“Wh… what is your decision?” I whispered when he didn’t go on.
“My warriors stood by their queen; they are not to be punished. They have been assigned as your personal guard and were doing what I commanded. They have vowed to take a blade should they need to do so in order to save your life. The situation you placed them in was grave, Dortak’s intention was to end his wife’s life and your intervention meant once he’d used his blade on her, he would have turned that steel on you. In order to keep you safe, they acted on their vows to me. They did what they were expected to do therefore they will not feel my censure.”
Well, that was good.
“Oh… okay.” I whispered.
“You, my Circe, should not have put them in the position to have to choose between their queen and their brother. It was not them but you who made a bad decision.”
Oh shit.
He stared at me again. My mouth went dry.
Then as his gaze stayed locked on mine, I watched as something I didn’t get flashed in his eyes before he murmured, “Kah teenkah rahna tunakanahsa.”
Diandra whispered, “My little golden warrior.”
Okay, I didn’t know. Was that good?
Lahn fell silent. I swallowed.
Then he spoke with Diandra translating. “I ask, in future, my tigress, that if you intend to be a warrior, you think like a warrior and that would mean, before you bare your claws or unsheathe your steel, you… actually… think.”
Okay, he said “in future” which would intimate I had one.
“Lahn,” I whispered.
He spoke over me (as did Diandra). “I must have her life, Circe.”
I blinked.
Then I asked, “What?”
“She took steel to her husband, this is forbidden. I must have her life.”
My lungs contracted.
Then I repeated, softer this time, “What?”
“This is my judgment,” he declared.
He couldn’t be serious.
“You know how he treats her,” I whispered.
“I do.”
“She had no other choice,” I explained.
Lahn nodded. “She didn’t,” he agreed. “And now, neither do I.”
“But you’re king,” I said quietly.
He took a step toward me and I used my hands to scoot back on the bed. His eyes dropped to my body, he stopped then they came to mine.
“I am king,” he said quietly. “And in one week, I face the challenge of Dortak’s blade. But today, I face the responsibility of releasing his wife from the prison he has made of their cham. Dortak will fall. She had to wait one week for release. She decided not to wait that week. She is Korwahk. She knew exactly what she was doing when she took steel to him. She knew if he didn’t end her life, I would. She was asking for this judgment, Circe. She is asking for this release. She knows, I know and you, my tigress, know that her treatment at his hands has broken her spirit. It is dead inside her. It is gone to another realm. She wishes to rejoin it. And you will sit on your throne beside me as I cast this judgment and the sentence is carried out. You will be there as my queen, as is your duty to me and your people. But you will also be there for her. It is your eyes she wishes to see before she moves to the next realm. It is your spirit so close to the surface that will guide her.” I had my eyes glued to him and I was panting as he finished in a gentle voice, “This is my judgment, my golden doe. Prepare yourself for your throne.”
Then he instantly turned and strode out of the tent, all the warriors following him.