Page 65 of What Fury Brings
He had fallen right into Glen’s trap.
Sanos thought he might be taken to a dungeon to await a trial, but that didn’t happen at all. No, he was dragged through the palace to a chamber he’d never visited. They put chains around his neck, wrists, and ankles. Weighted balls kept him from moving. He was a prisoner in a crowded room.
The faces all blurred together. Some might have been in the gymnasium earlier, but he wasn’t certain. The room heated quickly from all the bodies, and Sanos sweated through his clothing. Movement up ahead caught his eye, and he watched Glen seat herself on a cushioned chair, Athon at her side. Courtiers surrounded her.
Sanos could barely breathe, and it had nothing to do with the fight from earlier. His chest heaved; he couldn’t think with all the noise in the room. Noblewomen shouted obscenities at him. Men in the room gave testimony. All those who had witnessed the altercation.
It was happening too fast.
He could do nothing to stop it. Couldn’t move more than a few feet in either direction with the heavy weights.
And then a device was rolled into the room.
It was much like the one at the pit, but larger. This guillotine was designed for a head, not a cock.
He was going to die. Without a chance to explain himself. To say it had been Glen’s plan all along. She wanted revenge for what he’d said in front of those older noblewomen at breakfast. She wanted to weaken Olerra. He’d been tricked. It was all a setup. He tried to talk over the voices around him, but no one would hear any of it.
The guillotine came closer and closer. They pushed him to his knees and locked a slab of wood around his neck. His hands were useless at his sides. His nails chipped as he tried to claw at the contraption. When the blade at the top began to wobble from his efforts, he went still.
The room quieted.
“What is going on?”
Glenaerys turned toward the voice, one Sanos never thought he’d be glad to hear. “Ah, Olerra, you’re just in time. Andrastus has struck me. I’ve demanded his head.”
The general stepped in front of Sanos. Her back was to him as she faced down her cousin.
“That is my man, and you may do no such thing without speaking tomefirst. Else I have the right to makeyoubleed.”
Glen didn’t seem the least bit worried. “What is there to tell you? You cannot waive his punishment. As the afflicted party, it is my right to demand it.”
“And as the woman this man belongs to, it is my right to demand substitution.”
The room wentsilent.
So silent one would have thought it had suddenly emptied.
“Substitution?” Glen said, outraged. “No one has asked for such a thing in—”
“A hundred years,” another voice said, and suddenly everyone in the room went down on their knees.
The queen has arrived.
Olerra and Glen rose after a brief bow.
“I will take the punishment,” Olerra said.
“Female royalty cannot be killed!” Glenaerys shot back. She turned to the queen. “Olerra knows this. She’s trying to take advantage of a loophole in the law. Your Majesty, you cannot allow this crime to go unpunished. I was harmed by that man”—she pointed to Sanos—“while trying to stop him from hurting Athon. He’s a violent Brute and should live on our soil no longer!”
Queen Lemya was taller than Sanos had first thought, having only seen her seated at her breakfast table. She walked around where Sanos was strapped to the guillotine, her long legs taking their time as she made slow circles. He kept his head bowed, trying to look contrite.
“Glenaerys, do not presume to tell me what to do,” the queen said. “Do you not think I know how to dole out justice, even where my own family is concerned?”
Glen trembled with anger. “Forgive me, My Queen.” The words sounded sincere enough, but she looked far from sorry.
The queen stopped right in front of Sanos, and he dared to look up. Eyes on him, she said, “The law is the law. Olerra has the right to demand substitution, but she cannot be killed. Therefore, Olerra can either live out her life in exile or take a beating so that her betrothed might live.” The queen turned to Olerra. “Is that a choice you really want to make, niece?”
Olerra turned around, and Sanos saw her face for the first time that day. She might as well have worn a mask over her features for all the emotion she showed. Was she feeling sympathetic? Was she furious with him? Was she ready to let him die for this? He didn’t know what she was doing or why. But she must have seen his terror. Bewilderment. And now a spark of hope.
