Realm of the Chosen: A Reverse Harem Romance

Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

The crowd was alive with shouting and laughter, a raucous pulse that seemed to fill the space in front of the castle with a festive vibration, and there was no doubt those that had gathered that early morning had come for one reason, and one reason alone; they wanted to see the spilling of blood.

Kit stood next to her mother on the dais, the same place she’d occupied for the better part of the last two weeks, though the pleasant feeling associated with greeting those who’d come to be a part of her Choosing was long gone, replaced with a dread that threatened to overwhelm her. Had it not been for the encouraging glances of her Representatives positioned right in front, below the dais, she might’ve shriveled up and lost all of her nerve. It also helped to know that her father, Avinia, and Isla were behind her, and though she could not see them, they were giving her every ounce of their support. Her cousins had been quite helpful as she’d spent most of the day before arranging her thoughts on paper. Her grandmother had also smiled her encouragement when Kit took her place, so she thought perhaps she’d be able to get through this, even though the thought of seeing Jecob standing before her in chains made her shutter.

Eli was so far away from her, she could hardly see him. He was assigned one of the worst duties imaginable. Though it would be up to the ax man, Jowl, to actually make the blow, Eli would be in charge of positioning Jecob and insuring the executioner could do his job. Kit rose up on her tiptoes to see over the heads of her guardsmen assembled near the chopping block, and she caught a glimpse of the stout, well-muscled man. The gray covering he wore obstructed his face, but she’d seen Jowl enough times in the hallways of the castle to recognize him. He was always nice enough to her, and she believed Eli even counted the ruddy fellow as a friend, but even the sight of him without his get up sent shivers down Kit’s spine. She had the same sensation now. Kit was ready for this to be over with.

The crowd stretched so far back she couldn’t even see the road because of the number of bodies standing on it. Villagers even filled all the space on the other side of the tree line, across the lane, back as far as she could see. There had to be close to ten thousand people present. She imagined some of them had come from far away provinces, traveling all night. It was beyond her to think anyone would go to so much trouble to see a man lose his head, but then, the spectacle of the situation had to be the driving force for some. She couldn’t remember the last time a Representative had been accused of such a travesty. She was certain Jecobian’s name would go down in history, whether he walked away from here this day or was carried out in two or more pieces.

Her mother was dressed in a deep royal purple that looked almost black. Her hair was swept up on top of her head, surrounded by her largest crown, the one she wore when she wanted to remind everyone of her position. Kit, on the other hand, had chosen to wear a pink gown so light it was almost white. Her hair was up because she didn’t want to upset her mother, but her tiara was small and dainty, and she hoped to represent grace and peace to the people standing before her. It was a gamble, and she wasn’t sure how they would react to the striking difference between the woman in power and the girl preparing herself to take over someday, but she hoped her kindness and innocence would be a persuading factor.

Nerves began to get the best of her as Kit surveyed the crowd. She took a few deep breaths, wondering if she could just fade away, back into the councilwomen behind her, disappearing into the castle, but then her mother began to speak, and the crowd quieted in a wave from front to back. Kit fought the panic and turned her attention to the Representatives. She met Cassius’s eyes, and he nodded at her. The raging inferno within her died only slightly, but it was enough for her to focus. She remembered Eli’s words from the day before, squared her shoulders, and tipped up her head.

“Ladies and men of Yewforia, hear me!” the queen demanded. “You have been assembled here today to bear witness to the meting out of punishment. A serious crime has been committed against the crown! Today, I, your queen, Rona, Empress of All the Lands East of the Galacial Mountains and Queen of the Provinces South of the Compazional Sea, will seek your assistance in determining the fate of a criminal, not because I cannot perform this task myself but because your Princess, my daughter, Katrinetta, has asked that we bring this villain before you so that his fate is determined not just by the crown but by all of the citizens of the realm against whom he has committed this grievous act!” There was a roar from the crowd as the queen paused for dramatic effect, and Kit’s eyes wandered back to her supporters, landing on Jate this time. He sucked his bottom lip in slightly, tipping his forehead to her, a sure sign that he was with her, and she nodded her thanks as her mother continued.

