CHAPTER 532: A YOUNG KNIGHT’S RECKONING

Amidst the subtle sweep of the cold breeze, the training ground felt tense and heavy with gloom. Eli stood bound to a pole, his back straight though his spirit weighed low.

Eric’s boots rapped against the frozen earth, the crunch of snow breaking the stillness as he circled to face the young knight. His gaze was sharp, yet his tone was sharper.

"Do you admit guilt for your offence, Sir Henderson?"

Eli’s eyes lowered solemnly, though his voice was steady with confession.

"I do. I neglected my duty, endangered Lady Athillia, and concealed the incident. I have broken the code of the Knighthood of Gerhard."

Eric gave a slow, measured nod.

"At least you recognise your fault. If you already knew, why did you do it?"

The young knight closed his eyes briefly. Athillia’s plea for silence echoed in his mind. He could have explained, but to do so would shift the blame upon her, and that he would not allow. He had decided to honour her request, so the responsibility belonged to him alone.

"Perhaps I was too selfish to admit my mistake... and unwilling to face punishment," he finally answered.

"You bet you were!" Eric’s voice cracked up. "Do you realise you could have placed us all in jeopardy? Lady Athillia’s life is no trifle, as His Highness the Grand Duke held her in high regard! I was already suspicious of your soaked appearance that day."

"I have nothing to say other than my deepest regret. I apologise and promise it will never happen again," Eli said firmly.

"Apology is one thing, but accountability is another," Eric rebuked. "As a knight, you bear not only your own honour but that of the Order itself. If the burden of duty weighed too heavily, you should have asked your brothers for help. That is what comrades are for!"

"Yes, Sir Navin. I understand now," Eli replied, without the stubborn defiance that usually coloured his words.

Eric studied him with a tense gaze. Eli was his protégé, the most promising of the young knights he had trained. Among the novices, none matched his talent. His swordplay was as swift as Kyren’s, if not yet as strong.

Eli had always been Eric’s pride. Yet the second-in-command knight never played favourites.

As his position demanded, he was unyielding when it came to duty and rules. Still, beneath his stern exterior, the men knew there was always a measure of humanity in his judgment.

"There will be consequences for your offence, Sir Henderson. According to the laws of knighthood, it would be ten lashings for misconduct and negligence!"

The sentence rang out like steel striking stone. Eli did not flinch. He had expected no less once his secret was uncovered.

"I accept," he declared firmly.

A faint creak from the kitchen window broke the silence—some servant, no doubt, was prying into the scene. It didn’t matter much. The punishment had been decreed, and Eli was ready to face it.

"Now," Eric continued, his voice cutting through the silent ground, "while we wait for the knights to gather as witnesses, I shall remind you of the Ten Commandments of the Knighthood of Gerhard. Engrave them upon your heart, so you never repeat this disgrace. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir Navin," Eli answered at once.

"I did not hear you!" Eric thundered.

"Yes, Sir Navin!" Eli shouted back, his voice echoing across the training ground.

"Good. Now... First Commandment..."

The second-in-command knight started reciting the code, each word carrying the authority of law. It served as both a stern warning and a way to steel the young knight’s heart before the lash fell.

Eli had never endured such punishment before. The harshest he had experienced was a slap from the Grand Duke for conspiring with Damon to take Anna to Mistdale to meet with Armel.

Though young and sometimes reckless, Eli had always taken his duty seriously, adhering closely to the order’s rules. That he had faltered now astonished Eric.

The second-in-command knight was sure his silence hid another reason—but since Eli had chosen to bear the punishment without excuse, Eric left it as it was.

***

"...A knight’s promise is his bond, but no promise may absolve him from the service of his lord or the law of knighthood," Eric ended his reciting in a stern tone.

At that moment, the Knights of Gerhard arrived, Kiev and Rafe among them.

"What offence has Sir Henderson committed, Sir Navin?" asked the Mederian Prince upon seeing the young knight tied to the post.

Eric bowed respectfully and then answered, "While we were at the palace during the trial the other day, Lady Athillia nearly drowned. Sir Henderson, her escort, concealed the incident from the others to avoid punishment."

