FOUR
A sickly yellow light peeked through the grey clouds, highlighting the grey walls of the courtyard.
The ropes swung slightly from side to side in the breeze as the men walked out from their cells.
The brown blankets that were wrapped around their shoulders were removed as they were led up to the gallows.
People gathered, the sound of a normal day at the castle. Men brought their goods through on trailers led by horses and a carriage pulled up, letting the princess out. She glanced over at the men but quickly looked away, as if they may ruin her good mood and walked into the castle.
One of the dirty, rough looking men walked, not resisting the three guards that kept a firm grip on him as if he may break free at any moment. The Pagan had chiseled features paired with moss green eyes and a long, black beard, that was tied into two sections. It suited him, and although forty, he looked strong and vibrant as he waited patiently for death.
His demeanor seemed to exude calmness to the other four men who were similar in build, yet somehow looked weaker than him.
James had ordered for the men to be hung publicly to deter anyone from having the same idea and to show that the monarchy was strong.
His rule would begin soon and he could not have anyone thinking he was weak.
As each rope was placed around their necks, they looked up at the sky and seemed to find some solace.
The crowd jeered as the guard took to the lever.
Ace stood by the gate and watched with intensity. They were getting the punishment they deserved, yet he felt the unspoken wrongness of it all.
The man he had killed was his first. Something about watching the light leave his eyes had left something dark etched into his mind, something he could not shake no matter how much he prayed.
The prisoners had the same calmness surrounding them as the man he killed had before he plunged his sword into his chest.
It was not just a feeling, as if he could see it, like warm arms, something peaceful and angelic-like. Those men had something he had never encountered before and he got the feeling that they knew something that the rest of them did not; they did not fear death even though they were not dying gallantly.
The lever was pulled, brining Ace out of his swirling thoughts, and cracks echoed. However, one man’s neck did not break quickly and instead he swung there, gasping for air, trying to pull the rope from his neck.
A blue tinged his swollen face and Ace could not stand it.
He ran over, feeling the other guards watching him, and pulled out his sword. He plunged forward, to kill the man, to end his suffering, when he was pulled back by two guards.
‘What are you trying to do?’ One spat as the sword was snatched from his grip.
He did not answer as he watched the man struggle, splutter, and take his last, painful breath.
He felt them pull him away, their grips digging painfully into his arms. He looked around him and watched as the bodies were lowered and crowd cheered, thirsty for more.
♚♚♚
‘Marie,’ Lina, one of Queen Mary’s ladies, ran in. She looked around and curtseyed. ‘I do apologise for the intrusion but…’
Marie rolled her eyes. ‘Sit.’ She pointed to a green and gold chair. Lina had helped bring Marie and James up. James was Anne’s child, and Marie was the king and Mary’s daughter. However, not being a boy, meant that James would take the throne over her, even if he would have been deemed a bastard after Anne’s death. ‘What is it?’ Marie turned to her servants. ‘Leave us.’
They nodded and left, closing the double doors behind them. Lina looked up with wide, blue eyes. ‘Ace has been imprisoned.’
Silence protruded through the room.
Marie should ask why on earth Lina was telling her this, as if it were important, then she would pretend not to care, and Lina would pretend to be ignorant; but none of that happened.
A minute of silence passed between them before Marie turned, her hair falling out of its pins and tumbling down her back in silky waves, and hurried down the corridor to the queen’s chambers.
Marie burst into her chambers while Mary was sat at her desk, writing a letter. ‘Can I help you?’ she asked, looking up with disapproval.
‘Mother, I need your-’
‘You will address me as Your Majesty.’
Marie ground her teeth. ‘Your Majesty.’
‘Better.’
‘Ace is imprisoned. Why?’
Mary put her quill away and leaned back in her chair. ‘He tried to kill one of the men who are trying to assassinate us.’
Marie sorrowed her brows. ‘So? That’s a good thing.’
Mary shook her head. ‘He was trying to help him. One of the men’s necks did not break and instead of letting him suffocate and suffer, as he should have, he tried to kill him to put him out of his misery.’ Mary used her candle and heated the wax, and sealed the letter. ‘He was assisting them and that is…’
‘No!’ Marie shouted, her shrill voice echoing around the room. ‘Free him. Please.’
‘No.’
‘No?’
‘No.’
Marie stomped her foot. ‘You know, Mother,’ she leaned over the desk. ‘I may just make a scandalous appearance at tomorrow’s dinner with our cousin, Frances, the French Dauphin.’
Mary narrowed her eyes.
Marie smirked. ‘In fact, I may just show everyone how impure I really am. No man would then be interested in marrying me.’
Mary ground her teeth. ‘You have a duty to this family.’
‘And you have a duty as my mother, but you have never done a decent job at fulfilling that, Your Majesty.’
Mary sighed. ‘You are just like I was when I was young.’
‘Spoilt?’
‘Foolish.’
Marie pressed her lips together and looked down at the letter. ‘Have him freed or I will cause a scandal.’
She turned and walked over to the door.
‘Wait,’ Mary called after her. ‘Why do you care about the boy? Do you not usually lay with them and just throw them away after?’
Marie scoffed. ‘No, you see in some ways, I am not like you at all. Anyway, he is just one of guards who is good at his job. He saved my life and I feel that this is a poor way to show our gratitude.’
‘He will be released.’
Marie smiled. ‘Good, and, I do not want him to know it was I who had him freed.’
Mary grinned as Marie left. She felt uncomfortable. Showing that she cared about anyone, even slightly, was a terrible thing when it came to her mother.