Flora Speer Time Struck

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he was heaving a great sigh. Then he spoke to the conspirators.
"You have heard the sentence. I am disposed to clemency toward only a few of you, for most of
you knew exactly what you were doing when you deliberately plotted the death of a ruler to whom
you had freely pledged your allegiance. By Frankish custom and law, your lives are now forfeit to
me, as are all the lands you hold."
He began the ritual of naming each man, his sad and heavy voice clearly speaking of his regret at
the loss of men upon whom he had depended, many of whom he had counted among his friends.
When a name was called, that man rose, and Charles spoke his punishment. Most were to be
hanged or beheaded. One by one the guards led them out of the hall, to be confessed, shriven,
and then to meet their fates with no delay. A few who were elderly and not likely to live much
longer were to be sent into exile. They, too, were taken out at once, for they were commanded to
leave Regensburg before the sun had set.
The number of men seated on the stools grew smaller and smaller, and Fastrada's smile grew
wider and wider.
"Hugh of Montraive," Charles called. One of the younger nobles who was in the front row near
Pepin stood to face the king. But suddenly there was an alteration in the deadly routine.
"My lord, I wish to speak!" cried Hugh.
"Your opportunity has passed," Charles said. "Your sentence has been decided."
"It's not for myself I want to be heard, but for Pepin, who will not speak for himself. He and I were
at the palace school as boys and have been friends ever since. Pepin loves you and longs for you
to love him." Before he could say anything more, Charles cut him off.
"Be silent, Hugh." Those three words brought to a quick end the plea of Hugh of Montraive. But
instead of pronouncing the young man's sentence, Charles spoke to Pepin. "I have been told
repeatedly that you believe I do not love you and that, in " return, you do not bear the affection due
to me as your parent. I tell you now, before these witnesses, that I do love you, and always have. I
grieve for your affliction, but I cannot cure it, nor am I able to change the way Frankish nobles
regard physical incapacity. Because of that ingrained prejudice, which you have repeatedly faced
throughout your life, I cannot understand why you believed that a band of lying traitors would
permit you to rule over them for more than a few weeks.
"Pepin, you should have followed the advice I gave you years ago and taken holy orders," Charles
continued. "I would have seen you made abbott of whatever religious house you chose, there to
achieve wealth and power beyond the dreams of most men."
"I do not want to become a priest!" Pepin shouted, jumping awkwardly to his feet. "Why can't you
understand that? Why won't you listen to what I say?"
"Ah, Pepin, my son, my dear son." Charles shook his head sadly. "Why can't you understand that
I have always had your best interests at heart?"
"Pronounce my sentence," Pepin said. "Only, I beg you, spare Hugh, who did no more than carry
a few messages for me. And release Dominick, who was never involved in the conspiracy. He
pleaded with me not to lend myself to it, but I refused to listen. Both of these men love you almost
as much as I do."
"Pepin," Charles said, motioning his son to silence, "out of my great love for you, I will set aside
the death sentence. Instead, you are to be scourged with whips. Forty lashes will be laid upon
your back. As soon as you have recovered, you will profess your vows as a priest. Afterward, you
are to be returned under guard to Prum, there to live for the rest of your life."
"No!" Fastrada was on her feet, fists clenched in fury. "Pepin deserves to die! Give him to the
headsman's axe! Order him drawn and quartered, torn apart by wild horses, for what he has
done. Let his blood be spilled. Let his body parts be fixed upon spears and displayed in every town
in Francia!"
"Sit down, Fastrada." Charles spoke in a cold way that made Gina shiver to hear him. "It is my
right, and not yours, to decide Pepin's fate.
"Hugh of Montraive." Charles's voice cut across Fastrada's renewed protests. "Based upon the
statement just given by my son Pepin, and the plea made on your behalf by your mother, who
knows you very well, I believe you were not fully aware of the extent of the plot against me. All the
same, you must be punished for not revealing to me the little you did know. In the same hour in
which Pepin is scourged, and in the same place, you will receive ten lashes on your back.
Thereafter, I grant you
two days for recovery in the custody of your mother. On the third day you will be escorted by six of
my men-at-arms to the nearest seaport in Francia, where you will be placed aboard a ship bound
for Northumbria.
"From the day you sail," Charles continued, "you are forbidden ever to set foot in Francia again,
under pain of instant death. Nor may your body, your bones, or your heart ever be returned to
Francia for burial. Your exile is complete and permanent. Do you understand the provisions of
your sentence?"
"I do, my lord, and I thank you for your clemency." The young man bowed his head. He and Pepin
were escorted out of the hall.
"Charles, you must listen to me!" Fastrada shouted. "All of them must be executed, including
Pepin. Only then can you be safe. Only then can I and my daughters sleep without fear for our
lives."
"I told you to sit down," Charles said. "Now I demand your silence." He sent his wife a glance so [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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