PART 13: The Bell Before the Scaffold

I threw myself against Prince Elias as the crossbow bolt struck the wooden panel behind him.

The impact sounded like a hammer striking a coffin.

Elias stumbled into the table.

Queen Annora cried out.

I felt the bolt’s passing air against my sleeve, and for a moment I could not believe I had moved quickly enough.

Then pain burned across my upper arm.

The iron point had sliced through my tunic before lodging in the panel.

Blood spread beneath the silver trim.

I pressed my hand against the wound.

Brenner shouted toward the gallery.

“Seize the archers!”

Several guards began moving.

The crossbowman who fired stepped backward into the shadows.

Garrick used the confusion.

He struck Brenner across the face with the hilt of his sword.

The captain staggered.

Garrick broke free and seized Elias by the collar.

I tried to reach the prince, but the marshal placed his sword against Elias’s throat.

“Nobody moves.”

The words stopped the entire hall.

Queen Annora stood motionless.

Her face had gone white.

Garrick dragged Elias away from the table.

The prince was too weak to resist effectively.

“Release him,” the queen said.

Garrick pressed the blade closer.

“I warned you that these proceedings could not be interrupted.”

“You ordered an attempt on my son’s life.”

“Your son is under a lawful sentence.”

“Your evidence has been exposed as false.”

Garrick’s eyes flashed.

“Evidence means nothing if those responsible for enforcing it abandon their duty.”

I understood his desperation.

He had lost the documents.

He had lost the queen’s confidence.

He was beginning to lose the guards.

Only force remained.

Brenner recovered and raised his sword.

“Lord Marshal, you cannot leave this hall.”

Garrick pulled Elias toward the northern passage.

“Open the way.”

The guards near the passage hesitated.

I knew where that doorway led.

Beyond it lay the short ceremonial corridor connecting the judgment hall to the scaffold court.

The execution platform had been prepared before the nobles assembled.

If Garrick reached it with the prince, he might still carry out the death sentence before anyone could stop him.

I pressed my wounded arm against my body.

“Captain, he is taking Elias to the scaffold.”

Brenner began moving.

Garrick tightened his grip on the prince.

“Another step, and he dies here.”

The captain stopped.

I looked toward the queen.

She was trembling, but she remained upright.

“Lord Marshal, this ends now.”

Garrick laughed bitterly.

“It ended when your son began questioning orders he did not understand.”

Elias raised his head.

“I understood enough.”

His voice was weak but steady.

“You used my mother’s seal to imprison people without hearings.”

Garrick struck him across the shoulder.

“Be silent.”

The queen moved forward.

“Do not touch him.”

Garrick pulled Elias toward the passage.

I followed slowly, keeping enough distance to avoid provoking him.

Behind me, Brenner ordered the remaining guards to secure the doors and prevent the archers from escaping.

The court had become divided between officers obeying the queen and men still waiting for Garrick’s commands.

I could hear the execution bell beginning another sequence of strikes.

Its deep sound rolled along the corridor.

The marshal forced Elias through the open doorway.

The scaffold stood beyond a series of broad stone steps.

A black cloth covered the execution platform.

The noose hung motionless beneath the wooden beam.

I had stood guard beside that scaffold countless times.

Until tonight, I had never imagined seeing the queen’s son dragged toward it.

Garrick pushed Elias onto the steps.

The prince stumbled.

I reached toward him instinctively.

The marshal turned his sword toward me.

“Stay back.”

Blood ran down my arm.

I ignored it.

“Your warrant is invalid.”

“The sentence has not been formally rescinded by the council.”

“The queen rescinded it.”

“Her judgment is compromised.”

I stared at him.

For years, he had used those words to make his own orders untouchable.

Now he repeated them while holding a sword against an injured prisoner.

Queen Annora appeared at the passage entrance.

“Every soldier here is commanded to protect Prince Elias.”

Several guards lowered their weapons.

Garrick saw them.

His expression twisted.

He dragged the prince up the final step.

The executioner stood beside the platform, frozen with uncertainty.

Garrick pointed his sword.

“Place the rope.”

The executioner hesitated.

“Lord Marshal, Her Majesty has halted the sentence.”

Garrick seized Elias by the back of his collar.

“Do it.”

I moved closer.

“Your Majesty, order the executioner away from the platform.”

The queen raised her voice.

“No sentence shall be carried out.”

For a moment, I thought the command had ended everything.

Then Garrick placed the rope around Elias’s neck himself.

The prince closed his eyes.

The bell continued ringing.

I took another step.

Garrick raised his sword toward me.

“If you come closer, Guard Vale, the prince will die before you reach him.”

The execution platform creaked beneath their weight.

I looked at the wooden release lever beside the trapdoor.

Garrick had positioned himself close enough to reach it.

Then I saw his hand move toward the mechanism.