My small hand reaches out for her, but she doesn’t take it, instead she just shakes her head, almost imperceptibly. I open my mouth to call out, but she stops me with a look that sends ice up my spine.

I feel pinned to the ground by her sharp glare and suddenly I can’t move. It's as If invisible cords have appeared between us, flowing off of her in tendrils and coiling themselves around me, holding me in place. My mind goes blank. I can’t think. All I can do is watch as the king approaches my mother who still holds me in place with her piercing eyes.

The king opens his mouth and his booming voice fills the room, sending fear spiking through me for reasons that allude me. I have never feared the king before. “I pray you know why you're here.” He says to my mother and she nods her head slowly. “You should speak when spoken to.” He growls lowly and my mother flinches.

“I know why I’m here and with all due respect I’d really rather be done with it.” My mother says in a terse voice and I watch as her eyes darken slightly. It is a look I don’t remember ever seeing on my mother's face, resignation. As if she knows what is coming and doesn't see a way out of it. 

“Insolence!” The king shrieks. “It’s no wonder your son speaks as he does. You are obviously unfit to be a mother.”

“You know nothing of me nor my children.” My mother says and the king grows livid with rage.

“How dare you! You contemptuous woman!” He roars. “I have cut people's’ tongues out for less.”

“The world as we know it everyone! The rich get to behave like beasts, but the poor get their tongues removed for small bouts of dissent.” My mother drawls and for all those watching, she must appear bored, but her eyes, which have never left my own, betray her. Only I can see how her hardened facade is slowly fading, giving way for something raw, something vulnerable. My mother is afraid, yet she continues on with her small speech without so much as breaking stride. “Is that what you had planned for my child?”

“That had been the decided punishment. However in light of the circumstances I no longer deem it appropriate. Your son may keep his tongue. It is clear that the problem does not lie with him.” The king says and my mother flinches. “Kill her.” He finishes dryly and my heart leaps into my throat.

Before I even know what I'm doing, the cords snap and I surge forward, towards my mother. Strong arms wrap around me before I even get close and I thrash violently at them, but my small limbs do nothing to shake the forceful grip.

“Stop struggling boy. You’ve done enough already. Just sit there quietly and watch.” The familiar gravely voice of my father speaks into my ear and I fall limp in his grip. I try to look away so I don’t have to see what comes next, but strong fingers dig into my chin and force my head forward. “I said watch.”

“I don’t want to.” I say as my mother is roughly shoved to her knees and her head is bent forward. “Please don’t make me watch.” I beg, but only get a disapproving grunt in response as the swish of air against metal fills the room and the blade comes slicing down.