Page 46 of Damned and Broken Gods (Labyrinth of Gods #2)

Feck This Scroll

BLUE

T he fecking scroll is a curse. ’Aven’t slept a wink since I found it. I swear the thing whispers in me sleep, but I can’t bring meself to get rid of it. Like, I need to keep it, to do somefin’ with it. There are no words on the damn thing, just musical notes.

It’s a song, and I know nothing ’bout music, but I swear I hear music in me dreams now.

It’s been a rough few weeks, until a few days ago, cos a few days ago, two things ’appened.

We got word that the demigods were on their way back from Shantivan and the sea trial, and also that there’d be a ball of something, an’ suddenly the awful twisty feelin’ in me belly ebbed, and I knew what had to ’appen.

Seema, Alia’s hummingbird, flutters close as I make my way through the complex to the central hall. Seema’s in the nest next to mine. ’Er and the native demigods’ anchors are grouped together, but we’ve been chatting at the barracks, an’ she’s nice.

Once at the central hall, it’s a case of dodgin’ boots to get to the stage where the musicians are tunin’ their instruments. Today they practice, and tomorrow they play for real.

Because tonight…Tonight Leela comes home.

Okay, so the festivities ain’t just cos of that. Some celestial moon event is happenin’. Apparently, it only happens once every hundred years so, yeah, big deal.

But I want me Leela to ’ave a surprise too. A special song just for her.

Look out, Blue, Seema calls out.

I dodge to avoid a particularly heavy set of boots, then leap onto the stage.

One of the musicians’ brows flick up in surprise. I mean, the guy has goat’s legs, so if anyone should look surprised it should be me, but whateva.

“I got a song fa ya to play.” I pull the scroll from me pocket and hand it over.

He tekes it, unrolls it, and his brows go up even higher. He passes it to his companion, who does the same brow thing.

Why are they doing that with their eyebrows? Seema asks.

Dunno. Maybe they’re impressed?

Finally, one of the trio speaks. “Never seen a tune like this.”

“Can ya play it?”

“Of course, but may we ask, why?”

Now that’s the kicker. I dunno why, not fa sure, only that when the thought popped into me head, the awful feeling in me belly stopped. “Just thought it might be nice, is all.”

They exchange glances.

“Look, will ya do it? Please? Me demigod, Leela…she’s been through a lot. I wanna give her something. This song.”

“The royal blood?”

“Yeah.”

Their backs straighten. “In that case, we would be honored.”

They have a gleam in their eyes now that I don’t get, but whateva. “Great. Thanks.”

I leave the song with ’em and head back out the ballroom, Seema fluttering close by.

Do you feel better now? she asks.

The knots in me belly have gone. The strange ache in me chest too. “Yeah. Yeah, I do. Let’s go get some grub before bed. Tomorrow morning I’m gonna kiss the face off me Leela.”