"Negotiate?"Chukwuemeka laughed."With what?We have nothing.No army, no food, no leverage.The Naiman don't negotiate with the defeated."
"Then you'll find something."Somadina's grip tightened."You were his contact.You wrote the letters.You know him.You'll go out there and you'll make him stop."
Chukwuemeka stared at him.For a long moment, the only sound was the distant roar of battle, filtering through stone and earth like the breathing of a dying beast.
"There is a way," Chukwuemeka said slowly."One way to stop the attack."
"Tell me."
"Ragnar Valthorne.They are coming to defend us, I hear.But by the time they arrive, our city might be in pieces.Even then, who is to say they would be able to defeat Altansarnai?The Naiman hate the Valthorne, as they are enemies.If you can prove to Altansarnai that the Valthorne threat is neutralised..."He paused."He will spare us."
Somadina's eyes narrowed."How do I neutralise the Valthorne?"
Chukwuemeka met his gaze.There was no triumph in his expression."You give him Ragnar Valthorne's head."
Somadina's hands fell from the chains.He stepped back, his face cycling through a dozen emotions in the space of a heartbeat.
"The Great Khan," he said slowly."You want me to kill the Great Khan."
"I know you believe it is impossible.But you have his greatest weakness in your hands.I want you to choose."Chukwuemeka's voice was quiet."Your city or your Vixen."He stopped, something flickering in his eyes."Don’t forget, should the Valthorne win, they will take Azul, and you will lose your Shaman, unable to be crowned Divine King."
The distant roar of battle swelled, as if the gods themselves were underscoring the choice.
Somadina stood in the darkness of the cells, the weight of everything pressing down on him—his father's throne, his mother's grave, his people's screams, and her face.Always her fucking face.He wished he could take a heavy stone to her bones, just to disfigure his greatest weakness.
"Get him cleaned up," he ordered the guards, his voice hollow."Prepare him to go to Altansarnai."
Chukwuemeka's eyes widened."You'll do it?You'll give them the Khan?"
Somadina didn't answer.
He turned and walked away, leaving the question hanging in the darkness.
Night after night passed, formless and cold.Azul had not moved from the floor.She sat with her back against the bedframe, knees drawn up, watching the slow crawl of moonlight across the wood.Her cheek throbbed.The metallic taste of blood lingered on her tongue.Her hands had finally stilled.
Everything hurt.She couldn’t tell what was broken; sitting in that position was the most comfortable for her ribs.Moving her head felt daunting; even speaking took all she had.
She did not know how long she sat there.
The door eventually creaked, and her eyes found themselves staring at someone she shouldn’t have been too surprised to see.
Before she could step inside, an armoured hand seemed to stop her.
"The Okpalaeze's orders," one of them rumbled."No visitors allowed."
Chidinma’s face stiffened into some semblance of authority."I am his favoured wife.Do you think he would deny me the comfort of my own sister in her hour of need?"She let the words hang, sweet as poisoned honey."Shall I fetch him to clarify?I'm sure he would be delighted to be disturbed while at court."
The guards exchanged a glance.One guard stepped aside, followed by the second.
Chidinma scoffed as she swept into the room, and the door closed behind her.
The two sisters simply looked at each other.Chidinma, flawless in silk and gold, her bruises hidden beneath powder.Azul, on the floor, her cheek swollen, her lip split, her hair a wild tangle around a face that held no expression at all.
"Look at you."Chidinma crouched, bringing her face level with Azul's.Her eyes traced the damage—the purple blooming across her sister's cheekbone, the dried blood at the corner of her lips."The great devil who bends princes to her will.With your meagre abilities, you were so haughty, thinking he wouldn’t touch you for fear of your fiancé.”
Azul said nothing.Her golden eyes remained fixed on her sister's face.Her words were new; her expression, however, was not.
Chidinma's eyes watered, her body shaking.But she continued to speak loudly.
