnels, no?’
“No. There’s still plenty scattered around,” Seraphim whispered back. Her gaze flicked to me.
Sliding my dagger across my wrist, I felt warm blood trickle down my arm. A Hades Knight stepped into a doorway, and a moment later, dragged a young woman out. He shepherded her toward a circle of Ma’at knights waiting near their commander, where she was shackled and pushed into a huddle of captives.
Eris called out in a booming voice. “There’s no need to fear. If you have nothing to hide, no harm will come to you. Any answers you can give us will help protect your family.”
Wrapping my bleeding arm in my sleeve, I concealed my magic—best to keep it hidden while I could. “Eris is my sister,” I whispered, “I’ll go talk to her.”
“Are you sure?” Seraphim frowned.
“If she doesn’t listen, you two can jump in to help me kill them.”
“Wait,” Phaedrus said sharply. “Is that wise? Free those people,and you condemn them to death.”
“They’re being condemned to death either way,” I said. “This is a performance to make people afraid. Nothing more.”
“Go.” Seraphim jerked her chin up. “If you need us, we’ll be there.” She smirked. “Your majesty.”
“Highness. I don’t have a crown yet,” I corrected before darting out of cover.
The Hades Knights noticed me quickly—I wasn’t exactly being subtle. Crowned by Ma’at’s circlet with a cape dyed in her colors flowing behind me, my identity was quite clear.
Father’s ebony-clad warriors reacted with hostility, weapons drawn. But the soldiers wearing armor that matched mine hesitated.
Good. Maybe some would welcome a return to how things once were.
“Eris,” I called cheerfully. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you in Ma’at’s city before.”
Raising a hand, Eris silently ordered the Hades Knights to back off. “Haven’t you heard, Set? Father decided it was time to fill the vacant throne.”
I paused, glancing over the group of captives. Able-bodied men, mostly. They were imprisoning the city’s most physically capable, hoping to reduce the number of potential rebels.
“Father has no right,” I called back. “This is Ma’at’s city.”
Eris leaned forward. “Ma’at is dead. Only Haimyx remains.”
A man hobbled past Eris’ knights, balancing with a cane. Silver hair, silver eyes . . . I recognized him and the bandages he was wrapped in. Gold armor and white robes—the same colors as Cerys’ house.
“Lord Icelus.” I whistled. “Good! I was hoping you’d survived.”
Icelus mouth twisted with rage. But he also flinched.
“You’ve not changed,” Eris said with a sweet smile. “Still attacking your fellow gods, I see.”
“Blame Icelus. He’s the one who nearly killed the final maiden of Elpis.”
That caught everyone’s attention—even the commoners. Icelus snarled. “Lies. As expected of the traitor.”
