“Well, I never...” Queen Lairis suppresses her gasp with a hand to her lips.
Before I can protest again, Casimir sets his glass down loudly. “I think perhaps what Princess Violence is suggesting is that her companions, as a part of our wonderful citzenship here in the Court of Darkness, should already be acquainted with their royal line of succession.”
With no mother to scold him, a stark silence follows the statement. Jeriko’s cheeks redden, and Nollix finally looks up from his meal. The grin that spreads across my face is the first real thing I have to offer my family. Casimir bows his head.He deserves more than a smile for what he has done for me today.
In what I can only assume is an attempt to recover from her embarrassment, Jeriko digs her elbow into Nollix’s side. “Can you name them all?”
A dangerous glaze shifts over Nollix’s face as if it pains him to even speak at all. “Prince Casimir was not wrong to say that most here in our beautiful kingdom have been educated. Perhaps you should take a break from the hunt and return to schooling?”
I blink slowly. This feels an awful lot like the beginning of a sword fight. Here in court, words are often blades. I’m only surprised Nollix is able to respond so carefully and so effectively.
The table shakes as a round of laughter erupts all around. It starts with Merrick and Casimir before spreading to my other brothers.
“I think I like him,” Merrick says, tilting forward.
“Yeah, well, don’t get too attached,” I mumble wondering when my mother might pinch me under the table for my poor manners.
“It isn’t every day that we get dinner with the Wild Hunt.” Basilus tears through his turkey leg.
“You’re right.” King Melic looks much calmer now than he had when we’d arrived. That might have to do with the counseling of Merrick and whatever tactics my mother might use to keep him steady under such pressure and disappointment. “It is a shame, though, that we could not continue on with the meetings with King Deonairdus.”
Another pointed gaze. I squirm in my seat before sitting straighter. My job is not to be a princess any longer. That was ripped away from me three years ago. The Wild Hunt is my job, answering the call of death and devouring souls. My father has turned me into a monster who no longer has the patience to sit at this table and pretend as though she cares.
“This has been a really nice evening, Mother.Really great.” A trembling breath filters through my words. “We have to go though.” I bow my head. “Father.”
King Melic tuts. “Not before your punishment has been dealt.”
My dinner burns like acid in my stomach. “What?”
“Casimir? Do you still wish to take the lashings?”
Casimir hasn’t even finished eating his food. My eyes are large, no doubt reflecting my shame and guilt.
“Yes, my king.” His voice is gruff but strong. In a leisurely fashion, he undoes the buttons of his shirt, revealing two long scars across his torso. The shirt is folded and laid over the back of his chair before he strolls to the far wall.
I turn in my seat, watching. Casimir meets my gaze and bows.
I am not deserving of his grace. I am not deserving of his respect. I am nothing; no one but a long-forgotten princess.
He turns to give us his back, lowering to his knees.
“Guard, at your ready,” the king shouts.
Clad in so much black you can hardly see him against the room, a guard slinks forward and pulls a whip from his belt. He lets a couple strikes go against the tile before he readies and aims for Casimir.
I should say something. I should take the punishment. It’s a struggle to even take a breath.
My mother slips her hand into mine. “Don’t look.”
But how can I not?
With a deafening snap, the whip cuts through the air, drawing forth a red lash across Casimir’s back.
“One,” The guard counts out loud. He doesn’t give a break before he goes again.
I watch each and every lash, flinching when Casimir makes any sort of noise. With every strike, the room seems to shrink, the walls pressing in on me.
No one at the table speaks. Most haven’t even looked up. There is the constant chime of silverware against china as they pick away at their meals.
