Sword of the Deceiver Read Online Free Page B

of all. At the same time, fear bit hard into her. The priest did not mean they were to be killed. He could not. Did the Mothers drink human blood? Ima, Bailo’s nurse, held him close, murmuring comfort. Natharie was ashamed of herself for thinking his nurse should sit him up straight. They could not afford to show less than perfect dignity now.
    Prince Samudra took in a long breath and let it out slowly. “Great King, the priest Divakesh spoke hastily and without thought. I beg you not give any consideration to his words.”
    But Father would not be placated. “He spoke of my children, Prince Samudra, of my son and heir. I must consider his words, and I must have them explained.”
    Prince Samudra hesitated. His eyes flickered toward the princes and princesses where they knelt. For a single heartbeat, his gaze met Natharie’s once more, and to her surprise, she saw pain there, behind the anger and the carefully crafted mask of patience.
    Then it was gone and the prince’s attention was fully on the king again. “It is our hope, Great King, that you will agree that some members of your family will come with us to reside in the Palace of the Pearl Throne to strengthen the ties that bind our lands together.”
    Hostages
.
    “Some members?” said the king slowly. “Your man spoke of all my children, the whole of the royal line of Sindhu.”
    For the first time, Prince Samudra’s patience seemed to slip and his voice took on a brittle edge. “Again, I beg Your Majesty to overlook those intemperate words. We have much to learn from each other, your people and mine. It is my sincere hope that knowledge and friendship can be increased by this exchange.”
    “Exchange? What will the Pearl Throne leave here when I have sent my children to the Mothers?”
    “You know full well, Great King,” said the prince quietly.
    He meant that sovereignty would be left. Father would be allowed to hold the throne and the name of king, if he gave up what was demanded. If he gave up Malai to the quiet prince, the white sorceress, and the hard-handed priest.
    Natharie knew at that moment what she must do. The realization made her weak as water, but she understood it was the right thing, the only thing she could do to save her brothers and sisters, to keep Kitum, Malai, and little, frightened Bailo and all the others free. There was a treaty, there were promises, but she was more free than her married sisters and she could not, she would not let this burden fall to Malai.
    She lifted herself up, and on her knees she approached the throne. The room watched her move in in stunned silence. She felt the weight of their varied gazes like cold stones against her back as she made her obeisance and held it.
    “Great King, Great Father, I offer myself to this office.”
    Keep your places, my brothers and sisters. Awakened One, let them see and let them hold their tongues. Let me be the only one
.
    Father held his peace, one heartbeat, two, three, four. “My daughter makes a tremendous offer,” he said quietly, and Natharie heard the words rasp and catch in his throat. “I do not believe any other princess of her blood has ever done such a thing before. What do you say to it, Prince Samudra?”
    The sound of shifting cloth told Natharie the prince bowed. “In the name of the Mothers and the Pearl Throne, I do accept this offer.”
    And it was done. Natharie lifted her head and met her parents’ eyes. Father looked sad, but Mother’s eyes were wild. She looked as if she would jump to her feet and shout denial just as the priest had, but she did not move. She could not move. Natharie had cast the dice, and only the Awakened One now could see how they would land.

Chapter Two
    The audience did not end with Natharie’s announcement, nor for a long time afterward. There remained a great deal of talk: about amounts of additional goods, about times for delivery, about how and where these things would be done. Natharie could not make herself hear much