The sun might have been up, but it was having little impact on what he could see; or his mood. The sky was grey and he wasn't feeling much better. It was cold, he was in a foul temper and day did not promise to get any better.
'Banished! How could they?' he thought, 'It wasn't even if he stole that much anyway. So maybe I fleeced the wrong people. People who knew other people, much more important people. It's only money and they had plenty of peasants to make more for them. The rich were so concerned with there position and what others thought of them. Did they care if he had enough to eat?'
The Magister came out in his ceremonial robes. The Duke had charged them to ride to the edge of the dukedom before sending him on his way. His excellency, six guards and one very unhappy prisoner.
The Magister came to a halt at the closed town gates, adjusted his robes, started to unfurl the official scroll of banishment, reading, checking and generally just highlighting his own importance in the whole procedure.
'He does look warm doesn't he? Good quality black wool for the robe, silver fox fur-trimmed and I suspect a very good breakfast already. He looks wealthy, well fed and important', he mused. 'I'm wearing sack-cloth. I think I hate him'.
After a few more minutes to heighten the anticipation and let the final few stragglers arrive, he started to speak.
"I'm not going to waste every one's time with this. 'Thank the gods for that.' This man is a thief and a liar. He's stolen from anyone that he can get money out of, from farmers to royalty. 'But I did limit myself to the stupid.' He's debauched maidens and desecrated religious establishments, 'Once, both at the same time!' and he is no longer fit to reside within these borders. Though he was born here, he is to be considered anathema, a non-subject of this realm and if he ever returns, can be killed without penalty!" 'Could this day get any worse? I'll have people chasing me for years.'
"So says his Lordship. Now get him out of here."
Four of the guards boxed him in while the final two started to open the gates. With an ominous creak they finally stopped and he could see his destination. A forest, thick, black and probably teeming with wild creatures eager to feed on his flesh!
With a shove from behind he started forward. Into whatever life he could build and whatever living he could make.
But in the back of his mind one thought, 'I will be back and my revenge will be bittersweet. Sweet to me and bitter to my foes.'
No comments:
Post a Comment