Page 74 of Uncrowned

Had I been a good man, I would have gone against the system immediately and massacred those guards in front of The Judic. If I was a good man, I would have curled up next to Penelope and kissed her a million times, begging her forgiveness for what I’d caused. If I were a good man, I’d have her in bed instead of forcing her to watch The Judic’s ceremony concerning her rapists.

I had to know their fate. I had to see them bleed and scream in agonizing pain. If I didn’t, I’d bring hell down upon them the moment this was over.

The six veiled figures circled the guards in the Court. The room was only half as big as my throne room. Their faces were completely concealed, and even I didn’t know their identity. They evoked law and monitored ceremonies. Training lasted over a decade, and only the most seasoned Masters could apply for the role. They were just. Unbiased. And utterly unbending in their enforcement of the law.

“The Judic, their crowns are upside-down, too. Vaughn.” Penelope pointed to the exit in the distance, whispering. “It’s everywhere. Over every door. What does it mean?”

“I’ll tell you the story when we get home.”

Her head nodded, and she shifted in her chair, again. She was hurting. If I were a good man…

I leaned back towards her, keeping my voice low.

“I’m sorry… for what happened.”

Tears filled her eyes, and she gave a quick shake to her head.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” She paused, clasping her hands in her lap. “It was for nothing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Waiting.” The tears fell, and she quickly wiped them from her face. “I wanted it to be special. I thought—and we almost—and if we would have⁠—”

Reaching over, I pulled Penelope into my lap. My teeth ground together as she broke in my arms. The Judic and guards turned in our direction at her cries but continued reading from the rules of The Order.

“You have one minute to make a statement before judgement is passed.”

The Judic held still, standing stiff as The Magister at the head of the circle held the large rule book open. The guards turned in our direction, the blond lifting his hands in a pleading position at his chest.

“Sire, Unavowed, please. We would have never touched her had we known. I feel horrible. I swear we didn’t know. We thought she was a regular slave who was trying to escape.”

Penelope’s fingers dug into my chest under my suit’s jacket. I didn’t answer. If I so much as moved, it was all over with. I’d kill them and then face punishment by my own law.

“If that is all.” The Magister, the head Judic, lifted the book higher. “Per Section Thirteen of the first edict, harm of a queen, Intended, or future queen—ignorance no excuse—demands death by quartering.”

“What? Wait! We didn’t know. It was a mistake. Unavowed, please.”

The guard’s voice cracked. I sat up straighter. Blood. Death.

“Section Thirteen of the first edict. The body of a Queen, an Intended, or future queen is sacred to the throne. To harm it is treason against the Crown itself. In the founding of The Order, the law is written in blood so that it will never be forgotten.”

The second Judic lifted his right hand, holding it to face the seating area where we were sitting. “Quartering is not punishment, it is correction. Judgement is rendered. The bodies shall be drawn and quartered. Let all who serve remember: The Order’s justice is eternal.”

“Eternal,” the other Judics parroted.

“Wait! Mercy! Unavowed!”

The Magister slowly closed the book. Yells echoed around us as two executioners joined The Reeve, seizing the guards. The Reeve looked at me, giving a nod. A curtain was pulled back displaying a platform. Thick metal shackles were at each corner, and a cart was rolled in with a mass of different weapons for butchering.

“Penelope—”

“I have to watch, don’t I?”

I glanced down, doing my best to keep the emotion from my face. “You do. I shouldn’t be holding you right now. I… can’t… like this. Here.”

Each word was pained. Each one tore into who I was versus who I needed to be.

“I understand.” Penelope sat up, and a shuddering breath left her. A small cry followed as she eased from my lap and stood. She went to sit, stopping as she took in the men being forced to lay down on the platform. At the sight, her body began trembling. When I reached for her hand, she jumped.