Burning Bright by Megan Derr

Author:Megan Derr [Derr, Megan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
ISBN: 9781620041024
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Published: 2012-03-14T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten: Sacrifice

Dym carried Pechal into the Cathedral through the main hall and into the maze of rooms behind it to a private suite reserved for the Vessels. He settled Pechal on a sofa beneath a window streaming sunlight and gently brushed aside the hair that had fallen in his face.

He hated it most when they were found young. It seemed slightly less cruel when the Vessels were older men and women, people who had gotten a chance to live. A little thief who looked barely over fourteen ... Dym turned away with a rough noise, hating himself more than ever.

It was getting increasingly difficult to remember that he was doing the right thing. Whether he would be forgiven his deeds or not was irrelevant. Doing the right thing was not about being rewarded for it, not even about acknowledgement. It was about doing it.

He made himself check over Pechal, but the sleeping spell was still firmly holding. It usually did, even if in theory all Vessels were capable of resisting his magic. On some level, he knew they didn't want to—why would they? Easier to sleep and hopefully never wake up.

Some sacrifices, that's what they chose: to sleep through the entire ceremony, never to wake again. Others specifically requested they go to the Flames awake.

Dym left the room, locking and magically sealing it behind him. Food and wine had already been brought on the chance that the Vessel woke. He would be fine for a short time while Dym began to prepare everything.

He was not surprised to find Krasny waiting for him in the sanctuary, standing before the stained glass windows that seemed to fascinate him so much. "It would seem our good Minister is attempting to prevent the sacrifices," Krasny said, slowly looking away from the windows to face Dym. "I hope you locked the latest one up good and tight."

"I did," Dym said. "We need to go speak with Sonya."

Krasny made a face and said, "No, we need to go speak with Zarya."

Dym looked at him in surprise. "You want to speak with his Majesty?"

"You know my feelings on the matter," Krasny said irritably, and looked at the windows again, the sunlight painting a rainbow of colors across his figure and splashing the floor around him.

"Yes," Dym said softly. "Do you, finally?"

"I know when duty must be done," Krasny said flatly, but Dym did not miss the pain and longing that flickered across his face before he turned away to start walking. He paused by the door that led to the palace. "Are you coming?"

Dym's mouth quirked. "Whatever you wish, your grace."

"I wish—it doesn't matter, does it? It is what it is. Come on, I want to have done with the matter." Krasny walked on quickly, but Dym kept pace easily. He was not at all surprised that nobody stopped them or even acknowledged them much.

When they reached Zarya's bedchamber, Sonya was sitting beside him quietly reading a book of poetry. She dropped the book when she saw Krasny.

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