Helpless: Day 14

Word Count: 84,050

Summary of Events:

Filled with dread, Mikolaj listened as the prisoners of the first cell were chained together and led out of the dungeons. He agonised over regrets as the other cells were emptied by turns until finally Mikolaj and his cellmates were chained together and led away on a long and winding parade through Wielisów, led by a knight who proclaimed their charges to the gathered crowd. A distraught woman in the crowd tried to rush to one of Mikolaj's cellmates — her husband, he presumed — but was forced back, and Mikolaj wept silently to think of what his own family would've done if they'd been able to see him . . . 

Excerpt of the Day:

He was sure Roksana would’ve run to him in tears, but Agatka, likely also crying, would have stopped her and saved her from the harm of the guard’s blade. Mama might have also rushed out, either that, or she would undoubtedly have collapsed, maybe even died in that instant of shock and agony to see her last living son being paraded to the gallows because he’d been trying to ensure she and his sisters lived to see another spring.

Considering the idea that Mama might collapse and die of heartbreak and agony at the sight of him, Mikolaj was glad that Mama wasn’t in Wielisów to see him, but at the same time he wished he could’ve seen everyone’s faces one more time before he died, maybe even been able to bid them farewell, but it was far too late for that now.

Wearily Mikolaj trudged onward with the others and began to wonder where in the world the gallows they were to be hanged on had been hidden and when they might possibly end up either back where they’d started or retracing the route over again.

From what Mikolaj could tell, they seemed to be getting nearer and nearer to the largest of Wielisów’s market squares, which Mikolaj supposed would be a place where some gallows could be set up, but he wasn’t really sure, as he did feel a little turned around, and his weariness from the physical and emotional burdens he was bearing he felt was clouding his perceptive abilities.

Mikolaj wanted to put his face in his hands and sob, but the chains and shackles he wore prevented him from doing so, while the consistent pull on the chain that connected him to the man ahead of him forced him to keep moving forward even though he also wished that he could stand still.

Through his tears, Mikolaj thought he recognised the statue of Książę Sobiesław I, the first ruler of a united Lasnaród, which stood at the entrance to the largest of the market squares in a valiant pose, but they carried on down the eastward street before Mikolaj could get a good look at it.

Before going very far they turned and trudged north for a short distance before turning and trudging back west again.

They were nearly at the broad street that led to the market square when Mikolaj heard the sound of a bird. He startled slightly at it, for it was not the hoarse call of a crow, but the sound of a summer songbird that oughtn’t be in Wielisów at such a time of year.

A little further down the street, Mikolaj heard the call of another songbird that was nearly ubiquitous in the summertime. He was confused as to where these birds might have survived the cold, even if not snowy, winter so far, and wished that hearing them would’ve given him some measure of hope, but it didn’t, for the knight had turned his horse north again, going past the statue of Książę Sobiesław I and into the market square at last.