Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
She looked away.
I decided that would be enough, thus I said no more.
“As you said, you can do naught about the past, but you can about the future, so please,” she stepped back in a mock curtsy, before righting herself, looking to Cassius and finishing, “use me as your example. I shiver in excitement at the opportunity to be exposed and humiliated in order to liberate the females of my realm.”
Cassius studied her a moment before he returned a quick bow and turned, his mantle flashing out behind him as he strode to the door.
Hera and Jasmine leaped out of his way as he exited the room
“Take me to my father,” I heard him order Reginald. “Swiftly.”
I looked to Horatia. “You have my apologies as well.”
“I don’t very much care.”
I drew in breath.
So be it.
I then exited the room, doing it quickly in order to catch up with Cassius.
When I did, I called, “Cass.”
“I need her testimony,” he decreed, not breaking stride on his descent of the stairs. “I need it on record. I need those who support me to understand I do not do this on a whim. This is no power play. I need it as evidence of the righteousness of our cause, for now and for history.”
“I will speak to Domitia. Cornelia. They will bear witness to this,” I replied.
He stopped in the stairwell and looked up at me.
“She is right. I did not help her.”
“My prince,” I murmured. “Think. As things were, even if you knew what she endured, how would you have done that? You were but a crown prince. You could not spirit a king’s wife away, for what would befall you if you were caught? Where would this realm be if you were not as you are now?”
He listened to my words before he turned abruptly and resumed his descent of the stairs, stating, “We will speak of it later.”
I followed him quickly, my hand on the rope rail to guide my way as I looked behind me to Hera and Jasmine.
They appeared unhappy.
Mac, Ian and Nero, following them, looked much the same.
The march to his father’s cell was long. With Reginald at the lead, we walked along the clammy halls inside the curtain wall through one tower to the one at the opposite end of the island.
The short one.
And we did not ascend when we got there.
We descended.
The king’s chamber, however, was much the same as Horatia’s. Perhaps smaller, and there were no windows, but there was a fire and furnishings that made it comfortable.
As we entered, though, and I caught site of Gallienus, I saw the differences were striking.
Instantly, I wanted Horatia to see him.
Four days in a prison, she was vigorous, and her spirit had not been broken.
She was bitter, the woman who was once her long ago was gone.
But in the now, she had not been broken.
Four days, and Gallienus was wasting away.
I noted Cassius was just as surprised as I was.
“You must release me from this hell,” Gallienus demanded.
Cass turned, looking over my shoulder, presumably to Reginald.
“He does not leave this cell even when he can,” I heard Reginald respond to Cass’s unasked question as I continued to examine Cass’s father. “He is offered exercise, he does not take it. His food is plentiful, he does not eat it. Though he drinks much wine.”
“I have no appetite. Would you have an appetite if you were forced to live this nightmare?” Gallienus asked his son.
“This is hardly a nightmare, Father,” Cassius said slowly.
“Not to see the sky? I am the Sky King, and I am not allowed to see the sky?”
“You have the rights of an issue one prisoner,” Cassius told him, peaking my attention.
An issue one prisoner?
“When you actually are an issue five,” he carried on. “This means three opportunities each day for exercise out of doors. After breakfast, after luncheon and after supper.”
“I have no energy. My life is being sucked away by these four walls,” Gallienus retorted. “And I go nowhere with a guard.”
“All your life you’ve gone everywhere with a guard,” Cass reminded him.
“Not one meant to fence me in.”
It took a moment for Cassius to reply with unhidden astonishment, “By the gods, you’re being a child.”
“My son had me arrested,” Gallienus sniped.
“You were raping your wife,” Cassis returned.
“She was denying me her body, which is my right to take.”
“You are mistaken for you said it yourself. It’s her body.”
At this juncture, Gallienus took a moment before he replied, also with unhidden astonishment, “How did I go so wrong with you?”
“I do not know, but I thank the gods you did.”
Gallienus glared at him, at me, then back to his son.
“Did you come solely for this affectionate father-son chat?” he asked sarcastically.
“No. I came to share that, if you proclaim your guilt, and your remorse, and assert that you’ve come to understand what you did was wrong as well as your belief this should be abolished throughout our realm and any who perpetrate it punished. Not to mention, you offer public support of the new laws heralded throughout the land, when you are sentenced, you will be sentenced to exile at Bishop Cross.”