Chapter B5: Under the Eyes of the Gods
She was going to be put to death. Speaking out of turn before the Imperial Court? Death. Extreme, painful and public death. She was a Noble of lesser blood, which might count for something. Probably. She could likely argue out of the painful, or the public, but definitely not both. Which was better? A quick death in public, or a horrific, slow death but without her shame being on display for all to see?
She knew what her mother would prefer. Bringing shame on the family? Unthinkable! Well, it was too late for that; she had opened her stupid mouth, and now it was going to be filled with sizzling rocks. Perfect.
Mind filled with frantic nonsense, Merigold fell to the default and final action that seemed to make sense. In a swift and ungainly motion, she knelt and pressed her head to the floor. She didn’t say anything. Further words would only make her eventual death all the more painful. She’d already subjected the high Nobles and the Emperor to her words, anything further would get her flayed.
“Someone remove this undisciplined cretin,” the voice from the Dais declared venomously. “Chosen of Selene. What rabble has been allowed into the Palace of Ascension that they would dare speak in this place?”
With her face on the floor, Merigold couldn’t see anything, but she could hear well enough. She heard the deathly silence from all the clerks around her. She heard footsteps approaching from her left. Perhaps the Chosen of Selene was coming to drag her out with his own hands.
Hot tears welled in her eyes. Why couldn’t she keep her mouth shut? Mother had always said she could never pay attention to anything that wasn’t written down. This wasn’t the way she wanted to prove her right!
“Stop.”
One word, softly spoken, but in an unmistakable voice that caused the air to shiver and all motion to cease. Once again, Merigold felt her mind succumb for a brief moment, every thought scrubbed away, only to snap back into place an instant later.
What was going to happen now? Had she angered the Emperor to the point he wished to intervene personally? What horrific torture awaited her now? Shaking in terror, Merigold remained in place while everyone waited, barely a breath to be heard within the entire court.