cascade | kotlc

9. King Dimitar and Punishments

 Everyone was sitting around her bed when she woke up. And everyone was glaring at Sophie.

What happened now?

She yawned and sat up, dizzy from exhaustion. Grady and Edaline rushed to her and propped her up against the wall. June rubbed her eyes and blinked to adjust to the light.

"What happened?" she murmured, stretching out her arms and tucking her hair behind her ears. "What did she do this time?"

Sophie was looking at her with watery eyes that held something other than sadness. Pain, perhaps. Regret. Grief.

Guilt.

"What did she do?" June repeated, more anxiously this time. "What- what did she do?"

Alden sighed. "Kenric's planting was today."

June bolted out of bed. "I missed the planting?"

"You were completely knocked out, June. You couldn't have come. Trust me, we tried to wake you up. You were completely unresponsive."

"And that's why everyone's mad at Sophie? Because I wasn't there?"

Sandor exhaled. "No. King Dimitar was there. And she tried to read his mind."

June was shocked into silence for a whole five seconds.

"Is that true?" she asked quietly, turning to Sophie.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I didn't think-"

"That's just it," Grady interrupted. "You didn't think. Do you have any idea what would've happened to you if he'd dragged you away before we could stop him?"

"You almost started a war, Sophie," June said, paling. "A war could be starting right now."

"Is the Council going to exile me?" she whispered.

Tiergan shook his head. "The ogres do not support that prison, largely because some of their own are being held there. King Dimitar would never approve."

"So what will he approve?"

"Something that's painful," June muttered. "Embarassing. Or both."

Alden sighed and sat down beside her. "There's no reason to worry too much, Sophie. What you did was very serious. But the Council is also well aware that King Dimitar's visit was hardly the concerned check-in he claimed it to be."

June growled. "He was there to see how bad us elves were, wasn't he? To see how easy it was to break us apart? And it just so happened Sophie- Sophie-" Her voice broke and she buried her head with her hands. "He's using you as a- tool. A tool to break us apart."

Sophie hung her head. "I'm-"

"I know you're sorry," Alden interrupted. "I even know why you did it. I just hope you understand that this is one dilemma I will not be able to protect you from. Not only will King Dimitar insist that there be consequences, but our people need to see you punished as well. As horrible as it is, most of the public sees you as a dangerous experiment run amok and June as the only one keeping you restrained and protected, and today's drama essentially confirmed it. The Council is going to have to devise a punishment that will satisfy King Dimitar and prove to everyone that you are being sufficiently controlled."

Sophie swallowed. "Any idea on what the punishment would be?"

"It could be any number of things. But if I had to guess, it'll be some sort of mandatory public service assignment that you'll be expected to do everyday after school."