Page 47 of The Demon Prince's Accidental Mate
“Welcome to The Place Behind,” the gray-clad man said as if that explained everything.
“The what?”
“A mini-realm, halfway to nowhere and everywhere all at once. It is here that the court sits. It’s here that your punishment will be decided.”
It was impossible to miss the malicious undertones. Whatever he meant by that, he was eagerly looking forward to it. Which probably meant it would be very, very bad.
“My punishment?” I repeated, staring at the city as we started down from the ledge.
One building, in particular, caught my eye. At the center of the stone city, in the midst of the sea of soft grays and light browns, was an eyesore. Looming over everything nearby, the tower of black looked down on everything.
“The Black Tower. Where those like you go.”
“Like me?”
“Miscreants, malcontents, and lawbreakers. The dregs of society. Those who practice magic without a license or who use their magic unlawfully are some of our most frequent, ahem, visitors. I’m sure you’ll fit right in.”
“Looks cozy,” I muttered as we descended to ground level.
All manner of creatures could be seen. Minotaurs, dwarves, humans with goat-like legs, slimy giants with hooked noses, and minute beings darting around on nearly invisible wings all seemed to coexist. They even looked happy.
Until our party came along. Most gave way without hesitation, scurrying from our path as if afraid to slow us. Some stood on the sides of the roads and watched as I passed. Most kept neutral looks. Some judged me—most of those were hostile, but I caught a few sympathetic glances.
“You see. This is what true respect is.”
“Respect? Looks more like fear to me,” I spat at the tall man as he walked at the front of our little procession.
“Does it matter? As long as they do as expected, the outcome is the same.”
“Of course it matters. That’s the difference between a tyrant and a leader.”
“Leaders lose power all the time. They are weak. Just like their followers. The strong should rule.”
“I can’t begin to explain to you just howwrongall of that is,” I said, rolling my eyes. “But you’re probably too wrapped up in your own delusions to understand you’re not the best. You’re the worst.”
Slap.
My head rocked to the side as he backhanded me. Stars filled the right half of my vision as I hung limply in the arms of his minotaur enforcers. I wanted to snap back, to insult him, berate and deride him and his whole goofy outfit. But what good would it do? I could see from simply looking around that all the inhabitants were terrified, their spines bent from what were likely years, or longer, of demonstrations of power just like the one he’d given me.
I was doomed, and there didn’t seem to be much I could do about it. I was helpless, bound by some sticky goop. Even if I were free, I was human. I had no magic. The weird burst of strength I’d shown seemed to have faded. There was nothing I could do. It was over for me. So, why bother fighting?
Slumping deeper, I couldn’t fight the despair as it settled in and made itself at home, robbing me of any remaining defiance. All from one slap of his hand.
Maybe he was right. Therewaspower in that.
He waited a moment more, then snapped at the minotaurs to keep moving. “Let’s go, get her to her hearing. There’s no time for her to enjoy the creature comforts of her new home. This one’s trial will be expedited. Dannorax is very eager to see her and deal with her. I hear he has something special planned.”
I shivered. Something special from the person who ran that place was definitely not something I wanted. Yet what could I do?
They hauled me into the tower, its darkness just as oppressive on the inside, and up a wide flight of stairs. A sign hanging from the ceiling announced that level as containing “The Grand Courtroom.” At the end of the hallway, two giant doors waited. Even from there, the sound of hushed voices, alotof voices, was audible.
“Sounds like there’s a large crowd for you,” the gray man chuckled. “Whatever Dannorax has planned, it must be truly spectacular.”
The feeling of doom biding its time in my stomach chose that moment to unfurl its petals and consume me. I struggled and pulled, trying desperately to get free, but all I did was earn myself a hit to the stomach from one of the guards.
I gasped, and my stomach heaved as I sought air, dry heaving until I was foaming at the mouth. The gray man looked on dispassionately, simply waiting until I sagged forward, finally able to breathe, the rest of my muscles weak from the struggle. Then he motioned us forward.
We marched into the courtroom, the doors opened by a pair of armor-clad minotaurs who stepped from side alcoves as we approached.