“As some of you may have heard, our fine physician, Armant, has discovered that one of the Representatives dared to present himself to the princess as an eligible suitor when he, in fact, suffers from a horrible affliction—tingo!” The crowd seemed to inhale all at once, and then there was another round of shouting. This time, Kit could distinctly hear dozens, maybe hundreds, of people calling for his head. “Should the princess have been contaminated, not only could she have suffered terribly and lost her life, she would’ve no longer been able to fulfill her duties of providing an heir to the realm, thus threatening our bloodline and our queendom’s very existence!”

“Kill him! Off with his head!” the crowd shouted, and Kit fought against balling her hands into fists. They hadn’t even heard her yet, and the queen already had them seeking blood. She looked at her mother, questioning when it would be her turn, but the impassioned expression on Rona’s face let her know it wouldn’t come yet.

“Bring him out!” the queen shouted, gesturing wildly with her arm in a wide flourish.

The Queen’s Guard acted at once, and the sound of chains filled Kit with dread as they brought Jecobian out a door beneath the dais, one that led deeper into the castle, down dark corridors toward the prison cells below. That didn’t necessarily mean he’d been held there since yesterday, but wherever he had been, she was certain his experience had not been pleasant.

Seeing him confirmed her suspicions. He was chained at the hands and ankles and was having trouble walking. His hair was no longer a lustrous blond but held the filth one might expect from a prisoner. When he turned to look her direction, she could see a blackened eye, as well as a busted lip and blood stains down his blue tunic, which no longer looked royal at all. He didn’t look directly at her, and she was glad for it because she thought she might burst into tears, and now was not the time to lose her resolve.

The guards brought him to a wooden stand just below the dais, dragging him up the steps as the chains interfered with his ability to walk. He stood about twenty yards in front of her, though quite a bit lower than where she was positioned, and the other Representatives were situated between the stand and the dais so that they might have a clear view. She was certain this was to serve as a reminder to them of what could happen if they chose to break any of the rules of the Choosing or the laws of the land.

“Ladies and men, I present to you, Jecobian Noblewood from the province of Eastbury, traitor to the crown and criminal guilty of attempted murder of the princess!”

Once again, there was an initial gasp as the crowd processed who the villain was, and then the shouts broke out again. Kit turned to her mother, pleading for her opportunity, but her mother’s hand on her arm stilled her. She wasn’t done yet.

“Look! Look at him! He who sought to marry my daughter and has now betrayed his province, his realm, and all of you! His grandmother is here today.” She gestured to where Lita stood near the front of the crowd, protected by Kit’s guardsman. “Think of her shame!” A few people tried to get to the poor woman, but Galter stopped that quickly with his sword, and they backed off.

“Let there be no doubt that this man has committed an egregious offense! Guards, show them, show the people the evidence our physician has uncovered!”

Kit could hardly believe her ears. “No!” she shouted, but once again, her mother’s hand stopped her, squeezing hard enough that she was certain there would be marks latter. It didn’t matter how loudly Kit protested. The guards did as they were instructed, ripping Jecobian’s trousers down to his knees, along with his breeches, so that he stood bare n***d from the waist down in front of everyone.

The princess refused to look, keeping her eyes focused just above Jecob’s head. She wouldn’t look him in the eye, but she imagined his humiliation. The guardsman spun him around harshly so that he was facing the crowd, and rotten vegetables came flying his direction until the guardsmen gave a gesture for the people to stop as they were being pummeled as well. When they turned Jecob back around, Kit finally met his eyes and saw tears rolling down his face. He didn’t look at her long before he shifted his gaze away, and she could hardly blame him.

“Now, ladies and men, I ask for you to quiet down. Quiet down! As I said, my daughter, the princess, would like to speak to you regarding this criminal, this vile creature. And because I am a merciful queen, I have agreed to give her the opportunity to do so. The law does allow for an alternative punishment if it can be shown that the criminal did not act with malice, and Princess Katrinetta believes she can convince you that this is the case with Jecobian Noblewood. Let us listen to what she has to say, and then we will make our decision!”

