Page 53 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
“Commander Hudson would like to know what you plan to do about it,”she said after a few moments of silence.
“I’d like the boy to help us tend to our livestock and vegetation for extra food,”I said.
With my heart hammering behind my chest, I waited. After my small show of disrespect, I expected my uncle to deny me this request. Expected to have to argue with him.
“He agrees. What else, Elias?”
I let out an inaudible sigh of relief.“I will take his lashings.”I squared my shoulders, ready for whatever argument she had.
Instead, she turned back to Sama. I tried not to squirm when my uncle whipped his head to face me. I watched his expression closely, and when he nodded, I motioned for George and Brenton and sank back to my knees in front of the boy.
“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered low enough so only he could hear me. “Do as I say, understood?”
He blinked twice before dipping his head in a small nod.
“Stand.” I spoke that one word loud so everyone heard the command.
When he did, I stood with him and noticed the way his gaunt body shook hard enough I feared he’d break.
“These are my friends, George and Brenton,” I said gently. “Show them where you live. They will come get you tomorrow morning so that you may start working on our land.”
With another heavy swallow, he nodded.
“Do you have clothes to ward off the cold?” I asked.
He peered down at his tattered clothes, which were littered with holes and dusted with snow and dirt. George clapped him on the shoulder, making him jump in fright.
“We’ll figure something out,” George told him.
With his hand still on his shoulder, he guided him away until Javier stopped to look back at me.
“What about my lashings?” he asked.
George barked out a laugh. “You’re the first to ever ask for your punishment.”
Javier dug the toe of his well-worn shoe in the snow. “I don’t want them, but. . .” Resigned, he shrugged. “I’d rather get it over with than wonder when it’ll happen.”
“You won’t be receiving any lashings,” I explained. “Go, take him,” I told my friends.
Uncle Hudson sidled next to me as I watched them leave. Once they were out of eyesight, I turned to my uncle and nodded. Taking off my shirt, I stepped toward the fae with the whip.
The cold air whipped around my skin and, bone-tired, each speck of snow that fell atop me was like an ample weight I couldn’t shrug off.
“I am taking the boy’s punishment,” I told the crowd.
The fae warrior dropped the whip and stepped back. “Your Highness.” He shook his head.
“I am not royalty here,” I hissed at him. “I am no longer heir to any throne. Here, I am no one.”
Again, he shook his head, taking another retreating step away from me. “I can’t. I won’t.”
“But you’ll whip a child?” I questioned.
Anger held me still. It was probably the only thing keeping me from falling to my knees.
He gulped loudly. “I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
I grabbed the whip and lashed at the ground, making it echo in the surrounding silence as the snow scattered. The movement cost me, but the warmth of Nalari’s magic filled me before I could stumble. I blinked away the black dots that danced in front of me.
