[Mkguild] Patrol XIV

[Jack Moore]

Patrol XIV

Manor, May 19th
Sir Tallis was taken away. I wasn't allowed to see him. I was informed my
father had already decided on his punishment, to be carried out tomorrow.

'Sir Tallis...' I cried a lot after I got home. My father called me "an
embarrassment", and yelled at me for being stupid enough to be captured.
That's my father dear reader, that is him in a nutshell.
I was healed of my wound and left inside of my room under guard for the
rest of the day. My father said he'd be in to speak to me tomorrow morning.
None of it mattered to me. I just wanted my friend to be okay. No one told
me what his punishment to be. They wouldn't tell me if his family was alive
or not.
I tried reading but no books held my attention. Instead I sat on my bed and
stared out the window.

I know I fell asleep at some point. I remember waking in my bed. No one
waited for me yet. The sun hadn't even risen. I lay with the covers feeling
as if they're crushing me. Actually I lay hoping they would crush me. One
thought was going through my head.
'I got my best friend arrested.' I swallowed. I...what's going to happen to
his family? I closed my eyes but I couldn't keep them closed. 'Why can't I
sleep? Sir Tallis I'm so sorry.'
I clenched my eyes shut and did something I never did. I prayed. 'Wvelkim,
Yajit, Velena any of you gods...please hear me. I...I'll do anything you
want. I...I know I don't pray ever...or...please just help me.'
I wept now. My body shook as I sobbed but I kept praying. 'Save Tallis.
Please save him. I don't know how you do it but please...I'll dedicate my
life to you.' Only a promise a child could make. When you're twelve you
will gladly bargain your life to get what you want right then.
"Please." I whispered. "Please just do this..."
I fell back asleep. The next time I looked up the sun had risen and the
servants were in my room. I let them dress me, I didn't move once. I didn't
say anything or even look at them.
"James we must speak." I looked up as a serving girl smoothed out my hose.
My father had entered the room. He went over to the desk and sat down, eyes
focused on me. "Leave us." He said to the servants.
I looked at the floor. My father tapped his fist against my desk. His eyes
were closed. Why can't I sit down? I feel like the floor is going to open
up. Gods please help me.
My father opened his eyes. His gaze bored through me. I wanted to cry, just
break down right there. He shook his head.
"You're shaking James. This is not the behavior of a future Lord. A Lord
never shows fear. He is master of his manor. Even when the Emperor is his
guest, he is always in control." I swallowed.
"Yes sir."
"You went with Sir Tallis simply because he claimed he had orders to take
you." My father scowled. "I told you yesterday and I say it again, that was
stupid. You didn't verify with another knight first, you didn't search for
me, you didn't question him taking you into the woods!"
"You said he was my-my guard!" I stammered. "I was scared and the house was
on fire and I like Sir Tallis and-
My father backhanded me. The blow sent me reeling. I could feel blood on
the edge of my lip. My father didn't respond to this.
"You like him. That is a damn stupid reason!" He shouted. "You are going to
be a Lord, who you like does not matter!" My father grit his teeth. "I am
glad for your brother. If it weren't for him, my legacy could have died
with you."
"I'm sorry." I whispered. "I'm so sorry." My father just glared at me.
"You may think your life doesn't matter. But it does. If you die, my legacy
could be risked. This city could lose its future Lord. You risk so much
more then your little life." I sniffed and wiped my nose on the back of my
hand. "Now stand up and stop sniveling."
"Yes sir." I straightened out my clothing again. My father stood now.
"Now, I've canceled your morning lessons. You will follow me to the
courtyard immediately."
"Sir?" I bit my bottom lip. "Sir can I ask...sir I want to about Sir
Tallis." My father rolled his eyes.
"We are going to him now. Come, he is in the courtyard." My heart sank into
my stomach. My father grabbed my head and dragged me out.
No no no this can't I can't no please don't let me please gods. Every
window in the manor was open. The light overwhelmed me. I didn't want to go
so how was I? Where were all the knights?
"Now James I need you to do three things for me." My father said. "First,
you must not say anything unless I give you permission. Otherwise do not
make a noise, do not sniffle do not even say hello! Do you understand?"

"Yes sir." I said. We approached the doors for the courtyard.
"Second, you stand beside me at all times. You do not move away, you do not
leave until I leave. Understood?" I swallowed.
"Yes sir."
"And the third is the most important." The servants pulled the doors open,
letting the wet air roll over us. My father marched me outside.

The air was warm that day but it was a sickening warm. All of our knights
stood in a square formation around the yard. None of them made eye contact
with me or my father. They parted for us and gave me a clear view of the
center.
'No please not him. Please not him.'
"Do not look away. As a Lord you will need to be strong enough to look a
man in the eyes while he dies."
The manor house was a three story square with a stone courtyard in the
center. In the center of the stone square was a large wooden block. Laying
with his head against the block was Sir Tallis. Beside him stood the
headsman, waiting for my father's command.
"Don't!" I tried to pull my arm free but my father gripped me tighter. The
knights all looked ashamed. Sir Tallis wasn't looking at me but at the
stone. My head turned down to my feet. "Please sir, not-" My father
interrupted me by grabbing my hair and pulling my head up.
"You will watch and you will not speak. Understood?" I nodded. None of the
other knights looked at Sir Tallis. Just me and my father. "Very good
James." My father turned to the knight on his right. "What did happen with
his family?"
"All dead when we arrived at his cottage sir." Sir Tallis didn't struggle
against the block. He didn't look up at me or respond to anything. He just
stared at the stonework.
"That's unfortunate." My father said. "Still, not unexpected. Those are the
risks the knights take." He gestured to the headsman. "Commence." I
couldn't let that happen.
"Sir Tallis!" I yelled "Tallis!" He glanced up briefly at me and...and his
eyes. He had empty eyes. But he still managed to smile.
"I'm going home James." Sir Tallis yelled out. The axe raised high. "I'm
going home to be with my family. I'll see you one day."
"Cease talking." My father yelled. "Meet death like a man." Sir Tallis
ignored him.
"Never forget James." He said. "I love you." The headsman reared back and
swung.
Thunk.
In the center of the manor is a stone courtyard. It's where executions can
be held. Because no matter how many times blood stains the stones, they can
always be washed clean.
Crimson sprayed across them and washed in little rivers. They splashed
against my white stockings. I felt his blood sticking to me. I shuddered.
"You will have to do better next time." My father said. He turned to the
knights. "Dispose of that refuse. Clean these stones."
"Yes sir." He turned to leave, but I stood and watched. I knew no matter
what, I was never going to be clean again.
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