The day came quicker then anyone could imagine. Soon the town square was buzzing with people, but it wasn’t because of the market. No one was buying or selling goods this morning. Today the villagers dressed in their best clothes and flocked to the castle, anxious to catch one last glimpse of the man who used to be their hero. The outside of the castle was a mob of people all striving to be the lucky ones picked to enter. The aura was excitement and anxiety, there was some sadness for the young Knight but it was covered up with the thrill of what was to come.
Inside the castle was a different story. The young man was meeting with his family for the last time.
The words were brief but the emotions strong. The family tried to keep up a false front by hiding their pain but went unsuccessful. The mother grabbed on to her son and cried into his chest for a few uncomfortable moments. He explained carefully to her that he was a traitor and was receiving the correct punishment for the crime but she would hear of no such thing. She cried out words of, “since when is there a punishment for love!” and “But you are a hero and heroes cannot die.”
“I am not dying, Mother,” Taylor said finally. “I am sure that there will be talk of my deeds for years to come.”
The father took his wife from the son’s shoulders and held her tightly. The father and son shook hands and the father wished him luck. “I thank you,” Taylor said, “for more than which can be spoken of.”
Taylor’s sisters promised to help look after their mother and obey their father and brothers, hugged him tightly and were lead out of his cell. The three remainders were Isaac, Zachary, and Taylor.
Isaac did not know what to say. He had so many things to tell his brother but even after practicing the words many times since sunrise, the words would not escape his lips. Taylor understood. “Good luck in the future,” Taylor said shaking his brother’s hand firmly. Isaac pulled the younger man into a tight hug. “I will miss you,” Isaac said pulling away from the embrace. Taylor nodded.
Next was Zachary. “Remember what I have done and remember it well,” Taylor begged.
“As always,” was the response. They hugged briefly. Zachary looked towards the wall.
Taylor knew he was wrestling with his own thoughts. “The road to forgiveness is long and hard,” Taylor told him. “But the road to forgiving yourself does not have to be longer.”
A guard appeared at the edge of the cell, waiting for the brothers to leave so he could lock it back up until it was time for the execution.
“We must go,” Isaac said taking notice of the guard. “We will see you within the next hour.”
Taylor bowed his head. “Aye.”
“Thank you, Sir Taylor,” Zachary said for finality as he followed Isaac out of the cell. The guard pulled the bars quickly behind him. They clanked loudly, almost as though the noise was giving off a warning that said “once you enter you are never coming back out.” That was the truth, that was for certain.
“You are welcome, Squire Zachary,” Taylor said managing to put his head at such an angle so he could watch his brothers walk over towards the rest of the family. “Good-bye,” he whispered after them. They would be heading towards the execution room but there was one difference between their experience in the room and his own, they would be leaving once they entered and he would not.