Shards

Chapter 71 - Fifty Lashes Part One

It seemed like everyone had come to see the prisoner get punished. The guests had nothing better to do until the wedding ceremony and feast the next day. Lady Shuang's former bodyguard's flogging was today's highlight. The side court filled up rapidly with curious nobles. All the seats were taken. Even servants and off-duty guards loitered in the back to get a glimpse.

All last night, servants had been busy arranging platforms and seating for the nobles. They were placed a good ten meters away and around the prisoner, far enough from the dangerous criminal but near enough to see each punishing stroke. Every angle was covered but the prime front positions was reserved for House Zhai and House Yuan, the wronged party.

Zhang Xi Xuan too sat facing the bound prisoner, an honored seat next to Lord Zhai. Although he was no longer the Ruling Lord's future son-in law, House Zhang was still ranked the second most powerful House in the land. A good thing because his position allowed him to overhear any conversations or orders given, if he listened hard enough and read lips. Any information, however small or insignificant could be useful to save Ghost later ... if he survived. Xi Xuan's hands tightened in anger on his ever present fan. He'd try to look for any chance to do so but for now, he had to pretend indifference. He smiled nonchalantly covering his simmering ire when he caught Lord Yuan looking at him.

Lord Yuan was absolutely giddy with excitement. His mistake of insulting the Ruling House, earning disfavour and his hurried insincere apologies them the day before totally forgotten in his anticipation of the commoner's punishment.

Lady Shuang was practically dragged weeping to Lord Zhai's side where she now sat distraught. She had not wanted to be present but her Lord Father insisted she see firsthand the consequences of her words. He had denied her audience the day before and had stayed holed up in his War room with Captain Chiang. Armed Elite guards at the locked door prevented her from bursting in. They even had the gall to ignore her!! She had waited for hours but finally gave up.

Last night had been terrible. Sleep eluded her for hours while she tossed and turned restlessly. When she finally managed to doze off, a gruesome nightmare woke her up screaming in terror. Automatically, she had called out for Ghost and Key, needing their comforting solid presence to feel safe. She wanted Ghost to hold her and reassure her that he was always there for her and Key to make her smile with his silly witty remarks ... but they had not come. She missed their calm competence and quiet strength. They would never again be by her side nor would they ever protect her again. Reality of what she had done set in, reducing her to a sobbing mess. Now, she couldn't look at Ghost but at the same time, she couldn't take her eyes off him. It might be the last time she got to see him.

Key was nowhere in sight. He had vanished into thin air. No one could find him.

Ghost was alone. The Elites guarding him had been ordered to one side so as not to obstruct the view.

Suddenly he heard Xi Xuan's low voice.

I know you can hear me, Ghost. Please endure it. They won't kill you. Lord Zhai instructed them to keep you alive. I'll try to help in any way I can.

Ghost closed his eyes. Wasn't that worse? Still, he needed to survive to return to the Dark Sect. Once he had given his report and completed his last mission, he would finally be able to rest.

He vowed to prove himself a worthy Shard. To prove that Old Wolf had not made a mistake in taking in and caring for an unproven child. It had always hung over him that Old Wolf had risked his own position in the Sect by bypassing the usual steps to promote a candidate for Shard's training. Despite protests and resistance from the higher levels at that time, he had advocated for the small useless child. He had even spent his own gold to feed and clothe him until he was somewhat accepted by the Dark Sect.