Daughter of Darkness by Katharine & Elizabeth Corr

Author:Katharine & Elizabeth Corr [Corr, Katharine & Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781471410925
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Published: 2022-07-06T09:15:10.345000+00:00

15

‘That’s a terrible idea.’ The comment came from Chryse. Deina had refused Charon’s proffered hand – had persuaded the god that she should be allowed to consult, briefly, with the other Severers, before entering into a contract that would potentially condemn all of them. Now they were huddled together while Charon surveyed them from a short distance away. ‘We should obviously stay together. He might be lying – if he sends us back to the start, perhaps we will be able to open the gate and escape. Or … Or something else might turn up.’

Drex was nodding in agreement. But Theron, Aster and Dendris said nothing. Because, Deina realised, they all thought they might be the one to win. To be in with a chance, still, of gaining their freedom and Orpheus’s gold. She didn’t blame them; she felt the same. As the Cretans had proved, there weren’t many Severers who could resist the lure of a prize or a competition. Even fewer who would turn down an opportunity to rub another Severer’s face in his or her own inferiority.

Dendris, who had drawn out her axe, licked her finger and rubbed a spot of dirt from the axe head. ‘Nothing else is going to turn up. We don’t have a choice, do we?’

‘Hold on, though,’ Theron said. ‘If Deina or Aster win, they both have a token to bind the queen’s ghost: the spindle and the comb taken from the Cretans. But what about the rest of us? There’s no point crossing the Styx without one. Perhaps the two of you should give them to Charon before we start. For safekeeping.’

As Aster started rumbling about honour, Deina stared Theron down.

‘And you think Charon would give them back? If you win, I’ll give you the comb. But I’m not giving it to you yet. Why should I? I stole it, and I’ve already proven you can trust me. I gave up my amethysts and my necklace to get us this far –’

‘Interesting use of the word “my”,’ Theron interrupted. ‘Do we know we can trust you? It was you who suggested to Charon that we should play a game.’

Was it Deina’s imagination, or were the others edging away from her? She glared at Theron.

‘So?’

‘So now you’ve got a token, this could be a way for you to get rid of the rest of us. I haven’t forgotten what you said, the night of the banquet. You told me you were going to win.’

‘And you told me you were going to put an arrow in me.’

Theron’s eyes shot open, as if she’d slapped him rather than just repeated his own words back to him. ‘I –’

‘Quiet!’ Drex snapped. In the shocked silence, he gestured towards the god, adding, ‘I – I may be wrong, but I don’t think this is helping us.’

Charon was laughing. And clapping. He strolled towards them.

‘Oh, that was amusing. Nothing like watching a group of Severers throw each other to the lions. I take it that you will be participating in my competition?’

The question was directed at Deina.

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