BLOOD POWER

12

" A hundred and fifty silver coins?" Jack shrieked when the rich man went away with the five sacks of grain " we are f*****g rich"

He took the bag and started counting the coins inside.

" You knew he would come back, didn't you?" Father asked me curiously. I nodded my head.

" How?" He asked again

" He appeared to be in a hurry when he came by and of all the farmers in the market, we were the only ones with many grains that were not sold" I shrugged looking at my father accusingly. Was he really going to sell the whole of that lot for only seventy and five coins?

We later on before night time did some buying since we had extra money. Father bought some necessities like oil, new silk for the girls at home and perfume for my mother. I got my wooden sword which was the main reason that I accompanied my father and brother to the market. It was short, about my arm's length but it would still do. Practice fighting with it with my friends back at home. Jack got a new fishing net which made him smile so widely I thought his face would separate into two halves. Father didn't buy himself anything but he kept the rest of the coins safely.

We found a cheap inn that would offer us shelter for the night. Our two horses were fed by the inn and also tethered by the inn's stable boy. The room we were given was dirty but it was what we would afford since it was for only one night anyway. It had one rickety bed with a dim lamp that looked like it would run out of oil soon.

After we were full, father retired to bed after allowing Jack to take me around the city for an hour. He was strict about the duration we would be away. At first, he said only an half an hour but he changed it to an hour after seeing our bored faces.

" The city is so big" I said as we strolled around. Even at this time, the streets were still lively but filled mostly with poor looking people.

" I'll first show you the city square where they do their executions" Jack said leading me to another direction. The houses got higher and better looking when we proceeded onwards. A couple of soldiers passed by with large an strong armored horses. Had it not been for Jack, I would have been trodded upon by those muscular horses.

" Careful brother" he said pulling me out of the path before I was stepped on. " they won't mind killing one poor farmer's kid"

I shook my head then followed Jack who had turned a certain corner.

" Isn't it great?" Jack smiled

" The blood on the stone or the hanging ropes….are you insane?" I widened my eyes. How would Jack think this execution platform to be great? The blood that had dried off around it was evidence enough that numerous people had been killed here.

" It's considered a grand death if you die infront of everyone in the city square" Jack shrugged.

The square was huge clearly and it could accommodate many people at once. The execution platform was raised high above at the center of the square. Just at the edge of the square stood a castle like building but too small to be called a castle. It was also too large for a building, something in between a castle and a large building. It was beautiful and sorrounded with colored flowers. Purple and white tendrils twirled around the building up to the top creating a very ethereal atmosphere around it. About a dozen soldiers stood at its entrance with spears.

" That's lord Jephtham's castle, beautiful and flowery" Jack said starting to pull me away from the square

" I still want to see around" I protested

" You want to be executed as a spy or a thief? You don't want the soldiers to find out that we are looking at their lord's castle"

" Looking is also a crime?" I grumbled

" For the peasants it is a big one" Jack said seriously. I sighed then allowed him to drag me from the edges of the city square.

" Everything is just good for the..."

" Shhh...do you hear that?" Jack interrupted me while placing a finger on my lips. I roughly slapped it away

" Countless souls screaming from the square?" I said sarcastically

" No" Jack scoffed " just shut up and listen"

I swallowed the retort I was preparing to say and listened.

Distant shouts and cheers, whistles and drums...the roar of a large crowd? What was happening? I asked myself.

" Let's go and check it out" I suggested immediately

" No, absolutely not. We are going back to father this instant" Jack said

" Come on, it has only been half an hour" my shoulders hunched

" It may be dangerous" he replied with an uneasy face

" We will just check it out and we rush back to the inn... please" I gulped pitifully pulling his arm

" That won't work on me" Jack shook his head with an amused smile

" Then I'll just tell father about the girl behind the boat then when we get back" I glared

Jack widened his mouth and shook his head " no you won't"

" I will if you refuse me this chance" I retorted starting to walk back

" Okay,okay let's go…"

I smiled walking back to him

" Only a glance and we are out of there" he added

" Whatever you say" I victoriously smiled