all was deathly still as the king spoke ..
" you were the most trusted in my court " he began
" did i not honour you above all others ?
were you not my own personal honourguard
the one to whom i entrusted my very honour ?
how is it then that you have done this thing ?
you have lacked for nothing
anything you wanted was yours to have ..
.. . . "
there was a very long pause
the gravity of the king's words hung in the air
like some heavycloud on a windless day
just sitting there ..
you could have heard a single raindrop fall in that court
noone moved
noone spoke
everyone just waited
still
" i have made my decision ..
you
and those who followed you in this rebellion
are forever banished form my kingdom
to wander the darkness that lies beyond
you will not be allowed to enter these gates ever again ..
except for you ..
you may register a plea to appear before me thrice in any year
i will grant the request or not
as i see fit
you will never again feel the warmth of this place
enjoy its privileges
its plenty
its peace
you have shamed your king by your action
and left a hollowness among the people
and you have taken a third of the kingdom with you in your betrayal
shameonyou ..
i can look upon you nomore now
leave
and do notsoon return to this place
or i will punish you for it beyond your imaginings ..
begone ! "
.. .. . . . .... .
the disgraced honourguard turned and walked out
he held his head low as he walked
face towards the floor of the hall ..
but
there was an almost imperceptible scowl on his face as he left
his darkened eyes glaring almost ..
fired
a slight swagger ? in his step
he was escorted to the gates of the city
where those that followed him awaited
still bound
under guard
they were ushered out of the gates
and the gargantuan gates were shut
barred
locked
.. .. . .
as they walked out into the darkness beyond the city
perhaps 10 furlongs off
the defrocked honourguard stopped
turned ..
he stood there a longtime
gazing at the city walls
while his silent followers looked on ..
his eyes became darker with each passing moment
his shoulders straightened
his chest rose
his fists became like granite ..
finally
after a longtime
he turned his head towards the heavens
and let out a scream
a shout so loud and piercing
it was heard within the very city walls ..
it rang out for what seemed like forever
and then suddenly
stopped ..
a deathly silence followed
the whole land was still
paused
there had never been heard a sound like that in the kingdom before
everyone everywhere was still
and remained still for a longwhile ..
while the rebel turned and continued walking
his forces aligned behind
out
into the darkness
away
from the king
away
from the kingdom
.. .. . .... . .
the kingdom had been split
its people divided
it was now a smaller kingdom
and
somehow
it was a little less .. securefeeling
a little more threatenedfeeling
the longpeace of the kingdom had been disturbed
and while the king had maintained his rightauthority as sovereign
a slight fowlsmell seemed to scent the air
a slightly darkened sky pervaded ..
almost scowllike
it was like .. the sky wasn't as bright as it used to be
and outside the city seemed to be darker somehow
and the people walked a little softer
joked a little less
felt
somehow
a little less freelike ..
they turned in earlier
and began to lock their doors at night ..
and so it went
... . . . .. . .
after the king's edict
and the Darkeyed Scowler had left the city
while his howl yet rang in the ears of the people
those in the court began to talk ..
the chatter increased rapidly as they spoke
back and forth
talking faster and louder as they commented to each other about the king
and what he had said
and what he had done ..
what had he done ! ?
what indeed ! ?
" doesn't he know what he has done ? "
" indeed ! he has loosed the dastardlyone to wreak damage "
" i for one am astounded ! i thought the king would have had him beheaded .. "
" or at least kept in chains ! "
" aye.. in the Bottomless Pit ! "
" this is madness ! we are all at risk
suppose he comes back ? "
" didn't you hear the king ? he said he could come back ! ! "
" madness .. "
and so it went ..
until one of the king's new honourguard raised his hand and sounded his voice
" be still !
the king speaks "
and all stilled
all stopped their chatter
and looked throneward
to the king ..
more to come ..
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