Page 78 of Their Chosen

“And yet you have the audacity to think you have a right to compete in the trials, to become the next queen. You, who has no clue as to what that means. Let's hope that you aren't the one selected, otherwise we're all doomed,” my mother hissed, her words cutting to the bone just as she intended. She was goading Rhowyn for some reason, setting her up, and Rhowyn had no clue. She was most likely trying to undo any favor Rhowyn had garnered after standing up for the servant, but at this point, it could be for any number of things.

I saw the anger flash in Rhowyn's eyes, but she remained calm in the face of my mother's wrath. “It's not like I had any choice in the matter. I was selected, ripped from my home, and dragged here against my will. Apparently, I can't leave until the trials are completed.”

Not once did Rhowyn raise her voice, but the tension in the room caused everyone to take a step back, hoping they were not caught in the crossfire. I dared a step closer to Rhowyn and my mother. “Rhowyn!” I hissed warningly. She ignored me, keeping her gaze on my mother. If I intervened too much now, it would only make matters worse.

“So, you have no intention of trying to win the trials?” my mother questioned, her eyes calculating again.

“No, Your Majesty. I just want to go back home,” Rhowyn responded.

Mother stepped closer, smiling benevolently like she’d caught a mouse in her trap. “In that case, I will no longer feel guilty for issuing the punishment you are due.”

“Punishment?” Rhowyn questioned, her face wrinkling in confusion. “For what? A simple accident?”

“Was it an accident? Or did you get too drunk on my wine, your human body unable to tolerate it, and decide to garner attention to yourself at the expense of my hospitality?”

“No!” Rhowyn exclaimed in shock at that thought.

“If that were all, I could find some benevolence to forgive you for your atrocious human manners. However, your insubordination, sharp tongue, and utter refusal to show me the respect I am due leave me no choice but to punish you. Otherwise, I invite chaos and tyranny into my Court, which is something I will never allow.”

Before Rhowyn could speak again, I took one step closer. “Mother, please,” I whispered entreatingly. “She doesn't know.”

“That's no excuse, Lennox. You're lucky I don't punish you and your other Consorts since it was your duty to ensure she could navigate the Courts, as any fitting queen should be able to do.”

I held my tongue, knowing from experience that if I pushed any harder, things would only be worse for Rhowyn. Especially, if Mother knew I cared. I had already let my concern slip, but hopefully she blamed that on me simply trying to do my duty as a Consort and not that I had feelings for her.

It took everything I had to keep my face neutral and to step back. I couldn't stop this. No one could. If they tried, they would only end up being punished alongside her. Then, we’d be weakened heading into the trials at a time when we needed to be at our best. This was setting us all up for failure one way or another, and at this moment, I loathed my mother. She knew exactly what she was doing, and even suspected that the trials would begin tomorrow, which was why she’d held the ball tonight. My only hope now was that I didn't make things worse for Rhowyn in the future.

Self-loathing crept in, knowing that this was who I came from, this heartless creature. What made it worse was my ability to lock all these emotions away and remain placid as Mother nodded to a couple of guards who stepped forward. Each one grabbed an arm on each side of Rhowyn, who immediately started to try to pull away from them.

“Stop fighting, or this will be much worse for you. And if any of your Consorts try to intervene, they'll get double,” Mother warned as she uncoiled the whip.

Rhowyn stopped struggling, and the fear on her face made me sick. A jostling behind me drew my attention, and I turned to see Callum and Arryn holding Baer back. Callum met my eyes, both our gazes cold and locked down. His expression was almost scary, completely devoid of any emotion. I could imagine that my own face mirrored his in this moment.

As I turned back to witness this atrocity, a burning anger took hold in my gut. A cold ember that I slowly fed. I would kill my mother for this one day.

Not today. I didn't have the power to do so today, but I would start garnering it so I could finally rid the universe of this stain on our people's history and lives. We all deserved better, and I vowed to myself that I would deliver better to my people.

But for now, I would bear witness to this violation against Rhowyn, who was innocent. It was the least I could do for her without making the situation worse.

“For your disobedience and insubordination, you will receive fifteen lashes. If you fight it, then I will add more. Is this understood?”

The anger on Rhowyn's face as she resigned herself to this fate was unmistakable, but her words remained unchallenging. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Good. Let's begin.” Mother nodded and the guards turned Rhowyn so her back was facing the Queen. Silence echoed as everyone held their breath in both fear and anticipation.

Mother raised her arm, drawing out the anticipation, knowing that the fear of what was to come was almost as powerful as the pain itself. Finally, she dropped her hand, flicking her wrist in perfect form as the whip struck Rhowyn's back.

Rhowyn gasped in shock and tensed at the pain before relaxing just slightly. I moved slowly and quietly through the crowd, knowing Mother's full focus was now on her favorite form of entertainment, until I was standing in front of Rhowyn.

By this time, three more lashes had fallen, and her gown was gaping in the front, having been split in the back and no longer protecting her against the lash.

The fifth strike met her skin fully, and she inhaled again, her eyes watering as she gritted her teeth. I could see her resolve not to cry out, refusing to give my mother the satisfaction.

Her gaze finally met mine, and I didn't dare look away. With each strike, she squeezed her eyes shut, tears and snot now streaming down her face. Other than small gasps, she remained silent. As did everyone else. Everyone was too focused on the spectacle.

By the twelfth strike, I could see her strength start to give, her weight now mainly being supported by the guards who still held both arms.

Her knees buckled on the thirteenth strike, and yet, somehow, she found her feet again. Her inner strength touched me in a way I had never felt before, and the defiance still written clearly on her face was heady given the situation.

---