Lady Agatha watched from the gallery as her knight was condemned at sundown.


    She was not permitted into the summoning chamber proper but all who had access to the Tower were allowed in the galleries and so there she had rushed when she heard the news.


    Young Sir Edwin Baxton marched at sword point by the Tower Guard into the chamber before Lord Tawly. The rumours had swirled through the city like the biting winter wind and and fast found Agatha’s ears. Having flown across town and through the Tower’s gate house as the sun dropped below the horizon chilling her bones, she arrived just as the young Knight was ushered into the chamber.


    She barrelled up the stairs, her slippers pounding on old faded carpet covering dark wooden boards of the narrow stairwell that led up to the galleries. Several other courtesans, most aged, lingered in the shadows watching the drama unfolding below.


    A stern old figure sat statuesque on the throne upon the dais. The young knight was brought before the noble figure and surrounded by Tower Guard in bored leathers and crimson tabards. The Castellan of the Tower, a man with a long aquiline nose and firm brow stepped forward and spoke.


    ‘My Lord, this man is brought before you upon the charge of treachery against the White Tower.’ The Castellan’s voice harsh like a knife scraping upon crockery. ‘He has conspired with enemies to share the secrets and valuables of this very tower.’


    The condemned knight uttered no word of rebuttal. The king in his throne spoke no word of judgement. The young Lady Agatha in the galleries opened her mouth as if to scream or gasp but nothing escaped.


    ‘And what do you propose Deckard? That I lob the boy’s head off here in the summoning chamber and stain our carpets? He shall see trial like any other. Escort him to the dungeons and notify the magistrates. We shall hold trial here at sundown three days hence. See it done.’ The Lord rose and turned for the gap in a pair of great heavy tapestries and made to retire. ‘Sir Deckard, I shall speak with you a moment in my chamber.’ The Lord said, not turning to face the besmirched knight and the guard that surrounded him.


    ‘Yes, my Lord,’ the old Castellan said and like an obedient dog followed his master.


    Agatha blocked out the whispers that were rippling around the on lookers in the gallery. She fled back down the stairs into the ante chamber just in time to bump into Sir Edwin.


    ‘My love!’ He gasped as he grabbed her and she fell into his arms tears not far from her eyes. ‘Not a word of it is true! Deckard claims I have sold information of the Lord’s activities and even stolen from the tower’s mage! I’ve done no such thing. It is my life’s honour to serve my Lord, I would sooner die that commit treachery against him!’


    ‘Edwin why is this happening, who would blame you of such a thing?’ Agatha sniffed feeling suddenly so young and afraid.


    The guards were pulling him along now and one made to pull the girl from the knight.


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    ‘Do not touch the Lady!’ Edwin’s voice was suddenly mature beyond his years. It gave the guard pause. He then turned and spoke in a hurried and hushed voice to Agatha whose face was even paler now that her usual porcelain colouring. ‘It’s Deckard, the man has out for me, thinks I’m coming for his position of some other ridiculous notion.’ His words tumbled out. ‘Speak to Gwythian, the old mage has a Medallion of Thought. Make sure he brings it to the trial, then we’ll know for sure…’


    The sound of the gauntleted hand cracking the cheek bone of the young knight rattled Agatha’s very bones. She gasped as flecks of blood splattered across her pale blue dress.


    ‘That sounds like more treasonous prattle, Sir Edwin.’ Deckard wiped the blood off of his gauntlet on his tabard as the knight reeled from the strike and blood began to trickled into his mouth and down his chin. ‘Much more of that and there’ll be no need for trial after all.’


    ‘You can’t treat a…’


    ‘Shut up,’ the old man spun upon Agatha and her mouth snapped shut immediately. Inside she cursed herself for being so easily dismissed. ‘You’d best be gone now my Lady, wouldn’t want the people thinking you were in league with this rebel. The Queen does not look kindly on rebellious nobles,’ he sneered.


    Agatha gasped again and took a step back.


    ‘You dare threaten the daughter of the Lord Taw…’ Edwin begin righteously.


    ‘I do not threaten!’ Deckard snapped, ‘I warn! I warn against the perils of throwing one’s lot in with a condemned knight who has brought our enemies closer to our doors. Take him to the dungeons let him have time to think upon his plea!’


    The guards began the drag the knight unwillingly away.


    ‘Agatha!’


    ‘Edwin!’ The lovers called to each other but it was in vein and before she knew it the thick hair and brown eyes straining to keep the Lady in sight disappeared down one of the narrow staircases that led off the chamber and Agatha was left alone. Alone save for Deckard’s sickening presence.


    She glared at him wishing curses upon the beast.


    ’Keep your pretty little nose out of this Lady Agatha, safety of the people and our Lord is my concern not yours. Run along now.’ As she turned her face hot with rage the old castellan with the same hand that had so recently bloodied the face of her love patted her on the backside.


    She spun so fast he had not the time to wipe the smirk from his face before she slapped it with all her fury.


    ‘You little bitch,’ he made to grab her arm and she leapt backwards just as the big doors to the summoning chamber opened and her father, the Lord Tawly, stepped out.


    ‘Agatha, what are you doing here?’ The Lord said at once happy to see his daughter and at the same time concerned to find her here. ‘The Tower is no place for one such as you my dear!’


    The castellan stepped backwards bowing his head low to hide the redness from the where the girl’s hand had struck him and from the anger that simmered beneath he surface,


    ‘I had to see if it was true! Sir Edwin, is being falsely accused. He is one of your finest soldiers father and you’re going to execute him on the word of jealous of prison warden!’


    ‘Watch it!’ Deckard said the anger bubbling over once more.


    ‘Now, now, Deckard. It is just the emotions of youth, let me handle this. The boy will get a trial like every other citizen of this good nation Agatha. If indeed the claims made against him are false then we shall know it and he will go free. If not then Deckard will have done the kingdom a great deed in rooting out evil at our very table! We must trust in the law.’ He said haughtily. ‘Now Deckard you will escort me and my daughter back to the barges.’


    The castellan bowed low and gestured elaborately toward the door.


    ‘No!’ Agatha said, the two older men turned questioningly upon her. ‘I came by carriage and I will return the same way. I mean to collect some flowers for mother on the way back to the estate.’ She added quickly.


    Deckard’s eyes narrowed but Lord Tawly only smiled and clutched her shoulder familiarly ‘you sweet girl! Don’t be long,’ he added firmly.


    She nodded and smiled obediently.