AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Your Majesty,” I said with as much indignation as I could muster. I even pressed a hand to my heart. “He’s the one married to my one true love. I believe he has more to egg me on with than I shall ever have against him.”
“Oh, I’m sure you both could find plenty to hold against each other. Just don’t cross him, or I’ll have you exiled from Donnelly in a heartbeat.”
The idea of being forced permanently away from Vienne latched onto my gut to clench painfully, so I nodded my understanding. Yet I still had to ask, “And Allera?”
The king rolled his eyes. “A
t this point, I have a feeling my brother would kill me on the spot if I dared to keep him from his intended bride.”
A smile twitched across my lips. “He has grown quite fond of her.”
Caulder rolled his eyes. “He’s a smitten fool. But I don’t fancy a war against High Cliff either. Not even now that I have their best warrior under my control.”
That truth that I really was under his control itched at my collar, but I kept my mouth shut and nodded.
“Let the others back in again,” the king instructed to a guard.
After the guard hurried to comply, Brentley, Allera, Soren, and even Nicolette filed back into the room. They stood in a line, awaiting Caulder’s final decree.
“I absolve both Prince Urban and Princess Allera from any collusion against the Crown,” he said, causing Soren to step forward in outrage and Nicolette, Brentley, and Allera to clasp hands together and grin among the three of them.
When the king’s cousin started to speak, Caulder lifted his hand, silencing him. “Since the wedding planned for later today was delayed, I will allow Princess Allera and Prince Brentley to proceed with their vows in two weeks’ time. Meanwhile, Prince Urban will train and lead my armies.”
“The hell you say!” Soren started, but Caulder spoke over him.
“But first, I require twenty lashes from Prince Urban’s flesh, ten for him and ten for his sister, for keeping secrets from their king... All to be administered personally by Sir Soren himself.”
My stomach dropped. I gaped at Caulder, feeling distinctly betrayed that he’d decided to keep that bit of information from me until now.
Across the room, Allera screamed and rushed forward to protest, only for Brentley to wrap his arms around her from behind and pull her back.
“Caulder, no,” Nicolette pleaded, pressing her hands together at her chest.
The king turned his face away, refusing to listen to anyone else.
“It is done,” he ordered. “Brentley, remove these women from the room. They can’t seem to handle watching justice in action.”
Allera struggled in Brentley’s arms. “No! Don’t do this, don’t do this.”
Caulder glanced stonily her way.
She must’ve read the resolve on his face, because she instantly started a new plea. “Then I want my ten lashes. Don’t give them all to my brother. Please. I’ll take my own lashes.” But her betrothed dragged her from the room as another guard stowed Nicolette away.
I turned my attention to Caulder, who finally met my gaze. “It’s not pleasant to have some pieces of information kept from you, is it, Prince Urban?”
I narrowed my eyes but didn’t reply. I’d already promised him I would take whatever punishment he decided to dole out, so I said nothing.
But, no, I didn’t care for this turn of events. He’d always seemed so soft, peaceable. I’d underestimated him. Something I would never do again.
“Would you care to remove your own tunic?” he asked politely. “Or let the whip rip it from you?”
Keeping my silence, I tugged at my clothing, removing my shirt until I was bare chested. Keeping my gaze on no one but the king himself, I waited until a whipping post was brought in, and then I willingly slid my hands into the wrist holds.
Soren roughly secured them into place, tightening the reins so I couldn’t pull free, but I ignored him the entire time, watching only Caulder and gauging his reaction to everything that happened. When a tick in his jaw let me see the barest of flinches just from watching his cousin lock me into place, I wondered if he would even allow the full twenty lashes.
But then he pulled himself up taut, bolstering his resolve, and nodded to Vienne’s husband who stood behind me.
The first strike was a sharp surprise. The muscles in my back jerked and tightened, unprepared. Then the second came, and pieces of metal and bone knotted into the leather thongs clawed at my flesh. I gritted my teeth and held on tightly to my wrist restraints.
