PROLOGUE
Before
She had never been so scared. Or hungry.
The clamor of the city was deafening. Nia wanted to cover her ears with her hands and hide in the small room. But hunger forced her from the safety of her home.
A shiver rocked her as the chill of the winter morning slammed into her the instant she stepped outside. Her bare feet were cold on the stone streets. Her old garments were so threadbare it was like having nothing covering her skin to guard against the frigid wind. She missed the warmth of her younger sister and baby brother, but they were counting on her. Their mother hadn’t been back in days. She had never been gone so long, and Nia knew that something bad had happened.
They’d finished off the last of what meager food they had the day before. Baby Chanler had been screaming for milk. Nia had given up her share of food to her younger sister, Myria, and she had attempted to give Chanler some as well, but he refused it. He had finally stopped crying a few hours ago. That’s when Nia had decided to venture from their home and try to find something for them to eat.
She had no coin. Nor did she have anything to barter. Her only option was to steal. If she were caught… She tried not to think of what would happen. Whatever she did, she needed to do it fast. Her vision swam, and her stomach knotted painfully before making her nauseous. She swallowed and focused on her surroundings. She couldn’t get sick. Her siblings were counting on her. She wouldn’t fail them. Nia had promised that she would look after them until their mother returned.
Nia’s mouth watered when she smelled fresh-baked bread. Her gaze locked on the vendor’s stall to her right. The bread was so close, as if beckoning her to take a loaf. She looked at the baker. He was speaking to others. If she kept low, she could sneak up, take one, and be gone in a blink. Yet, she hesitated.
Stealing was against the law. If she were caught, they could force her to go in front of the priests. Their punishments were harsh and severe. They would take her away from her sister and brother, and then who would look after them?
Nia licked her lips, her stomach cramping at the thought of that soft, warm bread on her tongue. Her mouth watered as she imagined sinking her teeth into it. Just one loaf. That’s all she needed to get her, Myria, and Chanler by until their mother returned. She was resourceful. Her mother had always said that.
And Nia never let her mom down.
Fear mixed with her hunger. She didn’t want to do this, but she didn’t have a choice. She took a deep breath and steeled herself. She stayed low, keeping out of sight of any adults as she crept forward, hiding behind barrels and people until she was right next to the baker’s stall. She could no longer see him.
Nia looked around. Not a single adult met her gaze. Some never saw her. Others pretended she wasn’t there because if they looked too closely at her, they would see that she was starving. Then, they would have to make a decision whether to help her or not. Her mother always said that was too heavy of a choice for someone to make.
The only ones who saw her were the other kids in the same situation as she was in. Some shook their heads, silently telling her not to chance it. Others watched her with wide eyes, waiting to see what would happen.
Her stomach cramped again. Today was the one day she wanted to be ignored by everyone. She desperately wished to be nothing more than a shadow until she could get the bread and return to her siblings.
Nia closed her eyes and whispered a quick prayer as she pressed her back against the stall. The ends of the loaves hung over the side of the table above her head. Within reach yet so far away. The vendor hovered. He was used to thieves trying to steal his wares. He was quick to grab them. She would have to be quicker.
Her eyes opened as she tilted her head back to look up. Her gaze locked on the loaf directly above her. The smell was so heady, she grew dizzy. Her hand shook as she lifted it slowly. She was poised to snatch the end of a loaf and retrace her steps when the crowd began to part. Conversations halted as everyone craned their necks to see who it was.
Nia froze. She waited, wondering if anyone had noticed her, but everyone was focused on whatever was happening. Her prayer had been answered. She smiled as she looked up at the row of loaves hanging off the edge of the table once more. Her fingers nimbly wrapped around one as she yanked it against her. She remained frozen, listening for anyone shouting: “Thief!”
But there were no such words.
She tore off a piece of bread and stuffed it into her mouth as she began her route back to her siblings. All the fear that had churned so vigorously within her was gone. She swallowed the bite and took another, weaving through the crowd. She was so happy, tears gathered in her eyes. She had gotten food for them.
Her smile grew as she spotted the alley that would take her to the back stairs leading to their rooms. She broke free of the crowd and started to run when someone suddenly yanked her off her feet.
“Let me go!” she screamed.
But the strong arm around her remained unmoving. She flailed her arms and legs in an attempt to get free. Suddenly, someone else yanked the bread from her grasp.
“No! No, please,” she cried as she reached for it.
That’s when her gaze fell on the armor of the man who had her food. She stilled and glanced at the arm holding her. More armor. Not just any armor, though. These soldiers wore the dark blue colors of the Divine. Nia felt as if she had been dunked in ice water.
She looked into the eyes of the one who held her meal. His face was expressionless. The two soldiers didn’t speak as they began walking her back to the crowd, which she realized was now staring at her.
“Please. I need to take that bread to my siblings,” she pleaded.
The man holding her made a sound. “She reeks.”
“The poor always do,” the other muttered.
Nia was embarrassed by their words. She didn’t smell anything, but she did feel hunger, and so did her brother and sister. She tried to elbow the man holding her. “Let me go.”
He sighed loudly, her hit glancing off his armor and hurting her more than it did him. But she wasn’t going to give up. She kept struggling, all the while watching the other soldier walking to where eight men with bulging muscles stood holding a covered litter. The curtains didn’t part, but she saw the soldier’s mouth move and then his head nod. He turned to her and the brute holding her and motioned them toward the litter.
“No!” Nia screamed. “I need to get to my sister and brother! They need me!”
The man unceremoniously dumped her to the ground, then pointed a gloved finger at her and stated, “Stay.”
Nia shivered on the cold stone, her heart hammering in her chest. She wrapped her arms around herself and tried to find a way to escape. The two soldiers walked down the alley where she had been, then went up the stairs. She waited breathlessly for them to return. What were they doing with her siblings? She wouldn’t let the men hurt them.
Before she could even dare to grab one of the soldier’s weapons, the men returned, carrying her siblings. Nia got to her feet. She was ready to rush to them when she heard the soldiers’ whispered words.
“The wee one has been dead a few hours.”
“More kids left to starve to death.”
Nia shook her head. No. They had to be wrong. Chanler had been sleeping when she left. Myria had been hungry, yes, but she had been alive. Tears welled in Nia’s eyes. She hadn’t been gone that long. The men were wrong. They had to be.