Her feet felt as if they were made of stone as she stumbled to take a step forward. Deep breaths escaped her, and Kit thought her lungs were closing in. How could she possibly persuade this angry mob that Jecob should live? She looked around for a moment, tried to open her mouth, stuttered, and then felt her stomach lurch.

She forced herself to look at Jecob, hoping the sight of him standing there so pathetically would spur her on, but the words still seemed caught in her throat. Her eyes trailed over the faces of her other Representatives, and she heard her mother chuckle in her throat, as if she knew Kit wouldn’t be able to handle the task. Kit’s eyes flickered over to the chopping block and landed on Eli. It was difficult to see him, though he had moved so that he was as close to her as possible without leaving his station, and the reassuring nod of his head brought back everything he had told her the day before. She could do this. She had to do it. Kit cleared her throat and turned back to the crowd.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” she shouted, gaining their attention. “Thank you for lending me your attention for just a few moments as I attempt to inform you as to why I believe this man, Jecobian Noblewood, should be allowed to leave here today with his head on his shoulders.” She had their attention now; they were listening, and so she grew braver, stepped closer, and continued.

“It is true that the law is very specific that anyone who threatens the life of a noblewoman should be put to death. The laws that discuss venereal disease and a Choosing are even more specific, as they should be. As you all know, being part of a Choosing is a privilege all men are required to take seriously. Each of these men you see before you were chosen by their provinces as the very best candidates, the ones who would represent the people from which they hail above all others, and I assure you all forty-one of these men in front of me have done a fine job of doing so.”

The crowd cheered then, and Kit thought perhaps she could use that momentum, their support of all of the others, to move toward bridging the distance from Jecob to the rest of the men. “However, in the case of Jecobian Noblewood, it is clear that the best candidate was not chosen. I do believe the physician, Armant, when he says Jecob is afflicted with tingo.” They began to shout angrily again. “Nevertheless,” she continued, louder now, stronger, “I have every reason to believe Jecob was not aware of his ailment until it was diagnosed yesterday morning. Armant has stated that the breakout is new, that the obvious signs are fresh, and that Jecob himself was surprised to hear of the diagnosis. Likewise, other Representatives who were present, as well as some of my own guardsman, can also attest to the obvious astonishment of Jecobian when he learned of the findings. Therefore, I think it is quite clear that he did not present himself as a member of my Choosing in order to harm me or the crown but that he is also a victim himself here, having been afflicted with a horrible disease through no fault of his own.” It was a stretch, she knew, but she hoped they would follow along with her, and she began to see some positive signs, head nodding, thoughtful looks, and less angry yelling.

“Here in Yewforia, we are a civilized people, not quick to pass judgment or disdain on others. Through the example of our queen, we have learned to show mercy and kindness whenever possible. Through the teachings of our religion and the grace of our goddesses, we have been taught to practice compassion. Do I feel that Jecobian Noblewood of Eastbury deserves to be punished for this most serious crime? Yes, of course he does. But does he deserve to die here today, to lose his head, because of a simple mistake? No! By no means is that the sort of punishment a civilized, gracious people such as you and I should impart upon a man who is clearly remorseful, full of shame and regret. And so, my people, I ask of you to please, for me, your Princess, and for your children, for the future of our mighty realm, I ask you to show mercy to this man before you now. Think of him as if he were your own son, your own brother, your own friend, and give to him the same grace you would wish for your own loved one who stood before you guilty, not of attempted murder, but of making a foolish choice. I thank you for your time, and I thank the queen for her continued mercy and allowing me to speak to you today.”

Kit drew in a deep breath and stepped back, glad to be finished but waiting to see how the crowd would react. There was a long silence as the women and men present seemed to look to each other for agreement, and then a loud cheer broke out, and Kit realized they were chanting, “Mercy!”

A smile threatened to spill across her face, but at the risk of angering her mother, she fought it. A glance at the friendly faces before her showed they all thought she had done well, though she didn’t dare shift her eyes to Eli for fear her mother would notice and lose any semblance of grace she may have gained from the crowd. She did look at Jecob, and he mouthed, “Thank you,” to her, but Kit had to look away, still not sure if it had been enough or what the punishment might be if he was not to lose his head.

