Desires of the Crown

32 - Pain without Pleasure

          Alliar

My head pounded well before I opened my eyes. My body ached, a hot pain burned over my ribs making me want to scream but what hurt the most was my head. I opened my eyes to see darkness. What ever hole I had landed in was almost pitch black with the only light coming from the distant glow of the moon catching on the silver bars in front of me. Dark splotches danced across my vision making everything spin a little.

The sounds of distant singing tore at my mind. I groaned and pulled my hands over my ears trying to block out the sound.

Shut up. Please shut up.

But he continued.

The sound of footsteps had me moving to the edge of the cell, my hands gripping the bars while I tried to get a look at whomever was walking down the stairs. I needed someone to know I was down here so the king could release me.

The sudden memories of Jonathan peeling back flesh flashed behind my eyes making me shiver. Maybe I was better off down here.

The footsteps grew louder and I listened as hush voices began to speak.

"Will," a familiar voice began. "What did I tell you would happen if I found you down here again?"

"I'd lose my hand." The voice that had been singing moments ago began. "There's no work out there this time of year for fruit pickers."

"But you did it anyways?"

There was a brief moment of silence in answer.

"Which hand do you pick with Will?"

"Right my Lord."

"Take his left hand and then take him to Kodak for treatment. Send a small purse home to his children to help while he recovers."

"Yes Your Grace." Another voice, a guard answered.

I swallowed as I heard more footsteps, these ones getting closer and closer towards me. "Who was it that fell through yesterday?"

"I don't know your Grace. We left them for you."

As the voices faded into the distance, Jonathan entered my vision holding a torch in his hands that burned too bright for my head. The light illuminated many things; my dirty dress, my body covered in black ash that littered the floor, and blood. My blood. My head let the deep red liquid gush from a cut to cover my face and dress.

I heard him sigh deeply as he moved to open the gate. "Get me some bandages and send for Kodak!" He ordered from his guards who all rushed to attention. Opening the gate, Jonathan bent down and stretched out towards me. I flinch back from him unable to help it.

His eyes narrowed and his body tensed telling me to be cautious. "Problem?"

I threw caution out the window.

"I saw what you did in the square."

He stood to his full height. "I wasn't exactly hiding it." I could hear the anger bubbling up behind his voice.

"How could you?" My voice was no more than a whisper, but the sound traveled in the cell and he heard it perfectly fine.

"How could I," he looked at me astonished as if I had asked the stupidest question possible. "That man was a traitor who would have led an entire company of men into an ambush and then I would have to tell two hundred women that their husbands will not be returning. And then when they can't afford to feed their children I will have an entire generation of thieves running a muck in my kingdom which will lead to unrest and then all in civil war."