The Hero At the Gates, Part Iii

III. He was dragged into the king’s audience room, the queen and several children were there, tears streaked down Queen Endela’s handsome face, she clearly knew a mother’s worst despair. The king just sneered, his face a mask of anger, said,”So this is the incompetent churl who left our daughter to be Hrewthwite prey, who stole from me the light of my whole word…” “My liege,”said Korlan,”You must understand, there was nothing any of us could do, the savages caught he before we could shoot, many saw it, they’ll tell you it’s true! “I feel for you in this great time of loss, no one should have to see such tragedy, but I swear to you, if I had not acted they would’ve rushed in and sacked the city!” The king just growled, and rose from his throne, said,”And what care I about peasant lives? She was worth more than a thousand of you, you should've waited until she was inside!” Korlan said,”But my liege, she was already-” Then the king waved for his guards to draw near, said,’Cut his lying tongue from damn throat if he dares to say another word here!” A guard pulled a knife, held it to his throat, while the king glowered at him in disgust, said,’”For failing Man’ee, you'll be punished, though no torture could ever be enough. “The peasant are saying that you’re a hero, well, they will see their hero in the stocks, there to suffer for the whole of one week, then you will be pressed to death with great rocks.” The king motioned for them to take him away, words Korlan wanted to say, he couldn’t find, finally he spat at the ground by their feet, growled,”You’re a coward, no king of mine.” They dragged him out in a fury of blows, he was barely able to keep his feet, marched him away from the great citadel and down through the capital’s biggest street. They came to a broad, well-known public square, where several tall pillories did await, but when they arrived they saw something grim that the four guards did not anticipate. A large mob awaited, all wearing masks, and holding clubs at least seventy strong, the guards looked on with their hands on sword hilts, sweating nervously amidst the great throng. One man walked out, a great, towering soul, and with the guards declared he would have words, “Release the hero, or there will be blood.” Korlan recognized the tavern-keeper! The guards hesitated for a second, then moved their hands away from their steel, quickly they darted off into the night, great relief and gratitude he did feel... CONCLUDES IN PART IV