“For one year I have been gathering people who agree that change is needed throughout all lands, at any cost. But each person in my ranks must prove themselves worthy and loyal.”
She stopped and turned to face them. As if some silent cue had been given, Rozaria’s brutes rose behind her and began to circle the campers until they were surrounded. Hair rose on Paxton’s arms. Chun’s wife wrapped their young daughter in her arms and peered around at Rozaria’s men. Chun’s brother was older, and his two sons were teenagers, but still young enough to show fear in their eyes. They moved minutelycloser to their father. Paxton couldn’t take it any longer. He stood to face the Rocato woman.
“What exactly do you have in mind?” he asked in a steady voice.
Rozaria smiled as if she found him to be eager. She gave a nod to the hulking man at her side and called him by name. “Martone . . .” She gave him an order in Kalorian and he set off, leaving their group and moving toward the dilapidated building. She appeared quite pleased with herself. A feeling of dread pooled inside Paxton. The campers looked around at one another with anxious expressions.
Moments later, Martone came out of the building holding a hunched man by the arm. The man’s hands were bound behind his back, and he stumbled as he was pulled along, as if he didn’t have the energy to put one foot in front of the other.
When they reached the fire, Martone gave the man a shove, and he fell by Rozaria’s feet. She sneered down at him. He was filthy, his hair matted and his tunic torn down the center.
“We encountered this piece of rubbish in southern Lochlanach,” Rozaria told them. “He was spying on our camp by the river’s edge, and do you know what he said?”
She nudged the man with her foot and he mumbled, “Please, miss.”
“Silence!” She stared from Paxton to Chun to his relatives. “He said he saw what we were, and he told us he was going to the authorities. He said we would all be killed.” Hereyes shone as she stared down at the man now. “Tell them what you called us.”
He shook his head and curled into a ball. “I’m sorry, miss! I’m—”
“‘Unnatural vermin!’” she yelled down at him. “That is what you called us! ‘Devils of the sea!’” Her eyes were wild with fury and indignation as she looked out at the campers now. “Come forward, Chun.”
Paxton wanted to stop this. Everything in him screamed against the thought of Chun being asked to hurt a bound man.
Chun’s wife covered her mouth as he walked around the fire. Rozaria looked down at the prisoner.
“Get to your feet,” she ordered. The man struggled and flailed until Rozaria rolled her eyes and motioned for Martone to lift him, which he did.
Shaking and hunched, the man was the same size as Chun, who looked at the prisoner with trepidation. Then Chun turned his questioning eyes to Rozaria.
“In my army, you must always be prepared to protect our kind. Men like this”—she jutted her chin—“cannot be changed. His hatred of our kind will be passed along to the next generation. It is not enough to change laws in our governments. If the people still treat Lashed as evil entities, what life is that?” She glanced over at Chun’s family. His daughter’s face was hidden in his wife’s embrace, and his teenage nephews kept their faces down.
Rozaria shook her head. “I want to see your eyes. All ofyou. Your children’s as well.” She waited until the parents reluctantly nudged their children to look at her. “Whether you are Lashed or not, you carry the blood. You are one of us. You are in danger of being poorly treated, of being killed no matter how well you behave. You must not fear what must be done. In this way, you will be safe. In this way, you will prosper. I will let no harm befall you.” Again, her eyes gleamed with that maniacal zealousness. “I vow that one day, you will each be respected in your community. You will be treated like the noble-blooded citizens you are. You will each be kings and queens in your own right.”
Her words, her sure tone, her radiance—she had the entire camp bedazzled. The people nodded, some of the fear dissipating from their postures. But Paxton could not relax. Chun was not a killer. He was a harmless chef. This would change the man irrevocably, and his family along with him.
Rozaria faced Chun, the fire lighting her face with a fluttering wickedness.
“Put your hands on him, Chun. Stop his heart.” The Torestan stared at her, then at the prisoner, then back at her as if uncertain of her seriousness. “He is not worthy of pity. He would have you killed. He would gladly have killed yourdaughter.” She pointed at his girl, who watched with big eyes.
Chun’s hand slowly lifted, but he hesitated. “I—I’ve never killed someone.”
“Do not think of him as a man. He is your enemy. Focuson stopping the movement of blood through his heart, and it will happen.”
“Nay, please!” the man cried out.
Chun hesitated, his breathing heavy. Konor watched, riveted, a partial smile on his face. Paxton had the feeling the man would step in to offer to do it if Chun could not. Paxton stayed very still, but his eyes darted around him for any possible weapon. This was the worst of circumstances. He was surrounded by men who weren’t just armed, they were Lashed. Attempting to escape or stop this madness was futile. His mind whirred. He couldn’t let Chun do this. He couldn’t watch a man be killed.
“Let me be clear.” Rozaria’s voice lowered to a deadly tone. “There is no going back from this camp. Those who get this far know too much. Your family either proves their loyalty to this noble cause or you choose to die. Your death would be an unnecessary shame.” Chun began to visibly shake as she continued. “Imagine that this man has a knife at your daughter’s throat. He would if he could. He wouldkillher.”
Chun’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard and his hand rose an inch, then fell, rose two inches, then faltered.No . . .Rozaria’s lips began to tighten.
Raging seas.
“I’ll do it,” Paxton said in a rush. All eyes turned to him. Every pulse point on his body banged as his eyes fastened on Rozaria’s. “Let me be the first to prove myself.”
It seemed as if the entire camp drew in a breath and heldit. A feminine chuckle rose from Rozaria, and she pulled her hair over her shoulder, twisting it as she pondered him. The glee on her face was enough to make him ill, but he held his ground and composure.
“Surely you’ll have another opportunity for Chun,” Paxton said, stepping between Chun and the prisoner. “He’s a chef, you know. He’ll be good to have around when you get tired of Martone’s subpar roasting skills.”
