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We couldn’t make out the words, but atched as their crimes were announced to the world I focused on A to hold herself in one piece, arer’s expression was uneasy, but calm Mer just seemed confused I wished there was a way to hold her and tell her it was going to be all right without ending up bound to a blockwhipped for stealing If I could have taken his place, I would have done it without question At the sa sense of relief that I had never been caught the few ti that way right noishing Marlee didn’t have to go through this, but so thankful it wasn’t us

When the canes cah we couldn’t hear anything but the crowd There was just enough space between each lashing to allow Woodwork and Marlee to feel the pain, but not adjust to it before a new strike drove the burn in deeper There’s an art topeople suffer The palace seemed to have it mastered

Lucy covered her face with her hands and wept quietly while Mary put an arm around her for comfort

I was about to do the saht uard?

Everything in my body was at war I wanted to run down there and shove her in her seat while at the sarab her hand and take her away I wanted to cheer her on and si her to stop This wasn’t the time or place to draw attention to herself

I watched as A in the fall It was then, when she slarouped, that I saw she wasn’t trying to take refuge frohtmare in front of her but instead was focused on the steps it would take to get to Marlee

Pride and fear swelled in asped

"Sit down, ainst the

She was running, ive up

"Sit down, Lady A by me yelled

She hit the bottom stair to the platfor blood

"There are cauard finally caught her, knocking her to the ground She thrashed, still putting up a fight My gaze flickered to the royals; all their eyes were on the red-haired girl writhing on the ground

"You should get back to her roo to need you"