Free Honored Vow by Mary Calmes Page B

tribe, the tribe of Rahotep, served him. He was second in power only to the priest of Chae Rophon, and only the priest could call for a sepat to unseat him.
    Logan took a breath. “Crane was taken to lure you to Chicago, and in pulling you, I would follow. Ammon had some of his khatyu there to kill me.”
    “Logan—”
    “Crane’s father, yours, and Archer Pike were granted sanctuary for their part in Crane’s kidnapping and scourging as well as in your and my proposed murders.”
    They had taken Crane to get to me, and in getting to me, would have had Logan. Crane was just a pawn and so was I, with Logan being the real target. “I don’t understand. You went anyway. How was the trap not perfectly set?”
    “Your cousin Danny,” Logan sighed deeply. “He saved me.”
    My cousin. “Tell me.”
    “He met Derek and me on our way to the house, where we were to take possession of Crane. He told us about the plan, so Derek’s sheseru and Yuri took khatyu there and surprised Archer’s men. Ammon’s men were there as well, led by his sheseru.”
    “Roshan was there, Ammon’s sheseru?”
    “He’s dead, Jin. All Archer Pike’s khatyu, as well as the men that Ammon sent, were all killed. I had to get Crane; he was my main concern, so I left Derek to hunt down Archer and your father and Crane’s. But he was too late; they all fled for Egypt.”
    “Explain to me why the priest has called for a sepat.”
    “As you know, if the priest of Chae Rophon can prove that the semel-aten has misused his power, he can call for a sepat, the challenge of lineage, and call six challengers, and their houses, to meet the semel-aten in three challenges of blood, law, and heart.”
    It was lucky I had already thrown up, because I had nothing else left to void as my stomach rolled and twisted.
    “Apparently last month Ammon had some members of his tribe, some of the women, tortured and killed when they refused to submit to him at a gathering. The parents of the women went to the priest and have demanded justice for their children.”
    As well they should have.
    “The priest informed Ammon that he was calling for a sepat at that time. He told him that I would be the first challenger he called.”
    And that was what had put Crane’s abduction into motion.
    “The priest has chosen the semel of the tribe of Khertet in Arkhangai aimag to host the sepat.”
    “Where is that?”
    “In Mongolia.”
    I was having the strangest day of my life.
    “So I’m going there to compete against five challengers, and then, when there are finally only two of us, we’ll face off, and then whichever of us wins that fight, he goes into the pit against Ammon El Masry, the semel-aten.”
    I cleared my throat. “A sepat is not just you fighting, Logan; it’s your maahes, your sheseru, your sylvan, and your mate.”
    “I know.”
    “You won’t even compete in the first three challenges when there are still six of you. You don’t fight until the one-on-one challenge.”
    “I know the mate and the semel’s household fight but I don’t know the specifics.”
    “There are three challenges, like you said: blood, law, and heart.”
    “And?”
    “The trial of blood is about strength and tests your sheseru. The trial of law is about exactly what it sounds; it’s about laws and lore, reciting them, knowing them, and so tests the knowledge of your sylvan. The heart trial is the test of loyalty, and that’s for your mate and your maahes.”
    He was quiet on the other end. “I need you to come and stand at my side.”
    “That’s a given.”
    “Jin,” he said, his voice cracking, “the tribe of Anuket has been disbanded, and the tribe of Mnevis has absorbed it. Derek’s tribe is now the only one in Chicago.”
    The tribe that had cast out both me and Crane and then scourged him was no more. I didn’t even know how to feel.
    “The priest has promised that if any other man becomes semel-aten, then the sanctuary given Archer Pike, your father, and