discipline must be upheld … I will see you in the square in two spans.” He turned on his heels and strode away before they could protest. Inwardly, he sighed. Leadership could be a heavy burden.
When he returned to the square two spans later, a small crowd had gathered, Catanians on one side, soldiers on the other. Next to the post stood a group of eight guarded men, stripped to the waist, eyes on the one already tied to it.
Sinnath approached, lash in hand. Its grip was two hands long and made of tightly woven leather. From it sprouted five thongs the length of a man with knots tied into them at random spaces. Each stroke would both gash the skin and leave deep bruises.
The waiting miscreants eyed it, then quickly looked away and back at the first in line, no doubt imagining the lash on their own backs.
Sinnath considered. Who would he choose to administer it? He found Mesor, the captain who had protested, now studiously avoiding his gaze. “Mesor, take the lash from me.”
Mesor took it, eyes blazing with suppressed fury. Sinnath added in a voice only Mesor could hear, “You will use proper force if you wish to retain your position. I will not tolerate disobedience, from you or any other soldier of Bargia.” Then he looked out over the crowd, as Mesor, still glowering, took his place next to the whipping post.
“ Hear me, people of Catania and Bargia. Your new lord, Lord Gaelen, like his father before him, has no taste for wanton cruelty. Even in times of war, Bargian law forbids misusing women and children. To those of you who have been ill used, Lord Gaelen sends his most sincere regrets. I am here to represent him in seeing justice done.”
Sinnath went on to explain what he had told the captains, then continued, “These nine men you see before you stand accused of rape. Two I myself witnessed in the act. They will be the first to feel the lash. Seven have been accused by you. Is there anyone among you who wishes to retract their accusation? You know the punishment for lying. Speak now and no more will be said of it.”
He watched one man shuffle forward fearfully. “Sir, my daughter knows not if ye got the right ’un. But she be used and still canna’ walk. She lies abed. She be ruined.” His voice rose as he became emboldened. “How can she be avenged if she canna’ name the beast? Where be her justice, and mine?” Loud murmurs of agreement rose from the crowd.
Sinnath had his words ready. “People, I have offered all the opportunity to come forward. I am certain that no act went unwitnessed. If any man remains free who should stand among these accused, you must look to yourselves for that failure.”
That brought more murmurs, more subdued this time.
He turned to the man and asked, “Do you wish to retract your accusation?”
The man blanched, let his chin fall to his chest, nodded his head, and mumbled ‘no bloody justice’ as he backed away into the crowd.
Sinnath nodded to Mesor to begin. The crowd remained uncharacteristically subdued for such a spectacle. Only two of the accused cried out. One had adamantly maintained his innocence, even after he had finished. Sinnath ordered his accuser to come forward. The older woman broke from the crowd and started to run away. She was quickly brought back and made to stand before Sinnath, facing the man who claimed he had done no wrong.
Sinnath turned to the woman. “You have accused this man of rape. He has received the lash based on your words. Convince me that justice has been done.”
The woman apparently decided to brazen it out, seeing that there was no escape. She turned to Sinnath defiantly and shouted, “Yer soldiers be all the same. They all look the same. How can I tell? My daughter took ’er own life. She be attacked by three men. How can I tell if he be one of ’em? My daughter be dead and someone mus’ pay. I got no one left. What do you care fer an old woman? What did yer men care fer my girl? Whip me if ye like. It
When he returned to the square two spans later, a small crowd had gathered, Catanians on one side, soldiers on the other. Next to the post stood a group of eight guarded men, stripped to the waist, eyes on the one already tied to it.
Sinnath approached, lash in hand. Its grip was two hands long and made of tightly woven leather. From it sprouted five thongs the length of a man with knots tied into them at random spaces. Each stroke would both gash the skin and leave deep bruises.
The waiting miscreants eyed it, then quickly looked away and back at the first in line, no doubt imagining the lash on their own backs.
Sinnath considered. Who would he choose to administer it? He found Mesor, the captain who had protested, now studiously avoiding his gaze. “Mesor, take the lash from me.”
Mesor took it, eyes blazing with suppressed fury. Sinnath added in a voice only Mesor could hear, “You will use proper force if you wish to retain your position. I will not tolerate disobedience, from you or any other soldier of Bargia.” Then he looked out over the crowd, as Mesor, still glowering, took his place next to the whipping post.
“ Hear me, people of Catania and Bargia. Your new lord, Lord Gaelen, like his father before him, has no taste for wanton cruelty. Even in times of war, Bargian law forbids misusing women and children. To those of you who have been ill used, Lord Gaelen sends his most sincere regrets. I am here to represent him in seeing justice done.”
Sinnath went on to explain what he had told the captains, then continued, “These nine men you see before you stand accused of rape. Two I myself witnessed in the act. They will be the first to feel the lash. Seven have been accused by you. Is there anyone among you who wishes to retract their accusation? You know the punishment for lying. Speak now and no more will be said of it.”
He watched one man shuffle forward fearfully. “Sir, my daughter knows not if ye got the right ’un. But she be used and still canna’ walk. She lies abed. She be ruined.” His voice rose as he became emboldened. “How can she be avenged if she canna’ name the beast? Where be her justice, and mine?” Loud murmurs of agreement rose from the crowd.
Sinnath had his words ready. “People, I have offered all the opportunity to come forward. I am certain that no act went unwitnessed. If any man remains free who should stand among these accused, you must look to yourselves for that failure.”
That brought more murmurs, more subdued this time.
He turned to the man and asked, “Do you wish to retract your accusation?”
The man blanched, let his chin fall to his chest, nodded his head, and mumbled ‘no bloody justice’ as he backed away into the crowd.
Sinnath nodded to Mesor to begin. The crowd remained uncharacteristically subdued for such a spectacle. Only two of the accused cried out. One had adamantly maintained his innocence, even after he had finished. Sinnath ordered his accuser to come forward. The older woman broke from the crowd and started to run away. She was quickly brought back and made to stand before Sinnath, facing the man who claimed he had done no wrong.
Sinnath turned to the woman. “You have accused this man of rape. He has received the lash based on your words. Convince me that justice has been done.”
The woman apparently decided to brazen it out, seeing that there was no escape. She turned to Sinnath defiantly and shouted, “Yer soldiers be all the same. They all look the same. How can I tell? My daughter took ’er own life. She be attacked by three men. How can I tell if he be one of ’em? My daughter be dead and someone mus’ pay. I got no one left. What do you care fer an old woman? What did yer men care fer my girl? Whip me if ye like. It
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