The Shadow Prince by David Anthony Durham

Author:David Anthony Durham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tu Books
Published: 2021-08-17T14:11:59+00:00

33 And My Savior Is …

Someone did.

When I saw a hand reaching toward me, I grasped for it with what little strength I had left. The hand swung me up onto the kiteboard just as it surfed over the edge of the waterfall and caught the updraft of air. As we rushed up high above the falls, I realized who had come to my rescue.

Sutekh.

I couldn’t believe it. It didn’t make sense. Just being so near him made my skin crawl. I nearly rolled back into the river. The only thing that kept me clinging to the kiteboard was the possibility of splatting on one of the numerous rocks below me. That and pure anger. Indignation. Resentment. The second we reached the others I was going to let him have it. I’d reveal him for the scoundrel that he was.

Sutekh touched down with ease. He brought the kiteboard into the cove and parked it neatly. He hopped off and then reached back to give me a hand. “Careful, Ash,” he said, loud enough for the others to hear. “Let me help you—”

“I can do it myself!” I snapped. I leaped off the board. Landing awkwardly on the stones, I twisted my ankle. I limped toward Sobek and the others. I opened my mouth and—

“That was quick thinking, Sutekh,” Sobek said. He strode right past me and clapped one of his massive arms down on Sutekh’s back. “Not only have you safely returned with an astounding seven caracals—”

Seven! “But wait,” I tried to cut in. “He stole some of them from—”

“—but you’ve also saved one of your peers from certain death. Well done, young man.”

Well done? No, that was all wrong! “But Lord Sobek—”

The god turned toward me. “The moment Sutekh spotted you clinging to that rock he rushed out to rescue you. Not even a moment’s hesitation or concern for his safety.”

“But he—”

“The others didn’t even know you were in danger, but Sutekh here was already in motion. It’s uncanny. Almost as if he can smell danger in the air!”

“But that’s because—”

“I don’t suppose you would’ve been able to hang on much longer.” Sobek crossed his arms and looked at me gravely down his long snout. “I believe thanks are in order,” he prompted, none too subtly.

I couldn’t believe it. He was ordering me to thank Sutekh? He was the reason I’d been in the water in the first place! I was about to spill it all, now that Sobek was finally giving me a chance to speak. Only … the god and the other candidates all looked at me expectantly. Prince Khufu craned his head forward. Waiting.

All the words I wanted to shout died on my tongue. I realized I couldn’t say them. I wanted to, but I could tell that in all the moving chaos of the rapids none of them had seen what I’d seen, not even Seret or Gilli. They hadn’t witnessed Sutekh take out Tau. They hadn’t watched him knock me into the water. All they had seen was Sutekh looking the hero.

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