#FRARY
It was taking all Francis's patience to not push Conde off his horse. Conde had taken the liberty of leading the search party, this made Francis look like a weak King and that is something Francis is not.
"Are you sure we are going the right way?" Bash asked.
"Yes, the Protestants usually do worship in an old abandoned shed; there is a bank leading down into the forest where the children often play. If they are camping in the forest that is where they will be or even in their place of worship… I do feel terrible betraying them." Conde thought out loud.
"They have the majority of the Royal family held captive! They are the traitors Conde; you should know where your loyalties lie." Francis snapped as Conde glared like the snake in the grass.
Awkward silence soon cloaked the search party; Leith knew that Conde was to be kept an eye on in future for he was an odd character and obviously Francis didn't trust him.
"We are not far now." Conde stated.
"Leith I want you to search the area in all directions." Francis ordered stopping in his tracks.
"We are not there yet." Conde protested.
"You said we are not far, that's good enough for me anyway I have had enough of listening to you and your orders." Francis said.
"My King you don't know what you are walking in to. There has to be about 100 Protestants at the camp including children; you need a plan!" Conde warned.
"I am your King and you say I don't know what I am walking in to? I will take my chances Conde thank you very much." Francis trotted off towards the Guards to direct them leaving Bash with Conde alone.
"I would be careful if I were you Conde." Bash warned leaving Cone in endless thoughts.
Leith however had noticed one of Claude's ribbons moulded into the mud as he picked it up and looked through the trees he spotted foot prints.
"Francis I have found something." Leith said.
"What is it?" Francis sounded desperate with a twinge of hope. Leith only had to point to the evidence for Francis to arrange his men to attack.
XOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOX
Francis and Leith took three dozen men down the muddy path while Bash and Conde waited on the main road if they received the single then them and the rest of the guards would join the fight for victory. Everyone was quiet the only sound you could hear were the trudges of mud and wind whistling in their ears. As Leith and Francis got further down the path sounds of chit chat joined the natural noises.
"This is it." Leith whispered. "How about I and half a dozen men try and find the Ladies and you distract them."
"No I will find them, you distract the Protestants." Francis argued to Leith's annoyance.
"Why don't we just go in together then co-operate with them to get your family back. If Conde is right about the amount of people in the camp we should be careful because we don't even have 100 men." Leith said.
"How does Conde know how many Protestants there are?" Francis wondered.
"We can find that out later. Now my King, what are we going to do?"
XOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
"Long Live the Queen!" Catherine and Claude heard the up roar outside their tent.
"Long live the Queen? Couldn't it have been something like "Long Live the Royal Ladies"? These guards don't have any manners, do they?" Claude said disgusted.
"There is no time for that now. Claude, there is a sharp pin in my hair; get it out and cut through the rope." Catherine directed.
"This may hurt." Claude warned as she lifted up her arm to reach for the pin but twisting Catherine's arm because of the rope tying them together. A sharp but sweet yelp was let out. "Are you alright?" Claude asked.
"Don't worry about me now get cutting." Soon enough the ropes were let loose from their bodies. As the Ladies exited their prison their eyes were met with numerous men fighting for the right of religion unfortunately the Catholics were outnumbered by the Protestants.
Unfortunately the Royal ladies were caught off guard and man handled.
"I suggest you drop your sward my king or else your precious Mother and Sister die along with mine because of you." The old man squawked at the King.
Francis did as he said as the guards stopped fighting at his order. "Where is Mary?" Francis asked both mother and sister as they were held by the arm by two manly beasts.
"I don't know where they have her, Francis." Catherine shrugged helplessly.
"What have you done to Mary?!" All of a sudden the lion came out to play within Francis.
The man simply pointed up.
Francis couldn't believe his eyes. His Mary was in a wooden cage on a high tree branch; her blood was dripping out onto his cheek. As Catherine saw the blood on Francis's cheek it reminded her of the prophecy. Had Mary taken Francis's place?
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Kenna knelt down beside Lola in French court; everyone was praying to God for the safety of their King and Queen. Kenna was truly worried but her mind kept wondering to Antoine who knelt one row behind her. Antoine is the King of Navarre just how wonderful would it be if he had clear respectful intentions with me! But what of Bash?...
Lola however was so worried for Mary. Mary and Lola had been friends from the very start and if anything bad happened to her; Lola would pray forever more and always but Francis was clinging to her prayers as well. Please Lord, let Francis and Mary be safe and well for the well-being of France and Scotland but also so then my son does not have to grow up without a father.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
"Oh my God! What have you done to her? What have you done?" Francis faced the man furiously and looked him in the eye gripping his sword.
"You have no need to worry My King. Your wife is alive just unconscious. You see? I have been starving her and cutting her; bleeding her dry but don't worry we healed her. Right now she is sitting in her own blood isolated from the world in that cage of hers…Although we can bring her down for you if you like?" The old man smiled pleasantly.
"That's what I would damn well like! You monstrous old man!" Francis screamed.
Francis kept his eyes on Mary as she was being hoisted down to the ground; she looks so pale as if she were clinging onto life with all her strength. As the cage began to move Mary was stirred from her sleep and her eyes flickered open; the light gone from them….she looked older and worn out to the core of her stomach.
Mary held onto the cage bars as she waited for the next period of torture to begin only to realise Francis was looking up at her. "Francis?... Francis! Oh my God! You have to get me out of here!"
"Mary, its ok…" Francis was just about to reassure her that everything was fine and they were going home but then realised her cage was dangling over wild hot dancing flames in a pit obviously prepared just for her.
"Francis? What is it?" Mary questioned as she saw her husband's face turn pale. Mary looked beneath her to see the end of her life.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
