His father stepped back so that they could seize him in rough grips that enjoyed giving him as much misery as possible. "Take His Highness to the scold."
Styxx winced as they jerked him to his feet and all but dragged him down to it. Their unspoken insults rang in his head alongside the ones his father hurled at him.
As if I care anymore.
They threw open the door to the guards' room and hauled him inside. The scold's eyes lit up with greedy, lust-filled delight when he saw him there.
Styxx gave him a cold smile. "Bad luck, old man. My father intends to watch."
That took the joy out of him, but the look that replaced it promised Styxx dire retribution.
Oh yeah, this was going to hurt. Badly.
So be it.
"Seventy lashes."
Even the scold sucked his breath in on the severity of his father's order.
Styxx met his father's gaze without flinching and laughed. "Why stop there, Father? Why not go for one hundred?"
"You continue this insolence and I will."
Before he could say another thing, the scold shoved the leather into his mouth. "For the sake of the gods, Highness, shut up," he breathed in Styxx's ear.
The scold met his father's gaze. "Am I pardoned, Majesty?"
"Yes."
"Highness?"
Did it matter what he thought? Who was the bastard who came up with this twisted formality?
Glaring at his father, Styxx nodded curtly.
The scold took him into his "beautiful" room and tied him to the bench he knew so well. Styxx watched in silence as the scold selected the cane then went behind him to lift his chiton and expose his buttocks for the beating.
"Wait!" his father said before it began.
Styxx ground his teeth in fear as a new horror seized his heart. Had Estes branded "whore" there, too?
Gods, what does he see?
"Remove his gag."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The scold pulled the leather out then stepped back and averted his gaze.
"Where did the scars on your thighs and buttocks come from, boy?"
Styxx gaped at the stupidity of that single question. "They burned and bled the demons out of me, Father. Don't you remember?"
"With hot brands?"
No ... cold ones.
Was the old man senile? What did he think they'd use? Rose petals?
"You saw my wounds when Estes brought you in."