"And now this one..." said Borla finally, extending his arm out to one
side and holding out his hand without looking.
Hastily, the ceremonial arms-bearer stepped forward and planted Borla's
sword in his hand. Like the late and unlamented Master Rababull, the
ability to unflinchingly execute the harshest judgements was one of the
most terrifying things about men like Borla. Si'Wren longed to beg
Emperor Euphrates to have mercy upon her accusers, to forget their
awful, unreasoning hatred, but could only remain utterly and eternally
silent, lest she betray her vow.
While four separate burly guards kept an iron grip on her to immobilize
her, the third one, screaming like one possessed, suffered her own
intended punishments before the Emperor and all the general assemblage
at the hand of Borla himself as Si'Wren shut her eyes and wished she
could shut her ears also as she turned her head away and felt sick to
her stomach.
Sorpiala's unmerciful consort fainted in the process of receiving her
punishment, and was dragged away unconscious to the slave quarters, to
be revived for the finishing of her intended punishments.
At last, Borla handed the bloody weapon back to the ceremonial
arms-bearer.
Si'Wren and the woman who had ordained mercy stood beside one another
throughout the entire ordeal of the punishments.
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