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Cal took a step forward. ‘Sir, it was my —’
But Vernich grabbed the front of his shirt in his fist and threw him backwards with enough force that he barrelled into several shieldbearers behind him.
‘Stay out of it,’ Vernich growled, advancing once more on Kipp.
Thea’s breathing became quick and shallow, her hands suddenly shaking at her sides. He couldn’t do this, could he? None of the other commanders or masters had laid a hand on the shieldbearers.
Vernich struck Kipp again, sending him sprawling in the dirt with a moan.
Thea’s feet were moving before she had time to think, blood roaring in her ears, spots floating in her vision.
Sensing her movement, Vernich whirled around, his eyes locking on hers. Thea flinched at the hatred she saw there, fear clenched its fist around her.
‘You…’ Vernich spat, taking a step towards her, casting his shadow over her. ‘You’re just as worthless as he is. What were they thinking, letting awomaninto the guild?’
Behind him, Cal had rushed to Kipp’s side, and was struggling to get him to his feet, all the while staring at Thea in horror.
‘Let this be a lesson to you all,’ Vernich shouted to the rest of them. ‘Don’t go where you don’t belong.’
Thea couldn’t feel her fingers or toes, feeling smothered as Vernich closed the gap between them.
‘You wanted to be one of us?’ he said, quietly this time. ‘Then show us how much.’
Thea fought to keep her panic under control again, her chest tightening by the second. She could hear the scrape of Kipp’s boots in the dirt as Cal dragged him upright. She could hear the laboured sounds of his breath, could smell the metallic tang of the blood that leaked from his mouth.
She lifted her gaze to Vernich’s and waited.
‘You are to deliver his punishment,’ the Warsword ordered. ‘Three blows.’
Thea stared at him, suddenly desperate to believe that someone would step in at any moment.
Vernich gave a nasty smile. ‘If the blows aren’t enough, the humiliation will be.’
Thea allowed herself a glance at Kipp. He was hanging in Cal’s arms, one of his eyes was swollen shut but he still met her gaze and tried to nod, to give her permission for the brutality that was asked of her.
‘No.’
Vernich folded his arms over his chest and loomed over her. ‘What did you say?’
Thea forced herself to swallow the lump in her throat and lift her chin. ‘No,’ she repeated.
‘I wasn’t asking.’ Vernich’s voice was laced with violence.
Thea unclenched her jaw. ‘I said no.’
Vernich’s hand flew out, grabbing her by the collar of her shirt and shoving her towards Kipp and Cal.
She stumbled, but kept herself on her feet, despite her knees buckling.
‘Then you’ll be punished alongside him,’ Vernich roared, his face reddening again. He whirled to the crowd and pointed at Sebastos Barlowe. ‘You,’ he commanded. ‘You do it. Three blows a piece. If they’re not on the ground crying for their mothers by the end...’ He didn’t need to finish his threat.
Seb, however, needed no incentive to take part in something so vile. As he stalked towards Thea, the expression splitting his face was one of triumph, of sadistic joy.
Standing before her, Seb cracked his knuckles menacingly, but she refused to flinch.
This is going to hurt, she told herself,but I won’t give him the satisfaction. I will stay on my feet. I will not cry.
Thea was mid-breath when his fist collided with her gut, sending her reeling backwards, snatching all the air from her lungs. Pain barrelled into her, her hands clutching her stomach as she gasped desperately. Coughing and spluttering, her eyes streamed, but she forced herself to straighten, meeting Seb’s satisfied gaze defiantly. She couldn’t speak, but she let her eyes say what she knew would pierce his fragile ego.
