Page 67 of The Warrior Priest
“When theincidentsoccurred is irrelevant. He belonged to this order at the time.” The high priest resumed reading out names.
“Is this necessary?” Rufus asked.
The high priest ignored him and continued to read from the list.
Throughout it all, Rhys remained very still. He looked composed, as if he were merely standing there looking out at a pleasant scene, his hands loosely clasped in front of him. If I couldn’t see the rope, the guards’ swords or the brothers growing angrier with the announcement of each name, I’d have thought nothing was amiss.
The high priest continued down the list, stopping when he got to the end. He hadn’t finished, however. He’d merely got to a name he was reluctant to read out. He adjusted his grip on the list and began to roll it up. “And Jacqueline Trenchant.”
Hearing my full name read out was confirmation the list of names was drawn up by my uncle.
“Not her,” Rhys said as some of the brothers pointed out that the governor’s niece died years ago.
While the priests seemed to accept his correction, it didn’t dampen their ire or disappointment. Some hissed at Rhys, others shook their heads sadly. Some openly called him a betrayer and oath breaker.
The high priest ordered them to calm down. “Do you deny the testimony of the other women, Master Rhys?” He slapped his hand against the paper.
“It’s not testimony,” Rufus cried. “It’s a list of names! They could be anyone.”
“I have verified most. Are you questioning me, Brother Rufus?”
“Enough!” Rhys shouted. “Let’s get this over with. It’s true I was with some of those women years ago. I was young, foolish, stubborn, and lacked discipline. Those are not excuses, they are facts. It is also a fact that I broke the sacred oath of celibacy. For that, I want to apologize to all of you. What I did wasn’t fair on every brother who keeps his oath. The high priest is right to hold this trial. I am guilty. I’m ready for my punishment.”
“Rhys!” Rufus cried.
“Twenty lashes!” the high priest announced.
Lashes! They were going to whip him! I pressed my forehead to the parapet, but the stone didn’t cool the rage swelling within me, or soothe the ache in my chest. I felt hopeless and weak. The skills Giselle had taught me couldn’t help me fight against so many powerful men, even if they weren’t armed.
There was nothing I could do to stop them torturing Rhys.
Chapter14
“Are you going to simply accept this?” Rufus shouted at his friend.
Rhys held out his bound hands and one of the guards untied them. He went to help Rhys remove his tunic, but Rhys did it himself. Naked from the waist up, he walked past the high priest and several guards to a post at the far side of the courtyard. I’d seen it before and presumed it was used to tie horses to. Rhys stood facing it and circled his arms around it.
The guard with the rope tied Rhys’s hands together again.
“That’s not necessary,” Rufus growled.
“It’s protocol,” the high priest said.
“Bollocks to protocol!”
The high priest bristled.
Rhys shook his head at his friends in warning. “If you can’t accept my punishment then leave. You’re within your rights to do so.”
“Rights,” Rufus snarled. “This is a farce. If you’re being punished for being with these women, then so should most of them!” He pointed at his fellow brothers in a sweeping arc. “How many of you can say you’ve kept the oath of celibacy, or the vow of poverty?”
“Go!” Rhys growled.
Rufus stormed off to the garrison, shaking his head. Vizah followed, but not before casting a forlorn look back at Rhys, tied to the post. He, too, shook his head before disappearing inside.
Andreas stayed. He moved up to be closer to Rhys, but without his sword, he couldn’t fight off the high priest’s guards to free Rhys. Indeed, I doubted he wanted to. Rhys wouldn’t want him to, either.
The biggest of the guards retrieved a leather strap from a box. He pulled hard on the ends as he moved up behind Rhys. The crack of the leather was loud in the courtyard. He struck the first blow across Rhys’s bare back before I was even ready.
