I smile at her spunk, but I know that was never an option. For Chris, Felix and the rest of them, perhaps I could have done that – but not Theme. Poor Theme wasn’t part of the ill-considered assault on that Aurelian guard, and he’d never have survived twenty lashes.
“Listen, Tasha,” Sawoot reaches and touches my arm, “a captain is someone who can put the crew before themselves – and that makes you a fine captain.”
I smile at her and then take a deep breath. Jumping down to the floor, I land like a cat and hold my head up high as I straighten up and turn toward the door. Whatever happens, I’m determined to face my fate resolutely. I’ve had hours to prepare for this. I won’t shame myself with cowardice now.
I open the door, which had been unlocked from the outside. Iunia greets me on the other side. Aelon’s towering battle-brother has a fresh, new scar carved deep across his shoulder – red and angry. He doesn’t obscure his cuts using Aurelian technology. I imagine, like all the others, that the new scar will soon fade until it blends into the patchwork of all those older wounds that already cover the rest of his otherwise perfect skin.
I stand there and study the looming warrior. Aelon might be the most handsome of the three, with his chiseled body and striking face, but Iunia and Vinicus each have broad, strong features that make them feel more… trustworthy.
Not that I’ve had any reason to trust any Aurelians so far.
I put my hands on my hips and growl: “So. It’s you who’ll punish me.”
Iunia responds coolly: “It’s not I who have earned that pleasure.”
Pleasure. They aren’t even hiding it. This punishment is going to be enjoyable for them - just as much as it will be humiliating and painful for me.
My eyes dart down to Iunia’s huge hands. I can only imagine how much it will hurt to have them cracking down on my ass – again and again.
I turn my nose up. “So, you admit it. It’s not a punishment, it’s a pleasure.”
“It’s both,” Iunia retorts. “Now, come with me.”
He steps back, knowing I’ll have no choice but to follow him. I force myself to walk out of the cell and fall in step beside him. Each stride is painful and takes great effort, because I know with each step I’m carrying myself closer and closer toward my humiliating fate.
As we head down the corridor, we approach the section of the brig reserved for male prisoners – including Chris, Theme and the rest of my crew.
We pause there, and Iunia points toward the cell where my shipmates are imprisoned.
“The Captain’s orders are that your crew watches.”
Fuck!
I should have expected this, of course. Captain Aelon wants every man and woman who follows my orders to bear witness to this degradation. Sawoot also follows – she’d left the cell the same time I had – but instead of feeling shame or embarrassment, I feel stronger in her presence.
I turn to Iunia and snort.
“The Captain only orders that because he wants to humiliate me.”
Iunia’s eyes narrow.
“You tried to do the same to him. Don’t pretend you’re innocent, Captain Tasha.” He says my title with disdain – as if he feels I hadn’t earned the right to call myself captain. “Aelon told us both about your little ploy. You put him to the test in front of his men – demanding to take the lashes for you men, and then choosing the airlock rather than the punishment that was due to you.”
“I was only following the statute of law,” I retort.
“You were abusing the statute of law,” Iunia responds coldly. “You know full well that if Captain Aelon had backed down and hadn’t meted out a punishment, he’d lose the respect of his men. If he’d refused to allow you to accept the punishment your men deserved, he’d have demonstrated that he didn’t respect the honor of command.” Then, Iunia’s eyes narrow. “When you challenged him, you chose to play a game. Now, you must claim the prize.”
I open my mouth to answer, but nothing comes out. Iunia stated his case so simply – so inarguably – that the anger I feel towards Captain Aelon sinks from a furious boil to a dull simmer.
I realize he’s right. I’m no victim. I forced Captain Aelon’s hand - and now I’m going to suffer the consequences of my actions.
Sawoot grabs my shoulder, squeezing it like she always does when our backs are against the wall.
“I’ll be okay, Tash.” Then, she turns to the towering Aurelian. “So, I see you’re the smart one of the triad. In which case, why do you follow a man like Aelon?”
Iunia stares down at Sawoot and shrugs.
“It’s my fate.”
Then, Iunia starts walking down the hallway again. Reluctantly, we follow.
As I stride down the hallway, I once again notice the scratches in the wall, the flickering lights, and the soot and scorch marks from recently replaced panels and vents.
As fearsome as The Instigator appears, this warship really is an old beast. She’s akin to a fearsome old wolf, roughshod after years of tough living. A wolf like that might lose an eye or a tooth, but still has a lot of fight left in it. I imagine The Instigator remains a fearsome weapon of war even if she’s seen much better days.
We reach the end of the corridor. Iunia has led us to a huge set of steel doors. He presses a button and they slide open, accompanied by a cacophony of sound.
The wave of noise hits me like a slap to the face. Iunia leads me forward, and as I step into the room beyond the huge doors, I see it’s packed full.
We’ve stepped into what must be the ship’s mess hall – and I’m being served as dessert. Two long rows of tables are packed with Aurelians soldiers, some with fresh wounds, others with old
