Grayson whispers to me, and the realisation of what could have happened hits me, and I shiver as an icy finger of dread trails down my spine.
That was really stupid, Clarissa. Do you want to be killed? I think to myself as I move my skirts, making it look like I had just been rearranging my clothing. The hand on top of mine squeezes gently, and I turn to look at Grayson, bowing my head in thanks, which is the most I can manage right now. I can feel the eyes of the high priest on me, but I keep my eyes averted, knowing if I look up, he’ll see my rage.
“Slaves are a key component to our infrastructure, and without them, everything will fall apart.”
The dread reappears and it’s like I’ve been hit by a hammer, knowing what is coming next. How had I not thought of this? Of course they were going to replace the slaves.
“So, we are asking every family that has children younger than the age of twenty to put one child forward to the care of the kingdom.” My head jerks up at the declaration. No, he can’t be serious, he wouldn’t be so evil as to make a family give up one of their children…would he?
There’s a sudden silence as everyone takes a few moments to process what they’ve just heard. Shocked cries fill the hall as people jump up from their seats, refusing to give up their children. The voices of the maids and servants join with those of the nobility as they share in their shock, fear, and anger. The guards take a step away from the walls, drawing their weapons. They aren’t going to use them, but it’s a threat, one that everyone seems to comprehend. What the kingdom doesn’t realise, though, is that parents would go a long way to protect their children. This isn’t going to be as easy as they think it is.
“It is a great honour, and you should be proud that one of your family members is able to serve the kingdom in such a way. Children from every status will be accepted, unless, that is, they can pay a fee to be excluded,” the priest continues in his benevolent voice, as if he’s oblivious to the pain of his people, but I know him, I can see the sick gleam in his eyes, he’s loving every moment of this. The crowd continues to protest, shouting and gesturing, refusing. I hear women crying and my heart breaks for them. None of the servants and many of the lesser nobility will be able to afford this ‘fee’ and are being put in an impossible position.
The king’s face is hard, and he suddenly pushes up from his throne again and stalks to the edge of the stage. “This is not voluntary. Any family that does not put a child forward or pay the fee will be put to death. The rest of the kingdom has been given the same information. Now. Sit. Down.” His words seem to echo around the room as if they’ve been amplified.
This is enough to make everyone pause. The king is not known for being kind or forgiving, especially after everything that happened yesterday. No one wants to push him, he never makes blind threats. Slowly, the nobles who stood begin to sit down, but I can see the rage in their faces.
The king continues to stand at the edge of the platform, his hard gaze watching for any signs of rebellion. After a couple of seconds, he nods once. “The workers are dismissed. Enjoy your breakfast.” He waves away the servants and maids, who are herded out of the room, their protests echoing down the corridor as the guards and priests funnel them out.
The room is eerily silent now that the maids and servants have gone, and everyone looks around, wondering what to do next, stunned by the news.
“Eat,” the king demands, as he sits back on his throne. A large, wooden table is quickly carried over and placed in front of the thrones, plates laden with food set before them.
The sound of dishes and cutlery being moved around signals that everyone is following the king’s order, but I can’t even think about eating right now. I feel sick. I had known, deep down, that something like this would happen, but to force parents to give up a child is the cruellest way he could have done it. Making parents pick between their