Chapter 12

Tomas sighed heavily. “Although I am sure that I will not like what I am about to hear, this break is welcome nonetheless.” He leaned against the large gacha wood table in the center of the room and faced the others. “So, what is it?”

Jarda told the king everything that had happened that morning, from the fight between Frank and Ricard to the interrogations and confessions to the meeting he, Tero, and Phransa had had in his office.

The king grew angrier by the moment as Jarda talked, but he stayed silent until the narrative was complete. By the end, he was pacing the length of the table and clenching his fists. Jarda was glad the scowl on his king’s face was not for him.

“And you say this has been going on for a year, Jarda? How is that possible? How did no one know what was happening to these boys?”

“I do not know the answer to that question, sire. All I can say is that the boys who did this were very careful, and they scared the younger boys enough that they told no one of the abuse.”

“So, there are ten offenders in all.”

“Yes, sire. Five former Chatra and five former guardsmen.”

“Former? You have already stripped them of their ranks?”

“Not officially, sire. That is one thing that I propose be done tomorrow morning.”

“And what else? To my knowledge, nothing like this has ever happened in the ranks of the Guard before.”

“Not in anyone’s memory, Your Majesty, except for Ma’ikel’s.” Jarda glanced at his friend and saw him nod.

Tomas turned to the Anmah. “And what was the punishment the last time?”

“Considering it was over four hundred years ago, Tomas, I do not think we should use the same punishment.”

“Why? What was it?”

“Death. But then again, that was the punishment for almost everything back then.”

Tomas frowned. “No, that is not appropriate. However, we must do something to discourage others from even thinking of doing this again. What do you recommend, Jarda?”

“Flogging and the stocks, sire.”

The king thought for a moment and then nodded. “How many strokes and how many days?”

“For the guardsmen, twenty strokes and five days. For the boys, ten and three. After that they will be dismissed from service. They will each be given one set of clothes and enough money to get home.”

“Do you not think that is a little harsh?”

“No, sire, I do not. If you had seen those boys’ bruises, I think you would agree with me.”

“Well, I trust your judgment. Ma’ikel, what do you think?”

“I agree with Jarda. The punishment must be severe enough to put fear back into the hearts of the ranks so that this does not happen again.”

Tomas nodded once, but frowned. “I am losing five guardsmen and some of the oldest Chatra, though, Jarda. What do you suggest I do about that?”

“We will have to make do with the ones who rLisain, Your Majesty, until more Chatra are ready to join the Guard.”

“Very well. That is on your shoulders. You will convene the entire Guard at first light tomorrow except for eight who will still need to be posted at the gates and doors. I want everyone to see this.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I already have in mind the names of those who can stand guard during the punishment. They were with me when I questioned the boys, so they already know what is going on, and I do not think any of them need the reminder about discipline.”

“At first light in the training grounds, then.”

“At first light, sire.”

“You are dismissed, Jarda.”

Jarda bent down on one knee before standing and walking out of the room, Ma’ikel at his side. As they walked down the carpet in the throne room, the scowl on Jarda’s face had the people backpedaling and turning away from him. He hated having to mete out this punishment. He had never been an officer who enjoyed corporal punishment, but he also knew that if he did not do this, other bullies would crop up soon after he dismissed the current ones. He needed to make an example of them, and that is exactly what he planned to do.

“What are you going to do now, Jarda?”

“I am going to get more stocks built for one thing. At the moment, we only have two. Then I am going to dismiss the Chatra for the day, check on the victims and the prisoners, and then I am going to spend some time with my family. And you?”

“I am going to do some research,” Ma’ikel said.

“On what?”

“Sainika. I am now more convinced than ever that Frank not only will be Sainika in the future, but I strongly suspect he already is.”

“Already? Is that possible at his age?”

“I do not know. Hence the research. How else could he have held off someone so much bigger than himself this morning?”

Jarda nodded thoughtfully. “That is a good point. I have taught him a few things, but certainly not enough for him to be able to do that.”

Ma’ikel clapped his friend on the back. “It has been said that once a Sainika learns the slightest part of something, the rest comes to him as if he were born with the knowledge. That sounds like what happened with the fight. You taught him a little, and he just knew the rest.”

“Just knew,” Jarda said softly. “Like he just knew about Ricard and the others.”

“Yes. I will let you know what I find out, and I will see you at first light, if not before then. We need to present a united front to the Guard.”

“I appreciate that, Ma’ikel.”

The Anmah inclined his head and walked away. Jarda took a deep breath and went to find carpenters to build eight more stocks.

