Page 189 of Split or Swallow
Caspen tilted his head.
“More?”
“About the ritual,” Tem insisted. “I need to know everything.”
“Very well,” Caspen said. “What do you wish to know?”
Her first question came easily:
“Where will it take place?”
“There is an auditorium specifically for its purpose.”
The fear threatened to return.
“So it’s public?”
“Yes.”
Tem couldn’t help but blush. Imagining that many people—that many snakes—watching her have sex was enough to make her weak.
“How many basilisks will be there?”
“Everyone in my quiver will attend.”
“But is it…more than a hundred? Two hundred?”
“I do not know the exact number. But yes. Hundreds.”
Tem closed her eyes.
Hundreds.
When she opened her eyes, Caspen was watching her.
“And what of your father?”
“What of him?”
“You need to teach me how to—”
Caspen held up his hand.
“Do not speak of it.”
“I need to know what he—”
“I do not wish to discuss—”
“Well I do.”
They stared at each other. The topic was uncomfortable for them both. But Tem was right. If the future of the kingdom hinged on her excelling at the ritual, she needed to know exactly what to expect. Caspen knew his father better than anyone; he was the only one who could prepare her for this.
“It’s just another lesson,” Tem whispered. “That’s all.”
Caspen shook his head.
She touched his arm gently.
