Next morning, the city square was full of people and they watched as the royal horsemen untied William and dragged him up onto the platform. The magistrates where there waiting and on the platform was a noose, a dissection table with knives in plain view and a chopping block with a large ax. William took it all in calmly.
"We will use it all before this over. Or…fall to your knees now, declare yourself the king's loyal subject and beg for his mercy. And then…you shall have it."
"The best thing you can do for him now is to be the in crowd, where he can see you and support him. Stay there until the end for him. he will need your strength, courage and bravery to help him."
Katie's words rang in Stephen and Hamish's ears as they stood in the crowd, directly in front of the platform.
William raised his chin and glanced at the crowd. He locked eyes with Hamish and then Stephen.
They both managed to smile.
William's eyes steadily held there's as the noose was slipped around his neck.
Katie opened Isabelle's door. "Isabelle?"
Isabelle turned. Her eyes where red and still the tears came. "I cannot do this. I do not have the heart you have."
Tears filled Katie's own eyes. "You must do it. For him. He needs you too."
"I cannot watch him die."
"He is dying for the cause he wanted to. Freedom."
Robert was on his knees in his room when Katie and Isabelle appeared. He stood slowly. "Are you ready?" he asked quietly.
"Never," whispered Katie. "But I must go."
William clung to the handkerchief as the rope was cinched around his neck and he was hoisted up on a pole.
Suddenly, over the noise of the crowd, the sound of bagpipes playing, "Amazing Grace," echoed. The crowd quieted slightly and looked around.
Positioned on the wall that surrounded the city square and overlooked the platform, where hooded figures playing bagpipes.
William's eyes began to close as he strangled. The Magistrate nodded and the rope was cut. William slammed into the platform.
The crowd grew quiet as the compelling song from the outlawed pipes echoed around them.
The magistrate leaned over William. "Pleasant, yes? Rise to your knees, kiss the royal emblem on my cloak and you will feel no more.
Slowly William rose to his knees. Then he stood shakily and took a deep breath.
"Very well," said the magistrate. "Rack him."
William was slammed onto his back on the table. His arms and legs where spread and tied each to a crank. And pulled taut.
"Wonderful, isn't it, that a man remains conscious through such pain. Enough?"
William shook his head.
The executioners cut off his clothes and carefully lifted hot irons from a fire box. At last the magistrate signaled. "The prisoner wishes to say something."
The crowd was still quiet.
"That…will…clear your…sinuses."
Hamish managed to smile, even through his tears.
The magistrate sighed and nodded to the executioners. They lifted the knives from the dissection table and began.
Robert's arms where the only thing that kept the Princess from falling. They stood on the walltop and where watching. "Keep your strength, Princess. He is a braveheart."
The magistrate leaned over William as the disembowelment continued. "It can all end. right now. Just say it. 'Mercy.'"
The crowd began to call out. "Mercy! Mercy!"
Katie stepped up beside Robert and removed her hood. The sun picked up her red hair and threw glints of it all around her like an aura. Tears where falling down her cheeks like crystal raindrops. "Mercy, William," she whispered. "Please. Mercy."
William's eyes rolled to the magistrate, who signaled for quiet.
"The prisoner wishes to say a word!"
The crowd was dead silent.
William tightened his grip on Marion's handkerchief and took a deep breath.
Hamish and Stephen watched him through their tears. "Mercy, William…say it."
William slowly turned his head. His eyes met Hamish's, Stephen's, Robert's, Isabelle's…and Katie's. He took one last deep breath and screamed, "FREEDOM!"