Uprising In Gonjolard (Part 13) | A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Part 12

The day for the Festival of Gonjolard finally arrived.

And, Alphonse was free thanks to Lords Foucant and Toleranz. Off to safety the night before they rode away from the castle leaving behind false plans of rebellion that the king and prince were in all likelihood studying and devising a counter offensive.

King Hartfelt devised his own plan after speaking with Gawdawfel. He'd already accepted that Alphonse was his bastard grandson. Making Alphonse his heir would solve the problems in the Kingdom, he hoped.*

However, Sir Gollett, King Hartfelt's hand, reported to him that Alphonse had not been returned to the dungeon as ordered by Gawdawfel to await hanging.

Only one other course he could take. Remembering Gawdawfel words, "Yes, I would kill Alphonse as he is a threat to our Crown and us. He has no fear in his eyes. And, a man who has no fear is to be greatly feared and removed from this Kingdom before he gathers an army behind him."

With no other alternative he could see, King Hartfelt prepared to meet Alphonse on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, after consulting with his father, Prince Gawdawfel summoned to his own quarters his new guard, Umaldo, who replaced Arnaldo. Uneasy at the thought of having one's head removed after an unacceptable response to the prince didn't help with his loyalty.

Gawdawfel devised a new plan to deal with the SOB rebellion. Of course, he would follow through with his orders to execute the prisoners, including Alphonse at dawn. He had no idea Alphonse had been rescued.

And, he decided to bide his time certain his father would die in battle.

Deciding not to play his hand too soon, he committed to remaining in Gonjolard to oversee the Festival. A grand speech was planned to cause a civil war, allowing him to be the voice of reason and calm.

However, the carefully-rehearsed speech didn't go as planned.

Now, Part 13

The day dawned cloudy for the Festival of Gonjolard. Still a festive atmosphere spread over the town and beyond as countrymen welcomed foreigners to the Kingdom to help celebrate despite the rumors in recent years of the Crown's troubles.

The foreigners came in hope of unity for the troubled Kingdom.

What they found was a bizarre scene. On one end of the town near the castle, preparations by the townspeople were underway. On the other end, as gallows above their heads reminded them of the barbaric practice under the disguise of justice.

But what the foreigners couldn't fathom was the Crown's heir, Prince Gawdawfel, suggesting civil war in his speech.

They, along with the people of Gonjolard, exchanged questions with other spectators, attempting to discover the meaning of the prince's words. then pulled their wives and children close.

Something was wrong, they suspected, in the Kingdom of Gonjolard.

What Prince Gawdawfel was suggesting was civil war. Fighting among each other. Only after the foreigners witnessed numerous spectators disperse did they worry their lives may be in peril. They had traveled far, some across the sea, in other years to celebrate Freyja's Day for the Kingdom.

But only after a stranger parted the crowd and came forward in front of them did they realize something terrible was about to happen.

The foreigners, along with the Crown's subjects, watched as Lord Toleranz of the Southeastern Squire Village drew his sword in one hand and extended a long knife in the other, pointing directly at Prince Gawdawfel, before he shouted.

"You Lie, Gawdawfel!" Lord Toleranz shouted over the crowd as they quieted to hear what the Lord had to say. He then continued to lay bare the cruelties the prince had visited upon the subjects in the Kingdom. Some he witnessed first hand. Others, he'd heard rumors of. But there was no doubting the gallows where men hung until dead; or the dungeons where innocent people suffered under harsh treatment.

"Many decades we and our fellow villagers have suffered. Many decades we have secured our lands in a lawful manner. We have toiled. But you wanted more than what we were able to give. You demanded fealty, but repaid our loyalty will greed, monstrous evil against our women and girls, and finally death.

When finished, his statement, "You will never live to rule over me," shocked all.

Even more shocking were the festival participants who watched Prince Gawdawfel's response.

With wide terrified eyes, Gawdawfel stiffened, then jerked a loud, sharp breath the moment Lord Toleranz's long knife landed on a chair nearby. In one quick motion, Gawdawfel grabbed Umaldo and pulled him until he stood in front, bearing the intent of the second knife. Fatally wounded, Umaldo tumbled onto the balcony floor. The court patrons sitting nearby screamed before rushing from the balcony.

