Seth marched over. He must have overheard. “Because you don’t understand what you face—what’s waiting for you in the capital.”
“How is that any different than what we’ve faced so far?” Eleos stepped between Seth and me. “I’m not afraid of pompous nobles in their castles.”
“My father is no merenoble,” Seth said. “He’s Lord Haimyx, chthonicgodof life and death.”
6
Seth
Everything had gone to shit. My father knew we were here. Aethra had found her way back into our company. And now we faced the Duat.
I scanned the walls, searching in vain for a way out. Sheathed in rock walls, deep underground, escape was futile.
Percy walked in circles around me. “What?” He asked for the third time.
Seraphim’s gaze followed Percy around the cavern. “It’s true. The king believes himself to be the god we worship.”
“But . . .” Percy flailed his arms, but words failed him. “But!”
“Believes.” Phaedrus leaned against the wall. “Is the operative word. All the nobles here think they are blessed with divine blood. The king, though, proclaims himselflivingdivinity.”
“Ah.” Eleos blinked rapidly. “In the baths, you said Duath Nun had many gods. I never imagined you meant the nobility themselves.”
“I didn’t think you’d believe me until you saw it for yourself.” Seraphim approached me, head tilted curiously. “But I didn’t knowyouwere the exiled Prince Set.”
“Exiled?” Aethra raised an eyebrow.
“It was my punishment,” I explained. “For attacking a fellow ‘god.’”
“You said that with sarcasm.” Percy pointed at me. “So it’s just a farce? Because I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around a gaggle of gods flouncing around in our vicinity.”
Aethra glanced at Percy before studying my face. “You spoke to me of your first murder. Was it this god?”
“Yes.” I nodded. “I gained my chthonic powers afterward. No one here thinks Prince Set has magic.”
Eleos hummed. “A useful advantage.”
“Really?” Percy frowned. “We’re stuck in a hole, last I checked.”
“Ideally . . .” Phaedrus shrugged. “We’ll soon find ourselves out of this hole.”
“We’re outnumbered.” Seraphim lowered her head. “And many of them are mages. We’ll need to be careful.” She paused. “Give me a moment to think.”
Pressing my back to the cold rock wall, I studied the bewildered expressions Percy and Aethra wore. Their awe would fade once they learned my home was no different from theirs.
Eleos put aside his anger and approached me with a question. “Do you know what, exactly, these trials entail?”
“They’re based on the original divines,” I explained. “The voices Oracles claim to hear. You should be familiar with them.”
“Psythos, Callesis, and Brizo?”
“And Haimyx. Psythos’ empathy is simple; it probably involves risking your life to help another.” I looked away, thinking. “Callesis’ trial is probably impossible to survive, invoking luck rather than art. Brizo, though? I’m not sure.”
Jangling steel drew my attention west. Aethra’s nose scrunched up as she fiddled with her shackles, trying to slip her wrists free from their bind.
“Don’t bother,” I said. “They’ll punish you for freeing yourself.”
She looked up, dark curls falling into her eyes. She blew them free. “I can loosen a lock and make it look like I’m still wearing them.” A pout curled her lip. “What areyoudoing to help, anyway?”