Her mother took hold of her arm again, but this time, she did not squeeze. She tilted her head slightly, and in a quiet voice said, “Well played, Katrinetta.”

Kit cleared her throat but said nothing. All of her words had been used up. The queen shifted and looked at her, and as Kit met her eyes, she saw a dreaded narrowing in those dark orbs and knew she hadn’t done Jecobian any favors at all.

“Ladies and men! Silence!” the queen demanded, and a ripple of stillness went across the crowd. “I have heard your response to the princess’s plea, and I must agree, it is always best to show mercy and kindness whenever possible.” The people began to cheer, but she silenced them with a wave of her hand. “However, due to the nature of Jecobian’s crime, I must ensure that no one else can be put at risk, and therefore, rather than having our axman remove his head today, I declare that the punishment for his crimes against the crown shall be the removal of his member and his testicles so that no one else can ever be endangered by this foolish man ever again!”

Kit’s eyes widened in horror as her mother’s decree sunk in, and she felt as if the whole world was spinning around her. Her knees were weak, and her stomach lurched. “Mother! No!” she shouted, grabbing at the queen’s arm, but the older woman stood fast, her face frozen in a wicked grin, and already her guards were dragging Jecob over toward the chopping block.

Panicked, Kit tried to reason with Rona. “Mother, if you do that, he’ll bleed to death! Don’t you know anything of the male anatomy?”

“Silence, Princess!” She turned a sharp eye toward Kit. “You asked for this, remember?”

Before Kit could argue further, Armant stepped up between them. “Pardon me, Your Majesty. I don’t mean to intrude, but if the axman carries out your orders, Jecobian will most certainly bleed to death before he makes it to the infirmary. I can remove them myself….”

“Step back, Physician!” The queen cut him off, wheeling on him quickly enough to make him do as he was told, and he nearly stumbled into Junno as he jumped out of the way.

“Armant—go down there, please!” Kit begged, taking hold of him. “Do what you can!”

The physician looked to the queen who had turned back around and was watching with glee as Jecob was hauled up the other set of stairs to the chopping block, the chains and his trousers making it so that he had to be dragged up each step by the Queen’s Guard. Once he was at the top, Eli ordered them all off, and she could see a bit of an argument between the two groups of guards, though the princess’s eventually won, and the Queen’s Guards went back down the steps jovially.

There were so many bodies between herself and the wooden platform that held the chopping block, Kit could hardly see anyone at all, but she could hear Jecobian screaming over the rest of the crowd. His face was wrinkled in fear, his skin a bright red, and she could hear him pleading, cursing her, saying he’d rather lose his head. Her own guardsmen had stepped in to block her view, and the queen was moving in order to get a better line of sight, mumbling about incompetents.

Kit imagined it would be very difficult to use an ax for what her mother had demanded, and since the block was made to hold the head of a kneeling person and nothing more, she thought even someone as skilled as Jowl would struggle. Eli was right at Jecobian’s ear, he and three of her guardsmen holding him while Jowl got into place. The other guardsmen were still obstructing the view of the chopping block, and she was happy for it, though her mother was outraged, and then Jowl raised up his ax and hammered it down not once but twice, and with each blow, Jecobian screamed so fiercely Kit thought her heart might come through her throat.

What happened next was a whirlwind as her own guardsmen picked him up and carried him off, Armant alongside them. She expected to see more blood than she’d ever seen before, but there was a cloth of some sort covering him, and while it was certainly stained red, there wasn’t as much as she’d expected. Jecobian continued to screech for a few moments and then went very still, and she thought perhaps he had died after all. She turned and looked at her mother, who was smiling triumphantly. “May I go?”

“Certainly,” the queen said, “to your chambers.”

She knew what that meant. She was not to go to the infirmary. Kit bowed as she was required to and then left the dais keeping her head up but walking as quickly as possible. She shot around those who would block her way, those who would seek to congratulate her on a well given speech that had ended up costing Jecobian more than if she’d just kept her mouth shut to begin with. For an entire day, she’d been trying to decide if there was a punishment worse than death, and it turns out there was. She’d just had no idea that even her mother could be so unbelievably cruel.