With great solemnity, the aged dignitary walked across the dirt
courtyard. In deference to his age, and the years of fine service only
recently tainted, His Majesty had granted him a private execution. On
hand, though, were many of the young upstarts he was sure would drag his
King and country to ruin with their invidious plots and petty
disagreements. In his day, it had been an honor to serve and never was a
question asked regarding the service required. These days ruffians wore
ruffles and bickered about the length of one's coat or who was allowed to
sign which order for action. It was almost enough to make him grateful to
be meeting his Maker.
He had played the doddering fool well enough, but someone had betrayed
him. He would never know who had done so, but he was confident his agents
would fine the man, or woman, and they and their kin would pay dearly.
Once caught, a traitor's time was short - rare was the man who escaped to
enjoy the sands of southern Italy, or even the snow on the Alps. Instead,
he had simply said to those most loyal - find and kill the ones who betray
me. The soul of Judas runs far deeper in the human spirit, deeper than
that of the Lord - he knew one day he would lose, take a risk too great.
For his part, he felt it was better to be hanged for a sheep than a lamb.
Otto stopped in the center of the courtyard, and removed then handed
the grizzled swordsman a gold ring with a large garnet. The man was an
expert swordsman from Calais - his family had long been known for their
curious specialty, that of depriving a noble of his head with a single
clean stroke. The world was a strange and remarkable place, Otto thought
last, as he bent down on creaking knees to receive the King's Justice.
