To Bewitch a Devil

“Kneel!” she ordered and Pen fell to her knees;

“Please forgive me, your highness, I beg of you, I did not intend to mock you.”

Lyra did not even look at her, she just called on the guards; “Guards!” She called twice and one of them came in to answer;

“Get a cane and come with two more of you, ”

She said to him as she huffed angrily. His eyes fell on the maid kneeling and pleading profusely before he left.

After a few minutes, he returned with the two guards and a cane in his hand. Princess Lyra was sitting on a couch when they came back. When she saw them, she turned to Pen;

“Lie down!” She ordered Pen; “you two, hold her hands and legs, so she doesn’t move, if she moves, you’ll be in her place.”

Pen fell to the ground and held Lyra’s feet pleading profusely, but Lyra pushed her hands away;

.....

“Did you not hear me?!” She shouted at the guards that were standing and wondering what the girl must have done. At her words, they went to each side and held Pen’s legs and hands.

Pen struggled against their grip, as she pleased to Lyra for mercy but they all fell on deaf ears.

“You, flog her, don’t stop until I say so.” Lyra said to the guard holding the cane. He was surprised, wondering what the girl did that late in the night, but he did not dare ask.

Walking closer to her, her rolled the whip;

WHIM!

The cane landed on Pen’s back, and she screamed m, wriggling on the ground. A few more whips fell on her back and soon she lost count of how many they were.

The doors to the room opened after a long while and Pen entered the room, limping on one feet. The girls were still awake and when they saw her, their lips fell in shock.

“Gracious! What did she do to you!” They jumped from their bed and quickly helped Pen to her bed.

Pen was drenched in her own sweat and her back had been lacerated with nothing less than fifty strokes of the cane.

She couldn’t say a word, she just fell limply on her bed and closed her eyes. The girls stared at her with pity in their eyes but knew better than to ask her what happened.

They just went to their own beds and slept.

...

Kitana sat in front of her mirror as she prepared for bed when she heard a knock on the door. Without turning to it, she ordered the person to come in.

“Your highness;” A masculine voice called and Kitana turned to see who it was. Her eyes glistened when she recognized the face from a few days ago. He was the guard she told to keep an eye on Neera and where she went.

Standing up from in front of her vanity, she walked to him;

“Do you have any news?” she asked and the guard nodded. A smile stretched her lips and she said; “Go on.”

“The Prince came to the king’s chambers to see Neera.”

Kitana’s eyes widened in surprise; “Are you sure of what you just said?” She asked and the guard nodded;

“Yes, I was on duty and he came in guise of keeping something for the king, but I followed him stealthily and watched him go into her chambers. He had stayed for a while before he came out.”

Kitana was quiet for a second before her laugh resounded in the room;

“Oh that slave girl must be daring! Even in the king’s chambers!” She laughed as she paced about the room, crossing her arms in front of her.

But what could she do? Even if she told Zavian that Neera had brought Axel to his chambers, he would not believe her, moreso. after what she did to her; he would think she was just trying to set her up.

What would she do?

Kitana paced about the room, biting on her thumb finger. Then as though a thought came to her mind, her eyes widened. Smiling, she walked to her drawers and took out a small sack and gave the boy.

“That is your reward. Bring me the maid that was with you, I have a task for her.”

The guard grabbed the sack with his both hands and when he saw the contents, his eyes widened in excitement and he bowed to her;

“Thank you, your highness. Thank you.” He thanked profusely before hurrying out of the room.

...

The Princesses sat on their chairs with a drawing board in front of them. Beside the boards was a table with different shades of inks on it. Brushes of different sizes were arranged close to the inks and a wrap of brown paper lay by the side.

They did not look pleased as they sat in front of their boards. The sun was high in the middle of the sky and the person to address them was not yet in the arena.

Suddnely, a bald headed man, with long beads, in his seventies, walked in front of them. He was one of the few humans that held positions in the kingdom. Humans died quickly, so it was useless giving them important positions but art was something not everyone could do, so he had gained his right as the chief of the art academy.

Walking a in front of the Princesses, and he bowed.

“I apologize for being late. I had lost my way.” He said, standing up straight.

A servant boy walked to him and gave him a scroll, tied with a ribbon. Opening the scroll he read from it;

“The theme of this test is ‘Seasons’. Each of the Princesses would draw and paint the seasons of their choice. Each painting should symbolize a season at first glance. The test would run for three hours after which the chosen judges would score the paintings and then the winner would be announced.”

There were a few murmurings amongst the Princesses after the chief’s announcement.

“All drawing and painting tools have been provided, please check your tables if anything is missing.” The chief spoke;

There was silence as the old man waited for a response, when he did not hear any, he said.

“The test begins now.”

...