From the Depths

The next scene to play out was everything she had come to learn about the King of her homeland. He was always said to be heartless and cruel, but she had never expected to witness it in her lifetime.

Then the door was flung open and the King ordered the knights to enter her anixty sky rocked. She glanced at Tyson with fear in her eyes, but he was shitting himself as much as she was. His mouth gaping open and his jaw trembling.

“Cut out his tongue,” Haith ordered.

Turns out there really was a reason for that rule. Only speak when spoken to.

Kirea’s blood ran cold as she froze on the spot, unable to move she watched as time seemed to slow. The men entered the room and she looked on in complete horror. Her eyes unwillingly followed the Knights as they appeared to walk at an agonizingly slow pace past her.

The sound of the Knights amour clucking and tinking as he walked, echoed loudly through the small room. It was the same man that had backhanded her mother. She only realized this after he had met her gaze, he’d allowed the edge of his mouth to creep up into a smile. A twisted attempt at a greeting that left her body slightly shaking.

Then, Tyson stupidly tried to flee, she could see his mouth moving but couldn’t discern the words. Maybe he had screamed? Her ears were ringing, only the loud buzzing rang through her head as she couldn’t tear her gaze away from the men. Was he pleading for his life?

She heard the Knight unsheathed his sword, the sound of metal dragging across metal sent a shiver up her spine. Was he seriously going to do this with that huge blade? Her eyes were wide. For some unknown reason, she couldn’t force herself to look away.

The second Knight that had entered the room to assist glanced at her. His expression was disgruntled or maybe unfazed. He didn't look pleased to be there. It was this Knight who apprehended Tyson and held him firmly. The first yanked on Tyson’s tunic moving him to stand next directly beside Kirea. The action was entirely intentional.

"You're gonna love this." He mocked.

She recognized his voice as the Knight that had been told off my his commander earlier that day. He shoved his leather gauntlet into Tyson’s mouth. Tyson tried to bite his assault, but the material proved to be stronger, or at least resilient to the toothy grip. The Knight pulled Tyson’s tongue out and proceeded to slice the small piece of flesh clean off in one clean swift movement of his blade. It had only taken a moment, and it was gone.

Tyson tried to scream, but as blood filled his mouth only a horrid gargling sound managed to escape. The Knight flung the tongue at Kirea, hitting her square on the cheek. Her body was shaking as she felt the thing slide down her skin. It plopped onto her shoulder and then found its way to the floor, leaving behind a trail of blood.

“Quiet courageous that one, isn’t she?” Lord Haith was licking his fingers of chicken juice as he spoke.

“Huh, first women I’ve seen not to break down in tears, or run.” The Knight remarked. “I would love to have her at the barracks one night...” He licked his lips.

She felt sick, her mind spinning. She needed to do or say something. “I-I would never run, My Lord. I trust your judgment, any punishment given by you is surely well deserved.” She tried hard to not let her voice waver.

She watched as Haith puffed out his chest, a pleased look on his face. She was pampering his ego, and it was working.

“Indeed, it most certainly was well deserved.” He tilted his head and raised a brow at her. “Come here, child.” He motioned for her with his index finger.

She nodded and moved her shaky body against its will and better judgment, lest her tongue be next to be detached. She stood before the King in nothing but her undergarments and a washcloth.

“Do you fear me, dear?” he cooed softly to her. His grease-covered hand found a strand of her wet hair. He was too close, she wanted to pull away, but she dared not upset him.

“I do, My lord.” She responded truthfully.

“Ah, and you are a smart child too. I would have scolded you had you said no.” He almost sounded disappointed. “But why did you speak out of turn just now?” his hand gripped her hair and pulled on it, yanking her head down to his eye level.

She gasped as pain spread through her scalp. Shit! She had spoken without being acknowledged, it was a rule that Tyson had drilled into her a mere hours ago. She’d slipped up already.

“Should I punish you?” he asked, his voice full of anticipation.

“Yes, My lord. I was in the wrong.” She could feel tears beginning to form in her eyes, what was she going to lose? Would be cut off something of hers as well?

The King looked at her confused, he was at a loss for words. His hand released her and she stumbled to the ground. On her hands and knees before him she kept her head low, ready to accept whatever he was to do.

“You truly do not resist, nor beg for your life?” He sounded almost shocked.

“I do not.” She responded without looking up.

“Sir Henry, what would you suggest?” The King asked causing her to flinch.

The man who answered had a deeper voice, it had to be the Second Knight in the room. He also sounded a lot like the commander.

“Give her to the Knights for a night, that would surely be a punishment enough for her, but a reward for us.” He answered far too quickly for her liking, though his tone was rather dead pan.

“Hmmmm... What say you child, would you accept this punishment?” The King chuckled.

Kirea felt the tears that had pooled escape and run down the side of her face. She lifted her head and sat back on her knees. She looked the Tyrant of a leader in the eye as she spoke her next words.

“Yes.” Another tear slid down her face, her gaze was strong and her lips did not quiver.

“I can tell you do not want this, you would not fight against it?” He queried again with a raised brow.

“Correct, My lord. I do not want this, but if it is to be your will, I will accept it. No questions asked.” To her surprise, Sir Henry helped her to her feet. His armoured body pushed tightly to her back. His hands wrapped around her waist only adding to the discomfort building in the room.

“Shall I take her then?” His hold on her was slightly possessive. She could feel the bile rise in her throat, she had to fight to keep it down.

“No, not this time. I think I will carry out her punishment.” Haith waved the Knights out of the room.

Sir Henry let go of her only after whispering in her ear, what a shame, I Tried. Though his words were too loud to be truly considered a whisper it was as though he wanted the King to hear. She felt a wave of relief wash over her as the two Knights left. One dragged the now unconscious, most likely dead, Tyson from the room.

“My Bed chambers, this evening. At 1800, do not be late.” Haith was no longer looking at her, the food becoming more enticing than the current conversation.

“As you wish, My lord. May I take my leave to wash up?” She asked.

Her reply was a grunt and a wave. She didn’t wait for another second, she couldn’t. She gathered her clothing and walked briskly from the room not even bothering to get dressed. Once she closed the door gently behind her, she ran. She bolted for her small room and slammed the door shut behind her.

She stumbled for the small wash basin at her bedside. Falling to the floor she hunched over it and finally lost her stomach. All the pent-up emotions and feelings flooded out of her as her body rejected everything that had just happened. She began to weep over the basin, tears flowing freely and hysterical hiccups set in as she let it all out. She didn’t even want to think about what was to happen next.

“Mom... I need you.” She whispered as she lost all sense of herself in this hell hole.

She was now alone, completely sure that Tyson wouldn't be around anymore. The King simply did what he wanted with the people he no longer needed. She just prayed that she was still deemed needed.

It was certainly one heck of a first day, and it wasn’t even over yet. Already her one lifeline was dead, gone, just like that. And all it had taken was for Tyson to become obsolete in the King’s eyes.

Sitting up she whipped her mouth and eyes. She needed to be stronger than this. She needed to steel her emotions in order to survive. She needed to remain useful in order to keep her life for as long as she could, to keep her mother safe, and to keep supplies going to her village.

Her punishment was the next obstacle she would need to overcome. She had a guess at what it could be, she was a woman and he a man. She knew what was to come. She just needed to get through it... Somehow.

But would she be able to hold on to her sanity as well?