Page 27 of The King has Fallen

They hadn’t replaced his spear, I noticed.

Clearly Melek made the same observation. “He didn’t arm you?” he growled.

Gall’s jaw went even tighter as he shook his head. “He said I had not earned the right to carry arms, so… so you are to give me duties befitting my… my intellect.”

And then he blinked several times, quickly.

I wanted to slice the cock off the man who’d insulted this pour soul and feed it back to him covered in thistles and hot pepper sauce.

“Sit down, Gall,” Melek said sadly. “Your duty tonight is to feed yourself, and rest.”

But Gall stiffened. “I have to pay for what I’ve done. You can’t go easily on me, they’ll know!”

Melek’s lips thinned, but he nodded. “Even those under discipline need to eat, Gall. Sit down. I will give you duties after the meal.”

He shot me a warning look then, as if I might make some cutting remark.

I would feed Melekhis own entrails if he thought—

“Where is her food?” Gall said suddenly, following Melek’s gaze.

Melek’s jaw flexed. “She has already had hers,” he said after a moment.

Shocked that he would lie to his child, I left my gaze unguarded when my eyes snapped to him. And Gall saw it.

“Papa! She’s hungry! Have you given her water, even?”

“No,” Melek ground out, speaking quickly before Gall continued. “That will be one of your duties tonight. Eat up so you can fulfill them.”

“But—”

“Soldier, attend!” Melek barked.

Gall immediately snapped to attention and saluted.

Melek sighed heavily. “At ease.”

Gall relaxed but eyed his father cautiously.

Melek clapped a hand to his shoulder again. “Son, youmustlearn to fight as assiduously for discipline as you do for compassion. She is being punished—and not without reason. The pain in your body was inflicted byher—”

“No, Papa,” Gall said fiercely. “My pain was inflicted by the Sergeant becauseIfailed. You told me never to lay blame on others for actions I chose! So, don’t you do it either!”

Melek blinked, opened his mouth, then closed it… then raised his hands in surrender. “You’re right,” he said calmly. “I’m sorry, Gall. You’re right.”

His humility in dealing with his son stunned me.

Gall nodded, his expression softening immediately. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now eat. Then go get the Fetch some more water, okay?”

Gall smiled. “Okay!”

He then dug into the food with such gusto I prayed a few splatters of the soup might be thrown far enough to reach me. I would have licked them off the bars. Sadly, he wasn’t quite that brutish.

When he was done, Melek gave him orders to take the plates and clean them, then bring my water.

“I can do the water first—”

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