I roar, “Save her, Admat.” One of my goats maas.
I send all my winds in search of Admat. The air quiets.
In the house in Hyte, Merem kneels next to Kezi, who is awakening from her faint. Senat, ashen faced, thanks Aunt Fedo for visiting. He guides her out of the courtyard, despite her protests.
No one seems aware of Nia, who is still praying at the altar.
Merem rocks Kezi in her arms. Kezi’s face is in her mati’s bosom. As Senat comes back in, Merem says, “Kezi can be a priestess and belong to Admat that way.”
I know the sacred text better than that, and I’m sure Merem does too. Only Kezi’s death will fulfill the oath.
Senat joins his wife and daughter on the floor, puts his arms around them both, and rocks with them.
“Pado?” Kezi breaks out of their embrace and stands, swaying.
Senat rises too. Merem stays on the floor.
“Pado?”
“Yes?”
“Must I die today?”
“No!” I shout.
“No!” Merem yells, as hoarsely as when she was sick.
“No!” Senat bellows.
I want him to declare she’ll never be sacrificed. Senat, save your daughter and break the oath. Suffer the consequences if they come.
Kezi wets her lips. “May I go to the wedding?”
“What wedding?” Senat looks bewildered.
“Belet’s,” Kezi says.
He nods. “We’ll all go.”
Kezi approaches Admat’s altar and stands near the kneeling Nia.
“Admat,” Kezi prays, “ruler of the world, I submit to you and the oath that my pado made.” Her voice sweetens into a wheedle. “Admat, allow me a little more of my youth. Give me the rest of the fig season. In one moon, in thirty days, when the last figs have ripened, my pado will bring me to the temple.” She swallows—I see her throat constrict and expand. “Then the priests will spill my blood for you. Admat, I beg of you, give me a month.”
I call my quick wind from the search for Admat and send it to the courtyard altar. The altar flame flares, subsides, and flares again.
Kezi, Senat, and Merem gasp. Nia whispers, “As you wish, so it will be.”
I wish one of them would ask for her life to be entirely spared. I wish I could put the words in their mouths. Then I would make the flame bright enough to light up the entire city.