Chapter Three
The Minotaur was a word not often spoken in Crete. It summoned up unease from which not even the Royal Family was immune.
King Minos’s face shivered with an unrecognizable emotion. His sandals slid back just an inch along the stone floor.
It was just like Tierce to announce it as though it were last night’s dinner choice. A day ago, Ikki would have laughed at the look on the king’s face. Now, she just tried not to scream. The captain would hit her again, and she wouldn’t be able to say anything with a swollen lip.
“That’s fair, isn’t it?” continued Tierce, looking along the line of brothers and sisters. “We’re sending our next group of offerings at the end of this month, aren’t we? Why not make it tomorrow? If I remember reading right, we need two more to make the quota for the beast. Surely the daughter of the Royal Architect would be worth at least two prisoners.”
“I hate you,” whispered Ikki.
“You may think so,” murmured King Minos. “But that is up to the gods to decide.”
“I was under the impression it was up to the beast,” said Tierce.
“It is not up to this House to risk the displeasure of the gods,” said King Minos.
“Then think of the displeasure of the people,” said Tierce.
King Minos laughed. It whispered like his robes, a sound that slithered into every crack of the audience hall. “The people. What does it matter what the people think of me?”
Ikki saw Tierce’s shoulders twitch, in that way that meant he was upset.
She knew it wouldn’t show on his face. He just kept smiling as he held up one finger. “It matters if they wonder what it is she saw up there. It matters if she tells them what she saw in one of your demonstrations, Minos III. It matters if she’s suddenly gone with no word. They’ll notice she’s gone. It matters if they attack our guards. It matters if the markets shut down. It matters if it stops the city dead. What would Hestia think of that? What would Hera think? What would Zeus think? King Minos has taken decisions into his own hands. King Minos has decided he may choose the next Architect. King Minos has decided he is the one who knows what is best for Minos. Is it not the greatest crime in the tower, to decide what is the will of the gods? Is it not for the gods to decide, as you just said?”
“That is enough, Minos XIII,” snapped Minos III, “You have said your piece.”
But King Minos made that slashing motion with his hand, and she fell silent. “Then,” he said, the quaver in his voice more pronounced than before, “why the Minotaur?”
“The girl says the sky is blue,” said Tierce. “It is unlikely, but if it is true …”
“You are only the thirteenth,” warned King Minos.
“The most recent model,” said Tierce. “I say leave it to the gods. And the Minotaur. If she returns, then maybe it was a misunderstanding. If it wasn’t, then she has been punished accordingly. But you would not be able to say King Minos has not acted fairly. Judgment would be entirely out of your hands.”
“Or we could kill her now,” said Minos II, “and forget this entirely.”
Ikki heard the guards re-shoulder their spears behind her. She jumped to her feet.
“… the Minotaur,” murmured King Minos. “Yes, it would be fitting to send the daughter of the Architect to the Labyrinth. The Architect exists for the city. Let the city decide if she deserves life or death. What say the House?”
“I say that Minos XIII forgets himself,” said Minos III.
“I say the girl should die,” said Minos II.
“I will obey whatever your Majesty wishes,” said Minos XIII.
There was a hanging pause. The rest of the House said nothing. The one closest of the door plucked awkwardly at his sleeve.
“Take her to the Labyrinth,” said King Minos. “I don’t want to see her any more. The rest of you are free to go. I tire of all of you.”