A ripple of shock ran through the gathered men.

Kiev turned to Eli, seeking confirmation.

"Is this true, Sir Henderson?"

"Yes," Eli admitted solemnly. "It is true."

"Then... you will punish him, I presume?" said the Mederian Prince to Eric.

"Yes. I am only carrying out my duty as second-in-command, Your Highness," the second-in-command knight replied.

Kiev did not press further. Though grave, he knew he could not intervene. Matters of the knighthood’s order and honour were beyond his jurisdiction, and he respected that deeply as both prince and warrior.

"Sir Navin, wait!" A young voice rang out.

Breathless and urgent, Armel rushed in before Eric could order Luke to fetch the lash. Scarlett had told him everything as she hurried toward the parlour to inform Anna and the noble ladies.

The teenager stopped, chest heaving, then spoke out, "It’s not Sir Henderson’s fault! I was there when it happened!"

The knights turned to him at once. His words caught their full attention. Noah quickly urged him to explain.

"Lady Athillia was rushing toward me," Armel began. "I heard her ranting about Sir Henderson’s strict restraints over her... Then she stepped onto the frozen pond—"

"Where was Sir Henderson?" Eric cut him off. "Was he not bound to her side?"

"Well... he... he..." Armel faltered, struggling to find his words.

"I was within the mansion," Eli admitted heavily. "I had quarrelled with Lady Athillia and let her leave without supervision."

"Then it is still your fault!" Eric’s voice rose towards the young knight. "You let her wander alone! The pond cracked, and she fell in! Had it not been for Armel’s cry for help, she would have drowned and frozen to death!"

Armel flattened his lips, unable to intervene.

"I already know everything," Eric continued as he saw the teenager’s reaction. "Sir Henderson confessed to me after I overheard him speaking privately with Lady Athillia about it."

The knights stood in silence. None dared to defend Eli. The mistake was too grave, and pardon was out of the question.

No sooner had Eric finished than another party arrived—Anna and the ladies.

Alarmed at the sight of Eli bound to the post, Athillia broke away from them. She rushed forward and planted herself firmly before the young knight.

"Let him go, Sir Navin!" she cried.

"My lady! Step aside!" Eli urged her, his voice strained.

"No!" she defied him, turning back to Eric. "Release him at once!"

Eric’s expression remained unyielding.

"I’m afraid I cannot. Sir Henderson has confessed. He had abandoned his duty as your escort, and because of it, you nearly drowned in the pond. Worse, he concealed the incident from me and the other knights. For this breach, he must be punished."

The ladies were surprised by the revelation, except for Emily, who already knew. Whispers spread among them, but then Athillia’s trembling, desperate words caught their attention.

"He didn’t mean it! He never did!" she cried. "I ran off! I was angry and didn’t want to see him, so I left on my own!"

"He should have followed you," Eric replied firmly. "That was the order I gave him."

"But it was only that once! He came for me after!" she pleaded.

"That one time nearly cost you your life, Lady Athillia!" Eric thundered. "Had he not reached you when he did, we might already be mourning your death!"

Athilllia’s eyes darted to Anna in a silent plea. But the princess, having understood the full weight of what had happened, only said, calm and unwavering, "Step aside, Athillia. Sir Henderson must face his punishment."

The other women stayed silent, following Anna’s instructions. Only Elis looked unsettled, her eyes filled with worry. With her gentle nature, Eric’s harsh words affected her greatly, especially as she saw Athillia’s desperate tears.

Her gaze flickered toward Kiev on the other side.

The Mederian Prince caught her look. Her eyes no longer burned with anger but instead pleaded on behalf of the young knight. He knew she wished for him to intervene. Yet, with his firm resolve, he only shook his head subtly.

Surprisingly, Elis did not recoil in disappointment as he expected. Instead, she lowered her eyes, as though she understood.

Perhaps, Kiev thought, her time spent among the ladies had changed her view of how certain things were meant to be.

Athillia’s cries filled the training ground.

This time, she confessed, "I made him promise not to tell you or the others. Part of the blame is mine!"

