The Lost Princess

Chapter 4 || Sealing A Man's Fate

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During the ride she bounced, unable to get the steady feel of Fergus, my horse. I tried holding her tighter to ease the pressure, but I know she will feel the effects of the horse, as soon as we step off, and tomorrow she will be sore. I'm still surprised they never took her riding. All royals are primed to know how to ride elegantly, or so my Aunt taught me. 

There seems to be a lot of things Arabella doesn't know, but she is willing to learn. I questioned her on her age to ensure that she was the one. All though I am certain, there is no harm in checking. Guilt is threatening me, for the way I treated her when she first woke, but I needed to know right away where she sided on matters of the people, and so far my mother has been right. Arabella just may be our savior, only time will tell for certain.

I smile remembering the ferocity in her green eyes when I made the comment about her not knowing Eralibaen. She is more strong willed than I would have expected for a princess. I had always heard of them being timid and compliant to those around them. Not our Princess, I conclude with pride. 

I finally see the wooden sign for Grannis, which is around two-hour ride from camp. I contemplated really taking her to this town, for it is one of the worst off, and it's her first time out. I want her to understand, not terrify her. However, the only other town is a day's ride, and she is persistent on seeing the condition of her people. I do not fault her. In fact, I find it admirable of her to want to see the people her family has been destroying for decades.

There is a soft stench in the air, as there always is, around the town. I feel Arabella suddenly stiffen against me. Her face is hidden from me, but she is fiercely turning her head from right to left. "Is this how all of the towns are?" She whispers softly, afraid of disturbing the eerie silence.

"This is one of the worst, but it's not far off," I try to say in the same softness as her, but I know it booms much louder.

"Where are all the people?" She questions.

"Most likely at a town meeting. It is mid week after all," I remind her.

"That's right father, says taxes are collected on these days," she answers as though it's a sweet story from her past, but then she stiffens, once again. "You said, people can't always pay. Take me to the meeting," she orders. I immediately command Fergus to move.

We hear the meeting before we can see it. "Three hundred shillings is owed to the King of Eralibaen, by decree of Lord Davison. The town had months to accumulate the money and has failed, there for a debt is owed. Who is to suffer due to this incompetence?" A tax collector is standing on a stage in front of thirty or so men, women, and children. They look like the rest of the population: tired, filthy, sick, hopeless.

I quietly slip off of Fergus, and help Arabella down, before walking to join the rest in the meeting.

"What does he mean?" Arabella asks, not taking her green eyes off the tax collector. She is so innocent. She hasn't a clue of the horrors that are about to unfold in front of her very eyes.

Before I can answer her question, the tax collector continues. "Either one person steps forward or one family, you decide," he smirks, menacingly.

"What is going on?" She whispers, again with more urgency. Her green eyes meet mine with so much worry and concern. I don't know if I have the heart to tell her what is to come. 

"We should go, Arabella," I say, taking hold of her arm and motioning towards Fergus, but she shakes her head, standing her ground. Stubborn, Princess. 

"Tell me," she insists.

"We must go. It is too soon for you to see this," I try again, but her eyes clash with mine and I sigh with irritation. I'm not used to being challenged like this. "Fine. That is the tax collector and he is going to ki--"

"I will," a man shouts, suddenly. He walks slowly to the stage and crosses until he is short of a few feet from the tax collector. The man must be well into his fifties, which is considered very old for a village such as this. 

"Papa, no!" Shouts a young woman. "You can't!" She begins to become hysterical, thrashing her arms, and trying to move past people but is restrained by the two young men beside her.

"You are young, my dear, and so is everyone else. I love you and I will face the debt of the town alone." The man smiles and nods accepting his fate. The woman continues to plead and sob. During the whole scene, I feel Arabella slowly getting closer beside me. I look down and her eyes are taking in everything, they are filled with dread.

The older man is dragged by his wrist to the lashing post and tied to the end. His lanky legs dangle, barely touching the ground below. His head is down and his shoulders are slumped, already accepting death.

"Three hundred lashes will be taken from this man," the tax collector announces, sealing the older man's fate.

Everyone around stays silent, knowing that any act out will only cause more pain for the town, but Arabella gasps beside me. The debt is still owed, but a life will be taken to allow for more time; that is the generosity of the King. That is the world I know. The people will never be able to pay the debt, so more lives will be taken, and when no one is willing to die, homes will be burned to the ground, and families will become gypsies forced out by the lords, who refuse to care for them.

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Hey fellow bookworms! That was a pretty intense chapter to write, but the scene is not over. Thank you so much for reading, and all of your support! Please comment letting me know your thoughts, and if you liked the chapter, be sure to vote. I update every Tuesday and Thursday. 

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