Last one for a while.
Homelands
Chapter Nineteen: Hidden Blades
Part 3
Prelude:
Sviendorog's inquisition against treasonous Saxons carried the air of medical precision. It was not the random horror that would sweep across Europe during witch hunts, nor was it the elimination of the tallest poppies. With the help of the Guard and his personal guard, Sviendorog was able to name, locate and eliminate the exact perpetrators. In all there were nine: the five from the capital assassination, three followers in Poland and surprisingly one in the Ruthenia region. In 1192 the last one, Eadwig de Seagrave, was found hiding in Azov under an assumed identity. Sviendorog's handling of the problem kept it from getting out of hand. Had he gone on a genocidal rampage, or even just a wild head-hunt, noble sympathy would have quickly turned against him. Instead very few nobles knew anything was happening at all. And like a cancer from the body, Prussia was left healthier than before. The removal of noble families left vacancies more than happily assumed by other, more loyal, families. One of the families to make the most out of the opened positions were the de Normandies (usually referred to by their "Prussian" name 'Dormandy').
February 17th, 1192
The floor was slick with blood. Sviendorog was quickly dispatching the nine traitors under the watchful eye of the patriarch. Each man was given one last chance to ask god for forgiveness, be given his last rights, and then privately put to death. Among the witnesses was Hugh de Normandie, known more commonly as Hyg, who had been a member of the party that had found and captured Eadwig. Only Eadwig remained and he sat quiet on a small bench next to the man he had tried to depose. The patriarch placed a calm, friendly hand on his shoulder and in a quiet voice asked, "My son, is there anything you want to say before you go?" He smiled and tried to be as humble as possible.
Eadwig spat a chunk of phlegm on the old man, and seemingly done smiled wickedly. The patriarch was saddened as he cleaned his face, Eadwig was a young man, and could have done his Kingdom good. Sviendorog stepped forward with a piece of parchment, "Eadwig de Seagrave, you have been tried and found guilty of conspiracy to commit regicide, conspiracy to commit treason, conspiracy to start a civil war, conspiracy to undo the sacred vow of liege and vassal, conspiracy against the Rights of Nobles, the highest law in our land. Each of these crimes is punishable by death. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"That you the son of the bastard child of pagans."
"Very well. With my right as King of these lands, a power invested unto me by God and by the Rights of Nobles, I condemn thee to death by beheading." And with that a gaunt man stepped out from behind Hyg, face hidden by a black mask.
Jokingly Hyg pushed two coins into the executioner's hands, "If it takes you three tries to kill him there is a few more coins were that came from." The patriarch turned to Hyg with a scowl, but could not work up the compassion to say anything. Eadwig looked worried when the man took the two coins and put them in a small purse. He was more worried when he realized he didn't have any coin to make sure it was done right.
Sviendorog picked Eadwig up and made sure he stood straight and tall. "Go out with dignity, boy." The two walked over to the chopping block, a grove cleanly left from the last eight uses. The blood was still liquid, and yet to become pungent. The executioner took his time cleaning off the block and the ground around it. He adjusted it slightly so that Eadwig comfortably reached it and therefore would not squirm. He then turned to his axe which he began to sharpen. Eadwig was starting to get impatient.
"What is wrong little Saxon? Bored?" Hyg called. He laughed, making many of the people in the room turn and look at him. Sviendorog sighed, quietly, but turned his gaze back to Eadwig.
"Eadwig, before it is done... what did I do to you?"
The traitor didn't respond, only sat there quietly. Sviendorog frowned, he had hoped for a straight answer... even a dodge answer. He wanted to hear remorse in Eadwig's voice so that he could tell himself everything was okay and that no one lost in the end. But it wouldn't be. The executioner put down the whet stone and walked over to the block, looking at Sviendorog he got the confirmation he needed. He raised the axe on high and let it fall.
Eadwig's head neatly fell on the ground below his neck. Blood poured from the stump and drenched the head, but no one really moved. It was over, but there was no real victory. Hyg gave a sign of dejection, a simple "huh" before turning to leave. People filed out after him, leaving the executioner, the patriarch and Sviendorog alone.
"Well, you dealt with the problem in a very responsible manner, my lord," the old patriarch said.
"I hope so," Sviendorog said, sadly. He and the patriarch followed behind everyone else headed back to the surface. Outside Hyg and the other easterners had already mounted and were headed off. Meinekinus was waiting for his father, sitting atop a horse
"Father, I assume everything is alright?" he asked.
"Yes, son, let us go." Sviendorog mounted a second horse held by Meinekinus and from atop his saddle told the patriarch, "Send my business to the Principality."
"I will my lord. Please try to relax during your time off. You can use it, and we don't need you going crazy on us."
Sviendorog smiled and then nodded, "I guess not." His horse began to move forward under his command and he turned to look back at the castle. Over the last few months it had become almost a dark, scary place to him. Full of danger and hatred. He was glad to be leaving it for a while, let all the bad memories sink away into the past. He could use a few days off to just try to not be King for a while.
"I have made a room for you, I think you shall find it more than sufficient."
"You made it yourself? Isn't that what your servants are for?"
"That is what they keep telling me, but I don't really believe them."
"Ha! You must get used to them. Running a Kingdom is not something to be done alone."
"Yes, but I find that I am more than capable at cooking and cleaning."
The two men rode hard out of the capital city, their collective guards close behind. The ride out of the big city was easy, and when they were a few miles out and entering the depths of the forest Sviendorog stopped to take a deep breath. There was a small lake, and he suggested to go swimming. Things were already looking better for him, he had time to be himself.