"Me too!" Armel blurted. "I conspired to keep it secret as well!"

Eric’s gaze flicked between the two youngsters pleading for Eli’s sake. The young knight shook his head, urging them not to interfere.

"This matter falls squarely under Sir Henderson’s duty as escort. He must not take orders from you, Lady Athillia. And you, Armel Chester..." Eric’s eyes sharpened like a hawk’s as he fixed the teenager with a stare. "Though you are involved, you are neither a servant of His Highness the Grand Duke nor a knight of this order. You serve His Highness Prince Kiev and are therefore considered a guest here. Otherwise, I would have punished you, too." His tone was uncompromisingly harsh.

Armel swallowed hard, terror making him small. He caught Kiev’s darkened look; the Mederian Prince jerked his chin in a signal to withdraw that clearly said, ’Do not interfere.’

Because Athillia had no direct standing with him, Kiev chose not to intervene and ignore Armel’s participation.

Rafe, silent at his side, seemed to agree. This was how it went when a knight breached the rules: discipline stood, even if the heart begged otherwise.

"Now, bring me the lash, Sir Parker!" Eric ordered.

"Yes, Sir Navin," Luke replied with a bow, hurrying to fetch the whip from its peg in the sheltered part of the ground.

"No!" Athillia cried again, panic raw in her face.

"Step aside, Lady Athillia, please!" Eli pleaded once more.

The Bargesian Princess turned to him, guilt and tears streaking her cheeks. "It’s my fault! I can’t let them lash you!"

Eli met her tear-stained face with a steady look.

"It’s all right," he murmured softly.

Athillia shook her head, fury and fear mingling.

"You’ll get hurt!"

"I’ll be fine," he said. "I’m a knight. It would be an insult if I didn’t own my mistake. So, please... for my dignity... step away and let Sir Navin carry out his duty."

Athillia was still trembling, torn between guilt and protest.

Seeing her reluctance, Anna signalled Callis to intervene. The healer’s wife stepped forward and gently clasped Athillia’s shoulders.

"Come, Athillia. You shouldn’t interfere. Let them settle their order’s matters accordingly," she urged in a soft but steady tone.

"But—but..."

"The more you resist, the more it hurts Sir Henderson’s pride. He will never be acknowledged as a competent knight if he refuses his punishment," the Mederian Princess counselled firmly.

Athillia’s head whipped toward Eli, eyes clouded with despair. But the young knight managed a faint, reassuring smile.

"Mrs Amares is right. Please go," he said.

The Bargesian Princess’s shoulders sagged in defeat. Her inward protests lingered, heavy with tears, but there was nothing more she could do. At last, she relented, her weakened body guided back to her group by Callis.

At the same time, Kiev moved to his wife’s side before the punishment commenced.

"I know you are still angry with me," he said quietly to her, "but don’t watch this. Come with me instead. The scene is not for your eyes."

The Mederian Prince’s concern was genuine; he knew Elis had once endured the lash during her years of slavery. He dreaded that this sight would force her to relive those scars.

Elis obediently gave a slight nod. Relief swept over Kiev, and he gently led her away from the training ground.

Not long after, the punishment began. The knights stood in grim silence as the lash was unfurled. Eli braced himself, shoulders squared and eyes fixed forward. Then—

’Splash!’

The whip cracked against his back, echoing through the cold air.

Eli’s body flinched, but he held firm, eyes shut tight as a low grunt escaped his lips—his only concession to the searing pain.

From the sidelines, Athillia’s tears slipped quietly as each strike stirred an ache she could not quite name.

Meredith’s eyes lingered on the scene, and a deeper understanding dawned upon her. Quietly, she tugged Anna aside and whispered, "Keep Athillia here, Anna."

The princess blinked, puzzled.

"Why? She doesn’t seem as though she wants to stay," she murmured back.

Meredith gave a slight shake of her head.

"No... she does want to stay. Look closer."

Anna glanced again at Athillia, weeping despite herself. And then, in that fragile, trembling figure, she saw what Meredith had meant.

"Oh..."