Tug and Ward

CHAPTER 4

Innocent mistakes

The radiance of the sun had faded to grey moonlight yet the King remained sitting on his throne. Every corner of the hall was in darkness but he sent away the servants tasked to light the room for him. He felt as if the shadows were consuming him and he adhered. Memories of the distant past hunted him like it just happened before his eyes.

    The King and the Queen together with their young son, Prince Lazmet, mounted in an enclosed carriage drawn by eight horses. Its exterior was gilded and painted with sea creatures. Even its four wheels were shimmering with intricate gold. 

Rich gilded sculptures of cirein croin were in the four corners which represented the royal power. The body of the coach was slung by braces covered with leather and decorated with gilt buckles. Meanwhile, the interior was lined with velvet and satin. Its window was carved open.

    The Royal Family traveled out of the palace going to the most squalor village of the province. The Queen herself organized a feast for the commoners to commemorate her birthday. 

    As soon as the family felt the excessive shaking and abrupt bumps in their seats, they knew they had arrived in the place. The stinking smell immediately lingered in the air and they groaned.

    "Do we really have to do this?" The King spoke to the Queen while covering his nose with a piece of cloth.

    "The last uprising brought not just catastrophe but famine as well. We shall show our generosity in a time like this," she said and removed the cloth she used in covering her nose. She plastered a smile on her face and raised her brows and looked intently to her husband and son. 

    The King and the Prince sighed and removed the cloth from their faces too.

    "Now, lift thy lips," she said and the two forcefully moved their lips into a smile. "Excellent," she remarked and went out the carriage first. 

    "I hate these people. Can't they be gone?" The King murmured in his self.

    But the young prince heard it. "You want them gone, Father?" He asked.

    "Aye. They were part of the uprising against the palace. If they are starving now, they brought it to themselves. Why do we have to take responsibility and feed them?" The King groaned but heed out the carriage with a smile on his face.

    The rabbles were crowding like a circle when the family dismounted their carriage.

    The Royal Family greeted them as warm as they could albeit with their filthy skins and rugged tunics, but instead of being greeted back, the people glared at them as if they were stabbing them with daggers. Regardless, the Queen carried on and announced her intention to the people. 

    "We need not help from thou," a fully bearded man with swollen eyes uttered. His top was uncovered revealing his toned and heavy muscles as if it was as hard as a rock. 

The King raised his brow with the insult. Referring thou to a member of the royal family was a crime itself. More so, in the presence of the King.

"Leave," added the man.

    The Queen was about to open her mouth again when more men like him showed up in front of the people. They held their head high and stared at them as if they were ready to strike. The Queen flinched and the King clenched his fist.