Page 56 of Rise of a Fallen Man

“With all due respect, I believe that if given a choice, my father would very much prefer to keep his penis attached.”

She blushed when I used the actual name of “the part” in question. I recalled a conversation I once had during an official visit to the Egami College of the Healing Arts. A professor had explained to me that the male body is essentially the same as the female, with only some insignificant differences that don’t warrant a development of a separate course of studies.

“You had no chance to learn much about that part, did you?” I sighed.

“I assure you I possess a vast academic knowledge and practical expertise that comes from the decades of tireless work healing my patients.”

“Of course.” There was no use in arguing since despite all that combined knowledge and expertise that was currently assembled in my father’s bedroom, not a single person in there had the exact skill he needed.

That didn’t mean the queendom had no experts of that kind. I saw the results of their work not so long ago.

“Thank you for the updates,” I said to the witch. “I’ll let you go get your potions to fix my father’s lungs and ribs and save his life as you promised, but please...” I got hold of her arm, making sure she paid attention. “Please, don’t let the royal witch amputate anything yet.”

“What do you mean, Your Highness?” She looked confused.

I explained, “I need to make a few inquiries to possibly find an expert in the male area to aid your efforts.” “Meanwhile, I don’t want anyone to cut anything off. Do you understand me?”

She blinked at me rapidly, clearly lost for words.

“Do not amputate,” I said loud and clear, then added a threat to ensure she understood, “Don’t chop off anything until my return or I’ll personally make sure that your head is chopped off for malpractice. Is that clear?”

She drew in a breath, her eyes opening wide in shock.

I left her and Leafar gawk at each other while I marched out of the room with a new mission at hand.

Chapter 15

Ari

Iwas confident that my father had the best team of experts to save his life, but I feared they wouldn’t act in his best interests on other issues, including keeping his body whole. I wanted to give him that option. He had to have a choice.

My carriage stopped at the gate of the gladiators’ quarters. After I stated my name and title, a servant let me in while another one ran off to fetch the games master.

Desperation led me here. Salas didn’t speak highly of the warlock who had performed the modifications to his body. That surgery had happened a long time ago, in a different town. Chances were my visit would prove useless, but he was my only hope, and I had to try.

“Your Highness,” the games master met me in the front hall. Dressed in a yellow frilly dress with a rose-shaped barrette in her short, dark curls, she shook my hand. “It’s always a pleasure to see you, as unexpected as this visit is...”

“My apologies for arriving unannounced. But I need to speak with one of your gladiators. The one you call Mountain Bear.”

“Our Mountain Bear? I’m afraid it isn’t possible today.” She smacked her lips with regret. “He only opens a handful of appointments a month, and this month is all booked already.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, and immediately regretted the question.

Did I need to know the activities filling Salas’s schedule, especially if they probably involved the court ladies?

The games master spread her arms apologetically.

“His popularity in the arena is growing every week, Your Highness. And as such, he’s become exceedingly popular with the ladies as well.”

An unpleasant feeling that I couldn’t immediately name scratched in my chest, sending a flush of heat to my face that I failed to control.

“Is he enjoying entertaining outside of the arena?” I asked. “Is that really what he wants to do?”

Catching the hard note in my tone, the games master raised an eyebrow indignantly.

“I do not run a brothel, Your Highness. Everything that happens under this roof happens with my boys’ full consent and to their utter enjoyment.”

“That’s a relief to know,” I replied, but the scratchy feeling in my chest didn’t ease.

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