The sky grew darker as if Izorah, knowing the day of reckoning had come, unleashed her prophesy from The Mirror of Secrets. Not even the horn of the Crown could be heard, silenced by the thunderous gallop of horses approaching from the eastern desert behind the castle walls.

"Guards, Guards!" the crowd heard Prince Gawdawfel scream from the balcony as he searched for his army. But none answered.

All in attendance at the Festival of Gonjolard realized an assault on the citadel had begun.

Immediately, chaos spread throughout the Festival. The air was thick with panic. There were people running everywhere. Foreigners ran, confused as to which way safety lay. Countrymen ran, screaming while trampling over one another. Women rushed their children to safety amid tears and screams. Maidens ran, pausing at festival tables to collect food. Little ones ran, frantically trying to hold onto their parents' hands or garments.

Led by Owin, leader of the Sons of BODAR, the group of rebels under the blistering midday sun pushed forward from the West.

Vicar Tibost tossed off his cloak, then spurred his horse ahead, tumbling enemy soldiers in his path. "For freedom in the Kingdom!" he shouted to the rebels.

Lauryn's three brothers fought viciously as thoughts of villagers' families, including their own, rose up and strengthened their swords' thrusts. Villagers who had joined the SOB's cause and set afoot beside them tore off soldiers' helmets and left them in the blood-drenched sand. The SOB marched on through the sand until they broke through the barricade of the western facade of the castle grounds.

The rebels stormed the town, pushing back until the few soldiers left to guard the eastern and western entrances were overcome.

King Hartfelt expected the SOB to strike from the south, so pulled his army from the North and East and directed they head toward the southern edge to defend the town beyond the castle. The small number of solders waited, anxious to encounter and defeat the rebels at the southern edge of the castle grounds beyond the forest where it rolls into the villages.

Yet no rebels were sighted as King Hartfelt had warned. A grave mistake by the King, relying on false plans from Alphonse, who he believed to be the leader of the Sons of BODARS.

All ran from bows and arrows aimed at the few soldiers left to defend the town. They glanced up in horror at the horde of men on horseback rushing forth from out of the sand behind the east side of the castle.

With their horses, swords, and hand-crafted weapons and shields, the rebels upended games, rode over tables, and destroyed decorations. The competitions in the Festival races ceased as participants fled alongside Festival goers.

The air which would normally carry the sounds of laughter and cheers from those enjoying the festival was now heavy with the aroma of smoke. Fires broke throughout the town.

Prince Gawdawfel froze. Trembling, he watched as the rebels approached. His thoughts confused. Standing alone on the open balcony, he realized he was no longer in control of the Crown.

All his plans had failed.

Gawdawfel watched as Vicar Tibost, together with Lord Toleranz and Owin, stood beneath him.

Owin shouted, "I am the one you should fear, for I am the leader of the Sons of BODAR who has come in the name of the true heir of Gonjolard, Prince Alphonse."

The few Festival goers brave enough to remain in town all gasped at hearing this news. Rebels gathered behind the leaders with their swords high above their heads. Instantly, the crowd cheered the rebels.

Suddenly, Prince Gawdawfel gasped as his head flew upward. He didn't know who pressed hard on his neck with an elbow from behind. He only felt a long knife on his throat.

She loosened her grip. Prince Gawdawfel turned and came face to face with Lauryn of the Long Sword. She knocked the crown from his head. Simon, her brother, stood behind her after they both had stealthily made their way to the Festival balcony.

Vicar Tibost stepped forward, his hands high in protest. "Lauryn, the time has not yet come for Gawdawfel's justice. Our satisfaction comes with the knowledge that this evil has been defeated. Long live the Kingdom of Gonjolard," he shouted.

Simon begged Lauryn not to slit Gawdawfel's throat. Only then, did she lower her blade. All watched with glee as Simon jerked Gasdawfel around, pushed him down on the chair, and bound him tightly.

During the ordeal, Prince Gawdawfel stared silently into the distance, unable to see his future in The Mirror of Secrets.

Lord Toleranz sighed in relief. He desired Gawdawfel dead, but wanted Alphonse to dispense it on behalf of the new Crown. He'd led the initial attack on the citadel from the eastern border of the Kingdom where the shoreline darted upward to the north. His first wave of attack to disrupt the festivities and confront Prince Gawdawfel had succeeded.

He'd sent word to his friend who now waited anxiously to join in the second attack to be led by Alphonse.

[to be continued]