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Rafus draws up a stool and perches himself upon it beside Damon’s unconscious body. He sobs quietly, “My dear, sweet son. Why has Zai done this to my family? He has blessed me with many sons, but Atticul is a fool and a libertine. I love him but he is petty and cruel. My sweet Lukas was delivered to me when his mother died and he repaid me with open rebellion. Tobi is nothing but a vane wastrel. Kerik is missing. My sweetpea Endrew is dead. I always thought you were the only one worth anything, Damon, my true blessing from Zai. My firstborn, named for a great king. My only good son still living.” Rafus looks at Lyr sitting in the corner. He had thought Rafus had forgotten he was there. “And he gave up his dignity and skin for you.”
Lyr looks back at Rafus sourly. “He gave twenty years of his life for you.”
Rafus does not protest at this. He nods. “He has never forgiven me for it. He gave his body for my weakness. Now he has given it for yours. Was there ever a prince so noble?”
Lyr cannot believe he is here talking with Prince Rafus, the Crown Prince of Azuria. Damon’s father. He seems so unlike Damon it makes Lyr wonder what Damon’s mother was like.
As if he has read Lyr’s thoughts, Rafus says, “I’m his father. He may not look like me, but he has my weakness. He is a slave to desire. Vindar and Atticul may have their way with him yet.”
“How will they have their way?”
“I have been informed that Damon has been judged unfit to attend his own justice. They will make their decisions about his fate in private. It will be the end of his life as a nobleman of Azuria.”
It is almost evening when a page arrives to order Damon be brought to the Hall of Twelve for the pronouncement of the Rose Court. He has to be supported by three men, just conscious enough to refuse to be carried.
Lyr is brought too, led by two enforcers as he follows behind Damon. They make slow progress back to the hall.
Damon is led to the low stool in front of the high table. He does not sit on it. He looks at Selim and says, “I will stand.” His voice is weak like his throat has been sanded raw.
Selim nods and the small man stands up and begins, “Damon Darekul, bastard son of Crown Prince Rafus, you are guilty of sins of the body by your own confession. The punishment is exile for the whole of your life. All your belongings, property and slaves will be confiscated to the throne of Azuria, all excepting the island of Sanvicta, which you will be permitted to keep in light of your service to the empire. Your marriage to the Lady Inez will be annulled.”
Rafus stands, “Your Grace, please, my son is unfit to be exiled. His wounds are serious. He may not survive without the attention of my healers.”
“You will remain silent on this matter, Prince Rafus,” says Selim levelly. “Please High Enforcer, continue.”
The small man says, “Damon Darekul, a ship from the Azurian fleet will take you to Sanvicta at dawn. Any servants and comforts you have there will be removed. You will be given bread and water for forty days. No subject of the Azurian Empire may aid or give you comfort.”
“Please, Selim,” Rafus wails. “It’s a death sentence. Please do not do this.”
Slowly and with difficulty, Damon says, “What of my slave? The Juran slave.”
“Your slave is guilty of the same crime. He will be sent with you to Sanvicta to endure the same punishment,” says the small man.
Damon glances over at Lyr. He looks like he is about to say something. But no words come. He is swaying.
“He can’t stand,” Lyr shouts, “Help him!”
But it’s too late. All Lyr can do is watch as Damon vomits and collapses on the floor. He’s bleeding through his shirt.
A group of enforcers come over with a wooden pallet, load Damon onto it and carry him from the room.
One of the enforcers holding Lyr says, “Where shall I take this one?”
“The dungeons,” Gelen the Green says idly.
Selim has come down from the platform. He is walking over to Lyr. He gets close enough that Lyr can smell his rose scent. “Ah yes,” he says to Lyr. “You.” He pushes aside the woollen cloak that covers Lyr’s body. “You belonged to Jareleezi the Hevelikar witch.”
He looks at Selim. “Yes,” he says. “Your Grace.”
“You know, Damon made a deal with me. You were part of that deal.”
“I know. You gave him permission to lie with me in Vashti. You told him his sin would be unpunished.”
Selim smiles oddly. “You think I have betrayed him? No. Perhaps he did not give the details. I told him that the Rose Court would not have concerns so long as he kept his sin in Vashti, behind closed doors, that he made sure there was no proof of it that could be used against him. However, he broke those terms. He confessed to his sins in front of Gelen the Green and the Rose Court. There was nothing I could do.”
“Nothing you could do?” Lyr’s voice shakes. “You are the Emperor of Azuria.” Lyr speaks in a tone that would probably have meant instant death under any other circumstances.
“I am still only a man,” says Selim. He touches Lyr’s cheek. “And every man is a servant of Zai.”
