Meeting the king Gaze;

Seven whips in total; I felt like my body was on fire. My limbs felt like water, and all I could do was control my ragged breathing.

A wince rippled through my lips when Sarah applied some ointment to my wounds. My body shook like a leaf in a storm.

"You must be quite insane to challenge her like that," Sarah said, dipping a piece of cloth in warm water. "You need to watch that attitude of yours if you wish to survive here, little one."

Sarah had found me almost ...