A beating heart

Chapter 10

10.

It was a chilly June night and the cold wind felt like razor blades on Mary's skin, the icy air, entering her lungs, chilled her to her bones. She shuddered, wrapping the thickly knitted shawl, Sophie had handed her, more tightly around her shivering body. She could see everyone's breath forming small clouds in the clear night sky. The silence around her was eery, no one dared to speak or even move.

The King had summoned everyone to the courtyard, forcing them out of their warm beds. She could sense the fear of the people around her, smell it in the air. The King was mad, they all knew that, and it scared them. Instinctively her hands flew to her belly, protecting her unborn child. She was already nearing the end of her eighth month of her pregnancy and her belly was huge. It hurt to stand for long periods of time and she was clasping Bash's hand for support, trying to ignore the numbness settling in her swollen feet.

Henry was pacing before them, a sword tightly gripped in one hand, dangerous flames dancing in his pitch black eyes. Just moments before he had bellowed at them to be quiet.

„I am your king, and when I speak you listen!" his voice had boomed, bits of spit flying from his fletched mouth and she had sensed several people beside her flinch at his words.

Next to her, Bash clenched his jaw, his whole body tense beside hers. The anger flickered in his green eyes, but he kept his mouth shout as he tightly clutched her hand, nearly crushing it between his fingers. She had felt his pulse quicken, at his father's words, his chest rising and falling in rhythm to his racing heart.

Kenna and Lola were right beside to them, their fingers intertwined, all four eyes intently directed towards the hard ground under their feet. Even from a meter away it was obvious how scared Kenna was, her whole figure trembling, like a trapped animal tucking it's tail between it's legs.

„I am your king. Some of you have seem to forgotten that and would do good to remember!" his gaze flickered to his wife, who stood next to Bash, bravely holding Henry's gaze, her eyes empty of any emotion.

„It has come to my intention that some of you have been plotting against me, hoping to remove me from my throne. My own councilors have betrayed my trust and they will pay the prize, you can be sure of that." he truly looked mad, wildly gesturing at them with his drawn sword flashing in the torch light.

„Even my own son and wife have gone behind my back." Mary flinched as he put the tip of the blade against Bash's chest. The veins on his neck popped out as he glared at his son, the dauphine.

Bash didn't move, didn't even flinch but she could sense his fear, his grip on her hand tightening even further.

„You really think you can take the crown from me, your own father?" pure crazy rang in his bellowing laugh.

Thankfully he retreated, taking his sword off Bash and returned to pacing before them.

Her husband let out a shaky breath and she squeezed his hand reassuringly.

„I am anointed by god, nothing can hurt me!" he raised both arms, mimicking a divine gesture.

„One does not simply deny their King!"

Suddenly he was standing right in front of Mary, making her hold onto Bash even tighter, not daring to meet the King's eyes. Relief flooded her when she could sense him moving away from her but the horror of what happened next caught her breath in her throat.

Henry had grabbed Kenna's face, only inches separating the two. The look of pure horror on her friends face made her stomach turn.

„You do not refuse your King, whore!"