Crown of Hidden Scales novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: The Pyres

They made us stand at the front, as Edric had ordered.

The east yard was a square of black flagstones behind the kitchens, and at dusk it smelled of pitch.

Fourteen children were roped to the posts on that platform, and the girl with the rag doll was tied nearest the edge.

Edric stood on a balcony above the yard with a red mark across his forehead and Hesper at his elbow.

A young soldier waited at the foot of the pyre with a torch.

The bells began to ring.

"Light it," said Edric.

The soldier did not move.

"Light it!"

He came down the balcony stair two steps at a time and tore the torch from the soldier's hand.

He ran across the flagstones with it held out in front of him.

He flung it at the base of the logs.

The pitch took with a roar.

"Rhain," I said.

He had already pulled off his gloves.

He dropped them on the stones, and the gold in his scales went white as the fire reached the first rank of timber.

"Thirty paces," he said, not looking at me. "Stay with me."

"I'm not going anywhere."

He walked into the fire.

I watched a man climb a burning woodpile with the flames bending around him like grass, and I had never seen anything so human.

I ran after him, and the crown on my head tore itself bright, and I put out both hands.

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