Tales of the Monk

Chapter Six

Bright sunlight filtered into the small holding cell and I felt a heavy weight leaning against my side. Percival was sound sleep on me and I didn't want to disturb him just yet, The guards had been changing shift every couple of hours throughout the night to stay alert and make sure we didn't plan another escape

At some point in the morning they would take us out of here and prepare us for the execution. The paladins loved to make a show of any fey that would be killed in the most gruesome of ways.

They would force any town folk in the land they occupied to show their support at the execution for the church. Being at a few executions I could tell people felt uncomfortable just being there for the paladins or watching innocent fey die

The head guard arrived at our cell door and threw a couple of small stones at us to see if we were still alive. Hearing a thud sound emitting from us he smiled warmly before ordering the gates to be opened

Still sitting on the floor with Percival still asleep on me, the guard came closer to me and kicked the boy awake before crouching down to my height.

'Have you told the boy what will happen today Monk?'

'I thought to spare him the details of what is to come'

'He's a smart young boy and I'm sure he has figured it out by now'

'Let Percival go his head won't be worth anything to the church'

'On the contrary, any companion of the Monk is worth just as much' he stated. 'Our guest will be arriving shortly'

'Or maybe he has been slaughtered by the fey that escaped on his journey here'

'I've sent my best men out in the woods to haunt them down again, it shouldn't take long to round them up again'

'The fey have a good few hours head start on your men and they are not the most skilled of hunters'

'And that was your last noble act as the Weeping Monk' He replied irritatedly. 'If you have any last meal requests let any of my men know'

The guard got up from his knees and locked the gate doors behind him, Percival quickly swivelled his head to me and little eyes were begging for food

'I wouldn't order anything to be cooked'

'Why not Lance? if we're gonna be executed let's feed our bellies full first'

'The food they cook might look nice but they add poisons to the stuff they won't eat'

'Do you think the rest of the fey made it the shore by now' The boy asked

'The shoreline isn't far from here and they might have made it there hours ago'

'Maybe they have met with other tusks at the beach and are coming back for us'

'I very much doubt it Percival but they might have passed on a message to the Fey Queen that you're here'

'We can only hope right that someone is coming back for us'

I nodded my head and reached into my cloak, pulling out a piece of bread and ripped a little off for the boy. This would have to do for our breakfast for now

'With your knowledge of the Paladins, who is coming to watch us be executed'

'It won't be anyone higher up the ranks in the Paladins. It will be a messenger so he can deliver our heads back'

'But Carden is dead' He interjected

'If the Paladins haven't chosen a new leader by now then they must work under the Trinity Guards'