NO!" the scream came through my lips uncontrolled "what are you doing!" my heart was beating faster, blood racing to my head, what was once panic had now turned to anger, I tried going to James side to see if he was okay but one of the soldiers held me easily keeping me in place as James knelt before me, the general and the prince, I screamed my lungs out demanding to be set free, rather I was only hoisted up onto a horse the same horse the prince was on, he turned the horse despite my plea and rode of, back towards the direction of home, but before we went far I could hear the general command "Bring him back to the house".
By the time we reached the house I had stopped tossing around, my parents stood outside waiting, the prince got down first and I hopped down immediately after him not waiting for his help, although I had stopped screeching, I was still crying afraid of what might become of him,
I ran to my mother and hugged her, she only continued petting my hair, "it's okay it's going to be okay".
By the time James, the general and his men reached our house, I had calmed myself, James was being dragged in, by one of the generals men, his hands bound with a rope.
General Hector came down from his horse with a smile on his face "see Mrs. Woodson I told you, didn't I that I would find her and bring her back safely"
Surprised I turned to face my mother who was standing directly behind me and whispered "what did you do mother?"
But she ignored me and replied the General "thank you very much general, I was truly worried and you've proved it was for nothing" general Hector laughed satisfied from his hunt and being called a hero.
"so what do we do with him" this was the first few words the prince spoke since we got back from the forest and I glared at him a for it, he looked at me from the balcony where he sat for what could have been less than five seconds, smiled then looked elsewhere,
The general however picked the question "yes he will definitely get a punishment"
"general is that really necessary, I mean the boy did nothing wrong, wouldn't it be better to just let him go" father asked concerned.
"nonsense, he made your wife worried, troubling such a beautiful lady as Mrs. Woodson is a crime on its own and enough reason to be punished"
The general had always favored my mother, even though she is the daughter of a concubine which is where she got her blue eyes from and also where I got mine, he still saw her for the little royal blood running through her veins, mother took it to her advantage whenever she could.
"Thank you general, here let us go sit while we discuss further and if he must be punished then let it be the lightest of the punishments you have in mind"
We all made our way to the balcony, I sat on the chair between the prince's and fathers staying clear from mother and the general
"what a pity" the general said after taking a seat on the chair next to the prince "I would have rather enjoyed
Seeing something more, to ease the stress I had gone through earlier today working those files, but since you insist I shall make his punishment easier, how does six lashes sound?"
I stared at mother waiting for her reply "that should do" she answered with a smile,
I could no longer sit still and do nothing. So I played a dangerous card "if he is to be flogged six times, then I consider it only fair to receive half the punishment, I am after all the cause of mothers worry, had I not insisted to follow Mr. James into the forest we would not have been here now, wouldn't you agree?" I said it all properly
"No, Eva that is outrageous, I couldn't harm my own daughter, stop saying such nonsense" mother said still trying to hold her composure,
"It's really not" and all attention was drawn to the prince. "From what she said, she asked to follow he only agreed, it would only be very reasonable if she received four of the lashes, but since she is a lady we could settle for three each, what do you say Hector?, Mrs. Woodson would that be okay with you"
We all waited for general hectors reply knowing it was him that held the sword "that wouldn't be much fun, let the boy take three, this would be fun"
I watched in horror as two hefty soldiers went to James untied him and held him arms apart, while another took the whip drenched in water and with all his strength struck the first lash,
A single tear made its way down my cheek, the second lash came almost instantly and James screamed, and I shut my eyes not wanting to see my best friend in pain, I didn't see the last lash only heard it and it sounded like a sword cutting through wind
"now that were done with that I would rather retire to my room, I'm afraid all the accounting today has worn me out far too much" the general said going inside
"Dinner shall then be brought to your to your room" mother replied, father was the next person to retire, then he prince stood, lingered for a second then went inside.
"take him to his room and get him treated immediately" mother commanded, the towns people had already gotten to work before she finished talking, I was down the stairs when mother stopped me
"go inside Eva don't make this even worse, I'll make sure he gets treated well, I promise, you can see him tomorrow"
Defeated I turned back and entered inside but instead of going straight to my room, I went to another knocked on the door and waited for a reply.
The door opened up and I was face to face with the prince, he brought out his head from the doorway to check if anyone was coming, when he has made sure that the coast was clear he dragged me in and shut the door.