The guillotine had been sharpened. It would be fed again today with the long due blood of the leader of a cult. The ravens cawed in the distance, the somber whispers and chilling stares of the crowd reminded Friedrich where he stood. This is how it ends. . . What an awful but satisfying end to a life surrounded by. . . well it didn't matter.
Was it fair to think about all the past choices made in life up to this point and still fail to see a mistake? No regret, but mere indifference. It was too late now, however, that of which he had and separated him from his companions was just about to be taken away. He'd meet them again, and soon, and this time as an equal.
-THUD-
The knife had successfully separated body and head. The blood was dripping, satiating the thirst of the blade, that of the fearful, and of the king. There was no cheer, but there was no murmur either. Only a bitter and cold silence accompanied by the thrilling wave of the unknown. The very fact there was no one saying something was alarming, more so given to whom the lifeless body had once been.
"Take it that with THIS our despair will vanish! Fear no more that justice has once more prevailed!" exclaimed Ulrich, the Crown Prince. The king turned his head slightly to give an approval nod to his son. Truth be told, however, neither the king or the prince were entirely sure that this beheading would benefit anyone. "And the body?" asked the prince, knowing that leaving it unscathed after the beheading was a greater risk.
"Arrangements have been done. The pope has agreed to send priests to cast some prayers to the body while it is being burned." Though this would take place the day after tomorrow, unfortunately. Avignon was still a long way from here. The king clenched his fists, frustrated at the fact that the lifeless body of the necromancer would remain for at least a day still. "I will have the guards dismember his body in the meantime." and so with disgust, King Otto stood up from his chair, took the walk down the stairs from the balcony where he and his son had witnessed the event, and approached Friedrich's lifeless body. "Shame." He spit at the basket that held the head before turning around and walking away, having his guards and knights escort him back to the palace. Before leaving the area he stopped in his tracks.
"Ulrich." he called.
"Yes, father."
"Personally see that he is finished through." and with that said, the tall gray-haired man continued on his way.
'This task', Ulrich thought, 'is more burdensome that what Friedrich had said it would be.' Following with a sigh, Ulrich called for two soldiers to help him take the body out of the town borders, near the old well on the outskirts of the forest. It lay somewhat far, but close enough to reach in a day.
"Shall we start, sir?" asked one the soldiers, placing hid hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword, the other soldier doing the same.
"No," started the prince, "I shall do it. My father has entrusted me to see this through and this is how I plan to do it." The soldiers nodded, admiring the determination of the Crown Prince to his responsibilities. They were dismissed.
Being left alone with the body and the head, it was time to put an end to this.
"You can come out now." The forest heard. His dark eyes wandering around himself and the darkness in between the trees, trying to make out the delicate silhouette of Leila who soon showed herself to the prince.
Quickly the women knelt next to the body of her friend and master, though she didn't weep she did give him a moment of silence. Her head down, trying to hide whatever expression she might be carrying on her face. Leila was not mourning, but she was offering prayers. Prayers in a distinct language, one unknown to Ulrich or to anyone who neglected the old scriptures.
Observing in silence, the young prince took a couple of steps back, crossing his arms over his chest, waiting.
A few minutes in and the slim brunette stood up, facing the prince now. In her left hand she was holding the head of Friedrich, grabbing him by his unkempt brunet hair. As serious as usual with him, the woman only crossed a few words with Ulrich. She didn't trust him.
"I shall be taking my leave. I'm taking this." the flatness in her words failed to amuse Ulrich who didn't expect any less. She turned around and started walking towards the forest.
"Ahem--"
She turned around, still expressionless.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" he shrugged, nodding his head trying to hint she should thank him. Yet, the woman only pretended to ponder on what he might be insinuating.
"I won't feed your ego." and so with that said, she finally left. Ulrich sighed, shaking his head wondering why does he even bother with her. Regardless, he now had other things to worry about. Dismembering the body of Friedrich for example and making up an excuse for his father about the missing head.
Unsheathing his sword, he took one last good look at the body.
"I'm sorry mate." One full swing and the slashing began. Rough night ahead.