Free SurrendersMischief by Alvania Scarborough

need to prove anything.” The warm gold of his eyes
turned hard with warning before he propped his foot on the chest at the end of
the bed and began lacing the right boot. A clear indication he was dismissing
her argument.
    “Then you are afraid to accept my challenge?” Riana sat up
and the sheet fell to her waist.
    His head snapped up, and he straightened. “You test my
indulgence!”
    “You fear losing to a woman.” Her statement hung on the air.
    “I accept your challenge.”
    Riana pushed back the covers and stood. She skirted the bed
until she was a heartbeat from Darias. “If I lose, I will acquiesce to your
ways. All of them,” she emphasized. “I will not flout your commands, resist
your orders or insist women be treated the same as men. But if you lose, if you
lose, then you agree to issue the command that the men and women of Nexar
reverse roles. Men will be subservient to women in all things. They will have
exactly the same rights and privileges that women currently endure.” Riana
paused, her gaze locked with Darias’ molten one. “Do you still accept my
challenge or would you rather back out?” she taunted softly.
    “Be in the Great Hall in two hours.” He turned on his heel
and stalked out.
    * * * * *
    The Great Hall was packed. Riana stood next to Bryta and
stared at the enormous monitors lining the upper walls of the Hall. “What are
those for?” She angled her chin up at the walls.
    “They connect all of Nexar with the Great Hall.” Bryta stammered,
wringing her hands. “The entire country-state is watching the Battle,” she
whispered in awe. “Are you sure challenging the Supreme Chief is wise? When you
lose, he’ll be very angry. I heard Gaith say Darias might even make punishment
public,” she said, her voice so low, Riana had to lean down to hear her.
    “Have faith in me,” Riana admonished. “I won’t lose.” Her
confidence was placed on more than the mere fact that Darias underestimated her
ability. She had a trick up her sleeve, one she wasn’t prepared to share even
with Bryta. “I have survived a public punishment before, my friend. If worse
comes to worse, I’ll survive this one.”
    Bryta was already shaking her head. Tears welled in her
large, soft-gray eyes. “The garden punishment was not public.” She swallowed,
fear making her voice tremble. “Public punishment is reserved for the greatest
crime, a direct affront to a master’s honor. It is a master’s right to demand
that punishment be held in the Great Hall, before all of Nexar. Not since the
Supreme Chief’s father’s time has there been a public punishment.”
    Riana turned slowly to face her friend. “You mean punishment
in the garden isn’t considered public? Even though everyone can hear what goes
on?” Her chest tightened as she waited for Bryta’s answer.
    Bryta shook her head. “Public punishment is not only held in
the Great Hall, but is broadcast throughout Nexar. The woman must disrobe under
the eyes of all the warriors. She is then strapped onto the Punishment Stone
and must endure being punished from sunrise to sunset. If her master deems it
appropriate, punishment may continue through the night until the following
sunrise. She must stay in the Great Hall, unclothed, until all signs of
punishment have faded. Only then is she allowed to dress. A master can cast off
a woman afterward if the offense is severe enough.” A delicate shudder ran the
length of Bryta’s spine. “You do not want to be cast off.”
    Zethra, bearing the humiliation of punishment in the garden
was hard enough. How would she survive public punishment if she failed in her
challenge?
    Riana lifted her chin. There was only one option. She would
not fail.
    Across the circle, the crowd parted and Darias strode
through. He wore only his breeches and, around his throat, the fireice badge of
rank that proclaimed him Supreme Chief. He paused beside Gaith and slipped the
pendant off, passing it to him.
    “All will be