Shaking with rage, with sorrow, Dagan stared at the dais, the emerald dagger in his fist. He grabbed my shoulders fiercely. Kissed me on the mouth and shoved me lightly away. “Go!” he whispered. “Run back to Laraak and let me end this. No one would suspect a beggar!” He licked his lips and looked at the dais. “I can do this.”

“No!” I whispered at him while the people around us shrieked. “I cannot risk losing you! What are you saying?”

Uruku drew the sicklesword high up over his head.

“Come with me!” I yanked at his elbow. Reached for his dagger. I couldn’t stand by and let this happen!

“Stop it,” Dagan growled as he drew his arm back. His eyes were closed to slits, his shoulders tense.

“Dagan! If you do not leave with me now, right now, I will run up on the dais and take Warad’s place. It’s my fault he’s there. It should be me dying on this day.”

He looked at me hard. Still resolved.

Guardsmen converged on the crowd, keeping those protesting in line with backhands and shoves. Women screamed as Warad squirmed on the block, but two more guardsmen held his legs while one yanked his tunic away from his broad shoulders to give Uruku a clean target.

“Is that what you want, Dagan?” I shook him. “You want me to run up there and take his place? Because I will do it. I swear to Selu I will. Watch me.” Desperation clawed at my throat. Because I meant it. I would.

“You will not threaten me!” Uruku’s voice boomed like thunder over the shrieks of the crowd. “I will not abdicate! The throne is mine!”

“Dagan please!”

Finally, Dagan’s shoulders fell and his eyes softened as he looked at me. At the sobs about to choke me. His lips quivering, he gently sheathed his dagger.

I rubbed his shoulder as I cried. “That’s it. That’s the way. Come on. Let’s go!”

But before we could move, we watched, struck with horror, as Uruku brought the sword down on Warad’s back with a sickening crunch and a spurt of crimson. The crowd roared as Warad shrieked and thrashed. Blood rolled down his sides, soaking into his tunic and pooling on the platform.

“He missed!” Dagan breathed. “Dear Selu, he missed!” His face twisted in disgust, he turned away and began nudging me through the crowd out of the Libbu while Warad screamed in pain. “Go, Kammani. Go.”

With a mighty yell, Uruku raised the sword again and buried it once more in Warad’s back. Warad bellowed like an ox on the slaughterhouse floor.

“He’s missing on purpose, Kammani. He’s punishing Assata,” Dagan said, eyes wild.

“We have to keep moving and get back to Laraak.” My voice was nigh on hysteria. “Regroup!”

As we fled toward the gate, I sobbed, turning back toward the platform repeatedly as the platform grew smaller and smaller. As Warad’s thick legs thrashed on the dais and muffled screams tore from his mouth.