Page 109 of Raven's Rise
“Well, now you won’t leave at all.” He grabbed Goswin, thrusting him toward Ulmar. “Tie the boy to the post and take his shirt off.”
“What are you doing?” Angelet said.
“You disobey, but he’s the one who will take the punishment. I’m whipping him ten times.” He retrieved a whip from inside the stable.
“No!” Angelet tried to grab Ernald’s arm. “You can’t do that.”
“Well, I can’t hurtyourpretty flesh, Angelet. I have other uses for it. And you don’t want to be stripped bare to the waist in front of everyone, do you?”
She followed him. “Ernald, please. I beg you. Don’t do this. I’ll never run away again. I promise.”
He paused, flicking the whip against the ground, where the end of it twisted like a snake. “Promise? You give me your word?”
“Yes. I swear it. Leave Goswin alone. He did nothing.”
“What if you’re lying, Angelet? You planned to run away, didn’t you?”
“I give you my word I won’t ever again. Please.”
“You’re sweet when you beg, Angelet. Very well.”
She sighed in relief.
Then, without warning, Ernald swung the whip in an arc, directly toward Goswin’s unprotected back.
Goswin screamed once, a high piercing shriek that split the air. A bright red welt appeared on his back.
“No!” Angelet shouted. “Why did you do that? I promised!”
“A little reminder that if you break your promise, others will suffer.”
She broke past two guards in the way and rushed to Goswin. She fumbled at the rope until it came untied. “I’m so sorry, Goswin. Oh, Lord, you’re bleeding.”
“It’s nothing, my lady,” Goswin said, fighting back tears.
“I’ll get the wound tended.”
“Don’t make pronouncements you can’t keep, Angelet.” Ernald stood above them. “You’re not in charge.”
“Then you can tell someone to tend his wound!” she said.
Ernald sighed. “You’re almost more trouble than you’re worth.”
“How much is that?”
He laughed. “That depends. Though even if I don’t recover the money, I’ll still get you to that nunnery, and soon. After your behavior with that knight, you ought to be locked away, to restore the tarnish you’ll bring to our family. Then I’m going to Northampton, where the king will hold his Easter court. That will be my opportunity to make an impression. My father has been holding me back long enough. I’m sick of it.”
“So you’ll tell the king that you fixed Otto’s mistake, and that’s why you deserve to run Dryton?”
“Possibly. Or the king might offer me another position. Or a wife.”
“Kings don’t just hand out rewards,” she said in disgust. “You need to earn them. Prove your loyalty.”
“Don’t lecture me on loyalty, woman.”
Just then, one of the soldiers in Ernald’s retinue gave a shout. “Someone’s approaching!”
“Send them away!” Ernald growled.
