All The King's Men

All The King's Men-Chapter Eight

Amelia pulled the hood of her cloak farther forward, afraid someone might recognize her as they entered the village that bordered the palace gates. It was late yet there were still quite a few people moving about. "I have been thinking," She murmured to Lucas who rode next to her, "that you already have an idea of how I can get through to my brother." 

"Do you know, that the King's Armies are angry with him for sending them to defend the loyalists, but not giving them food to sustain them." 

"They should be." 

"I have long thought that Sir Robin is not the master in this whole scheme. He is merely a pawn." Lucas explained, "He has primed this Kingdom for a conquering." 

They reached the edge of the town square, and Amelia stopped her horse. "You think that this master-behind-the-scheme is going to try to take the Kingdom?" 

"Aye, but you should take it first." 

Amelia stared at him, "Excuse me." 

"You could challenge your brother's right to rule. You have a good case against him, these people are starving. You could easily get their support." 

"Lucas, have you gone insane? I cannot take this Kingdom from my brother."

"If you do not, than Sir Robin or whomever he works for, will."

Amelia stared at him. It was a lot to consider. How could she even contemplate this? It amounted to treason.

"This will not be getting better." Lucas told her, "People are going to continue to die." He pointed across the town square, "There is the proof." A gallows with nooses hanging from a high beam sat in the center of the town square.

Amelia stared at it in horror. Lit torches burned all around it, so it could be seen clearly in the dark. Commotion on the other side of the square caught her attention. A soldier was dragging a boy towards the gallows that had been built in the center of the square. Amelia gasped, the soldier had a rabbit carcass dangling from his belt. Thinking of Lucas' words a moment ago, she spurred her horse forward. 

"Please I beg you, spare him." A woman was throwing herself at the feet of the soldier as he tried to drag the boy up the gallows steps. 

"I caught him stealing the King's rabbits." The soldier snapped, "the punishment is death." 

"It is my fault," The woman cried, "he is hungry, and I had nothing to give him." 

A crowd had gathered around the gallows. They parted at the sound of the approaching horses. Amelia reined in, and threw her leg over the horses neck to slide off its back. As soon as she hit the ground she lifted her skirts and towards the stairs. "Release that child." She demanded. 

"This is none of your affair, woman." 

Amelia's temper flared. She was unaccustomed to being spoken to in such a way. She was out of her world where everyone and everything was familiar. No one knew her here. She heard Lucas yelling at her, but she ignored him. The soldier had the little boys neck in the noose, and he was moving towards the lever that would release the floor. She ran up the steps.

"There will be no more killing." She yelled. With both hands on the soldier's shoulder, she shoved with all her might. Surprised by her attack, the soldier fell off the platform and landed on the ground with a thump. She slid the rope off the boys neck and handed him down to his mother. The rabbit the boy had killed had fallen to the platform. The soldier would have nailed it to the post of the gallows next to the boys hanging body as an example to the others. Amelia picked it up and handed it to the boys mother, "Feed your son."