Page 180 of Prize for the King
Magnar gives me a sharp look. “Yes. Of course. We’ve had it for hundreds of years since the times we closely traded with humans. I think King Dagnar introduced it after he came back from the emperor’s court, where he saw some of god’s priests using young boys. He was appalled.”
It takes all the strength I have to keep my face impassive, my voice even. I can’t distract them before this fight. I can’t show my weakness.
“What’s the punishment for this?”
Magnar’s eyes stay sharp on my face, and I look away, pretending to be disinterested.
“Depends on the crime,” he says at last, voice quiet. “Usually, the offending body part is removed. Someone who watches children with lecherous intent will have their eyes gauged out. Someone who touches a child, their hands removed. Those who rape children have their cocks and balls cut off, and they are left to bleed out from the wounds. Barbaric, no?”
“Adequate,” I mutter. “And… How is guilt determined? Must it be proven somehow?”
“The victim’s word is enough.”
“And… And what happens if a king is guilty ofsuch a crime?”
Magnar snorts. “What, me? Gods, Caliane. I don’t even know how to answer this. Children are sacred. They must be protected. I have never considered… Where is this coming from?”
“Not you,” I press on, because I’m almost convinced, just need to clear this one detail. “Any king. I mean… Are they exempt from this law?”
There is a short silence before he answers. “The king is exempt from some laws, but not this one. It never had to be enforced because no ruler of Roharra displayed an inappropriate interest in children. It’s incredibly rare among our race. I think my father dealt with one case forty years ago. It was a woman. A teacher.”
I close my eyes and release a long, heavy breath. So if I had been born in Roharra, if I were an Agnidari, it would have stopped and my father would have been punished when I first told. There would be no harrowing trial, just his hands cut off, his eyes removed.
But then, it probably wouldn’t have happened at all. Children are sacred in Roharra.
I huff under my breath, wanting to laugh, which is ridiculous. This isn’tfunny, but as the tightness in my chest releases, as my body warms and begins to feel, I am almost giddy. Currents of warmth rush through me, and finally, I feel safe. I press my hand to my belly.
We are safe.
“Caliane…” Magnar begins, watching me with eyes like shards of silver, surrounded by lines of tension. He breaks off and shakes his head. “We can do this after. Because we’ll have an after. I promised.”
I take a deep breath and step closer, my heart hammering. Oh, should I say it now? Won’t it distract him? But my heart keeps singing, and there is this giddiness in my veins, fizzy light of relief, of love, of safety.
It was never about Magnar, after all. That shadow, that wall that kept me from being happy was all me, but he broke it down withouteven knowing.
I take another step closer. “Magnar, I l…”
“Quick!” Arvi hisses. “They are coming out. You have to lead them to the carts.”
Magnar nods, shooting me one last piercing look, and steps out into the rain.
LIV Sword
I press my face to the cool boards, watching the street. It’s so dark out, all I see are silhouettes moving, and then nothing as Magnar and his soldiers disappear down the side of the building. The rain muffles all sounds and blurs the view. It’s a blessing for Magnar and his soldiers, a curse for me.
“Fuck, what’s happening?” Khay mutters under his breath, switching from one hole to another and back.
He goes to another room and tries there, then comes back. Raduna puts a hand on his shoulder.
“They are leaving through the back door, and the carts are a street away. All is good.”
I bounce on the balls of my feet, shaking out my hands that are now too hot. I’m feverish and sweaty all over, and my skin itches. I have a bad feeling, and I keep circling through the possible causes.
The cliff path.It will be even more dangerous in the rain. Magnar had his soldiers check it out, and it still exists in the exact location my father marked on his map, but it’s overgrown and narrow, ridden with loose stones.
Yet, it’s still safer than the main gate.
The Agnidari women.Can they be trusted? Did they agree too easily to help us and douse the brothel guards? It’s an awful suspicion tohave, but ten years is a long time, and abuse affects people in horrible ways.
