“How are you healing?” I grinned at him. “Quickly, I hope.Because I’m going to deal backeverythingyou did to her.”
He moved to speak, but I turned to the knights before he could.
“I’ll give you one warning. Let these people go, and get out of my sight.”
“Set,” Eris called with a taunting smile. “You weren’t to return unless you re-swore your oaths. And I don’t get the impression you intend to. You have no authority anymore.”
“One warning,” I repeated.
Eris leaned back, content to see what unfolded, but Icelus glared up at her. “He has magic, and we don’t understand the depths of it.”
“True.” Eris leaned on her fist. “I’m loyal to our Father. As such, I have no choice but to bring you to him. He can handle you from there.”
“Pretend I’m a child all you want, Eris,” I said. “It won’t stop what I’ve started. And it won’t save your men.” I glared at the most senior of the Ma’at knights, marked by a golden crest on his cape. “Mother would have killed you where you stand, for what you’re doing to her people.”
He reacted the way I hoped—shame darkened the eyes behind the helm.
Eris finally dropped the playful expression. She regarded me severely and sat back up.
“Father wanted you to take Mother’s place. There’s no reason you cannot inherit her throne.” Eris smiled. “Let’s handle this the way Ma’at would have wanted. Calmly. With words, not blood.”
Mother had been more than happy to shed blood when it was warranted. Swallowing those words, I stepped closer. “What are you proposing?”
Eris twisted her neck, looking up at the white spire peeking above the sea of buildings. “In five days, the ball celebrating my ascension will be held. Come. We can lay old grudges to rest, there.”
“Am I to come alone?’
“No. All I ask is that you arrive with good intentions and lowered blades.”
Eris was setting an obvious trap. If her blood commandedmagic like Cerys claimed, she would charm everyone in the room and turn them against me.
But Eris’ magic didn’t work against me. With luck, I was still immune to her wiles.
“Fine,” I agreed. “I’ll attend. But if I see you harming my people before then . . .”
“We’ll call a reprieve.” Eris raised her chin. “You stay your blade. I stay mine.”
“Deal.”
A smile curled her lips. “I look forward to seeing you at your best, Set.” She craned her neck, snarling. “Release them. Return to your posts.”
The Ma’at knight I’d addressed pulled the shackles off a young man and moved onto the next captive, barking orders for his men to do the same.
I met Icelus’ gaze one final time and smiled wickedly at him. Fear colored his eyes, and he hurriedly turned to follow Eris as her servants carried her down the street.
Turning away, I met back with the Cynthus siblings.
“That went well,” Phaedrus drawled sarcastically. “Let’s not linger, though.”
Seraphim tilted her head and smiled. “Aethra will never believe you solved a problemwithoutdrawing your blade.
I flexed my wrist—blood stained my sleeve, unused. “Neither will Eleos,” I murmured.
Seraphim nudged my arm. “This way. We should wait before we return.”
I followed her, gaze lingering on the veteran Ma’at knight.
For the first time, I saw what Eleos did: a spark of hope amidst the darkness.
