Page 18 of Destiny of a King

The anger in his voice had Eunice wisely lowering her gaze.

“I need to prove nothing to you,” Dravic said, “but you shall suffer for your lies.”

Eunice paled.

Dravic looked to Tavish. “Have her hair sheared from her head and put her in the stocks and make sure everyone knows that her crime is… lying.”

“For how long, my king?” Tavish asked.

“Until I decide otherwise. Afterward, she is to work at the wash house, her chore from that day on.”

“Nay! Nay! Please, my king, do not do this to me. I will admit my lies to all but please, I beg you do not punish me like this.” Eunice fell to her knees, holding her hands out to him in mercy.

Adira felt the woman’s fear. It ran through her so strongly that her legs grew weak. Her heart ached for the woman. She could only imagine what the king had said to her to frighten her so badly that had her on her knees begging.

She did not know what made her do it, the overwhelming heartache or the fear she felt, but she could not just stand there. She stepped around the king and dropped down beside the woman and put her arm around her back.

The woman looked up so shocked that her tears halted. “I am sorry, so very sorry. I meant you no harm. I was jealous. I thought he wanted you more than me.”

Adira did not know why she shook her head, she only knew it was what she needed to do. Then she placed her hand on her chest and then the woman’s chest.

“You forgive me,” Eunice said, understanding.

Adira smiled softly again sensing it was the right response.

“She may forgive, but I don’t,” Dravic said, and grabbed Adira’s arm and pulled her to her feet.

Adira rested her hand on the king’s arm, narrowed her brow, and shook her head.

Dravic lowered his face to hers. “It does not matter if you do not understand. My word is law.”

Adira pressed her hand to his chest.

Tavish took note of both touches. Touches the king had not granted and had not objected to. It also had not been the first time he had seen Adira touch the king without permission.

“Don’t ask me to forgive her,” the king snapped.

She pressed her hand harder against his chest.

“She lied,” Dravic said as if she’d understand.

Harder still she pressed until she felt the rapid beat of his heart.

Dravic did not know what he felt, but he felt something, strange as it was, and stranger still was what he did.

He turned to Tavish. “She is banished to Venngraith, never to set foot in Caerith again.” He paused for a heartbeat. “After she announces to all that she lied.”

Tavish did not hide his shock.

Eunice, however, scrambled to her feet, bowing her head repeatedly. “Thank you, my king. Thank you so much. I will shout from the rooftops that I lied. I will make sure all hear that I am a fool, a lying fool, and how grateful I am to the king for his leniency.”

“Take her!” Dravic commanded.

Tavish grabbed her arm and marched her to the door.

“Tavish,” Dravic called out, stopping them both. “Shear her hair from her head.”

“Aye, my king,” Tavish said, looking pleased, not so much Eunice.