An eye for an eye

GRIFFITH'S POV

The following day I dreaded as each hour passed, fearing the time it would be afternoon. 

It annoyed me that I felt so powerless to stop Viktor from doing whatever he pleased especially since it's the power that our families gave him that he was using and taking advantage of.

When afternoon unfortunately came I walked to the pit dreading what I was about to do. The pit was a small open space that cascaded downwards with a concrete floor and bench stairs that lined its walls. It kind of looked like a small arena. It used to be a training ground for the palace knights and then due to changes made to the palace, Viktor changed it to a punishment area.

Soon the guards brought Aldric, he walked with a limp from the lashing he'd received the night before. He was also shirtless bloodied, and bruised. We made eye contact and my expression faltered. Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to go see him when he was taken to the dungeons so I had no chance to talk to him further after he was apprehended in Kara's torture room.

He was brought near the front of the pit where there was a small concrete table and he was made to kneel in front of it.

"I'm sorry Aldric there was nothing I could do to stop this," I tried to explain to him.

"Don't worry about it Griffith, we both knew what was going to happen there was no stopping it. I brought this down on myself anyway." He said matter of factly.

One of the knights then announced that the King had arrived and the mood of the knights shifted.

Viktor came and sat on the throne that was right at the front.

He had a throne added to the pit so he could watch people get punished. I don't even know if sadistic was the term to use anymore since his obsession with torture was beyond

He crossed one of his legs over the other and leaned his head on his arm. "Well, get on with it then." He said with an amused smile on his face.

Viktor's attendant came forward. "Last knight Commander Aldric Telvard attacked the Princess and as such for harming a royal family member he will lose the arm that dared touch her."

A knight came toward me with a long sharp sword in hand which he handed over to me. Unfortunately, it was me who would be the one to punish Aldric. It's a little thing he liked to add to make things more 'interesting'. For us to be the ones to punish each other.

Aldric's arm was laid out by the guards that held him on the table for me to be able to slice it off.

My arms shook as I took position and lifted the sword in my arms. I tried to compose myself if I was going to do this the least I could do was make it as painless as possible. If my arms shook as I swung, Aldric would be in more pain than he needed to be in. I dropped my arms as I tried to calm myself.

"For crying out loud, get it together Griffith you're not killing me," Aldric chided looking up at me with an annoyed expression.

I stared at him in disbelief then let out a chuckle even the man who was about to lose his arm was calmer than me.

"I don't have all day Griffith I have more important things to do," Viktor complained.

I turned to look at him for a moment and almost scoffed. He said that but still went out of his way to make time to see Aldric get punished.

After this, he was probably going to have Aldric flogged again all because he choked Kara. Pretending to care about Kara when we both knew he didn't give two shits about her. I mean just over a year ago she was more like a mere servant in the castle before this mess started.

Composing myself I lifted the sword once more with more confidence this time. I was going to make one nice clean swing.

"Wait! Stop! Don't do it!" I heard a voice suddenly yell as my arms started to swing. I turned my side and found … the princess...running toward me.

My eyes widened as she came and stood right in front of me blocking Aldric from view. My arms stopped the sword just in time before it touched her.

Has she lost her mind? I thought to myself.

KARA'S POV

As I followed the servant outside of the castle leading me to the pit, upon seeing the gathered men there, my heart sank in my chest as I prayed I wasn't too late. I wasn't sure if my idea would work but it was all I had.

Getting closer I saw Griffith with his arms lifted, a long sword in hand. Aldric knelt before him his arm laid out on a concrete table.

I immediately went past the servant and ran towards the table at the front.

"Your Highness?" I heard the servant worriedly call out to me. "Wait stop!" I yelled for Griffith to stop.

My guess is Viktor had ordered Griffith to be the one to cut off Aldric's arm. How sadistic and cruel was that? I couldn't imagine how awful it was to be the one forced to harm one of your closest friends.

 "Wait! Don't do it!" I said again. Griffith who was already about to swing suddenly stopped mid-air and looked at me as I approached. I came to stand in between Griffith and Aldric holding my hand out so Griffith would.

For a moment the two of us were just frozen in that position.

"Your Highness, what are you doing?" He asked me. I met his blue eyes that were filled with confusion.

"What is the meaning of this Kara!?" Viktor then demanded, and then I turned to look at him. He sat on a throne in the seating area.

I finally got a good look at Viktor. A tall, large muscular man. He wasn't heavily muscled like Aldric but muscular all the same. He looked to be much taller than Aldric though, with broader shoulders, and seemed like he was physically powerful as well.

"Shouldn't you be resting in bed?" He asked me.

I didn't answer him for a second. I felt overwhelmed seeing him for the first time. I could get Aldric and myself in even more trouble I got if I didn't answer him soon, though.

"I apologize for the disturbance, Your Majesty, but I can't let Aldric lose his arm," I stated.

"What do you mean by that?"

"It's my fault he placed his hands on me last I asked him to," I stated.

"What?" Victor asked obviously confused.

"Last night, as I spent the night with Aldric I wanted to try breath play with Aldric. I was curious to see how his huge muscular arms would feel around my neck so I allowed him to choke me but it got out of hand, I was ashamed to admit it when Griffith and the knights came so I didn't say anything.

"So you are saying asked Aldric to choke you?" He asked me as if he was wondering if I was stupid.

"Yes, Your Majesty,"

"What?" I heard Griffith say.

 "But I didn't stop to realize how he would be punished," I said.

"I never thought you would be one to care for others."

"I don't but if he loses one of his arms how will he hold me properly whilst he takes me?" I turned to face Aldric who was held down by the knights.

"Aldric is a favorite of mine, It would be a shame for such a useful toy to be damaged," I tried to argue remembering how Lucy had said he was my favorite husband. She also said Kara tended to be extremely vulgar and unaware when she said the things she said.

All the knights and Griffith's eyes widened from my embarrassing outburst.

"So, I beg you to spare him just this once," I said bowing my head in Viktor's direction.

Since Kara was so obsessed with sex and everyone knew I was hoping it would be a convincing enough reason.

Viktor was quiet for a moment his expression remained the same neutral and disinterested. Would he let it slide or would he punish me along with Aldric?