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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