It was almost last light by the time he made it home. He stopped just inside the door and inhaled deeply. His stomach growled at the smell of stew and freshly baked bread, and he realized he had not eaten all day.

“Baba!” a little voice called. “Get cleaned up. Last meal is ready!”

Jarda smiled and walked to the kitchen where he stopped and laughed out loud. Elise and Frank were standing by the counter, and the boy was covered in flour. Elise seemed to have been spared the worst of it, but even she had a few patches of white here and there on her face and arms. Still laughing, Jarda took three large steps toward them and spun his wife into his arms. He kissed her soundly and then he used his thumb to wipe away a spot on her cheek.

“Ah,” he sighed as he nuzzled her hair, “it is good to be home.”

“It is good to have you home,” Elise said, “but you and this child both need to get washed up before the food gets cold.”

Jarda kissed her again before releasing her and picking up Ga’briyel. “What happened to you, my son?”

“Mama was teaching me to bake. She says I have a knack for it.”

With a chuckle, Jarda carried his son to the bathing room. “Like most small boys, though, you also seem to have a knack for getting dirty. Come, we do not want to make your mama wait too long.”

Ten minutes later, the Mistri family was seated around the table, their plates full. Jarda dug into his food with a vengeance, and there was no conversation for many minutes. By the time he finished his first plateful and was refilling it, Frank was staring at him with the questioning look that Jarda had come to know so well.

“What is it, Ga’briyel? You can ask me anything.”

“What is going to happen to Ricard and the others, Baba?”

Jarda slowly put his fork down on his plate, folded his hands together, and looked at his son, trying to decide how much to tell him. Finally, he told him what the Chatra already knew.

“They will be punished at first light at the training grounds.”

“How?”

“That is not important. Just know that the punishment will fit the crime.” Jarda glanced at his wife and saw that her head was down. “Are you all right, Elise?”

She raised shining eyes to him. “I am, Jarda. I just cannot believe something like this can happen in the Chatra.”

“It is more than just the Chatra, I am afraid,” Jarda said, pushing his plate from him. He had lost his appetite. “I will tell you later what has been happening.”

“Of course. For now, it is time for you, Ga’briyel, to take a real bath and get the rest of the flour out of your hair. Do you need help?”

“No, Mama, I can do it.”

The little boy slipped from his seat and hurried to the bathing room. Jarda stood up with a deep sigh and started clearing the table.

“I can do that, Jarda. You should go relax in your office.”

“No, I need to be doing something. If I sit down and do nothing, my thoughts will overwhelm me.”

He carried the dishes to the kitchen and placed them next to the basin before resting his hands on the wood and bowing his head. He covered Elise’s hands with one of his as she wrapped her arms around him from behind and settled her head on his back.

“Talk to me, my love,” she said softly.

He turned slowly in her arms and gathered her to himself. Quietly, he told her what had happened since Frank had come home from the fight. When he finished, he felt her shaking, and he held her tightly as she cried into his chest.

“Those poor children,” she whispered, and Jarda dropped a kiss on her head.

“I hate this, Elise. I hate that it is happened, I hate that I have to punish these boys, and I hate that I have to send them home in disgrace.”

She leaned back and was about to speak when Frank walked into the kitchen.

“I think I am clean now, Mama,” he said “Can you check?”

Elise kissed her husband and whispered, “I love you,” before going to her son with a smile. “Let me see, Ga’briyel; did you get behind your ears?”

“Yes, Mama,” the boy said with a frown. “Why are you crying?”

“Because I heard something that made me very sad.” She placed a kiss on Ga’briyel’s forehead.

“What was it?”

“You will find out tomorrow, my son,” Jarda said, “and the morning will come quickly. You need to go to bed now and get some sleep. We will wake two hours before first light.”

“All right, Baba. Will you answer one question for me first?”

“If I can.”

“Are ten people being punished tomorrow morning?”

Jarda frowned. “How did you know that, Ga’briyel? Were you listening to our conversation?”

“No, Baba. I only heard that you were sending them home.”

“Then how did you know there were ten?”

A look of intense concentration came over the boy’s face. “I do not know,” he said. “I just knew. I do not understand how.” His looked up at his father. “I do not like not understanding, Baba.”

“Neither do I. Perhaps Ma’ikel will know. We will ask him tomorrow, all right?”

“All right.” Frank stepped up to his father, and Jarda picked him up and hugged him. “Good night, Baba. I hope tomorrow is a better day for you.”