pte

e prince. He was leaving his intervention very late, a

ator, headed down, flung wide his arms, a sign o

looking toward him there was another roll of drums, suddenly silenced, and then the thud of the ax, first once, then agai

mpy neck. The black-hooded axman put the great stained ax to one side and lifted the head by the thick curly hair, so t

and Erika wanted to console him, but

d silent. He wanted his friend to die before the court so that everybody might know tha

val palace, where dancers and prostitute

nd a glimpse of rich cloth. Erika was in the first barge with the men of the court, the prince’s barge. Oddly, women wer

executed,” said the prince. “

court”, claimed Erika. “Especially

as my f

you should not

luding

cludi

Eri

t you will fear

to his future bride. Evan was not in the mood for parties and brides,

ook off your face,”

lty smile. “Of course, Eri

be all right,” he whispered to himself. “I am the prince, I choose whatever I

round. More of the black-clad predators lined the curved staircase. Every now and then, two or three would bob their heads in u

families from nei

e to show their support and their compassion over the unfortunate tragedy abo

ccasion. Liquor soon loosened both their thoughts and their smiles, however, and it wasn'

e standing to his right and Erika was standing by his left. He looked at her with each bride, hopi

s offered herself to get married to him, but his heart did not

g pattern, so she stuck his lips to his ear and murmured: “Young prince

is face, making his cheeks red and hot. His heart beat crazily,

ot. Get to y

st stuck to his, and his body contacted closely with hers. He could not bear the fact tha

g any word and kept staring into her short black hair. Then, all of a sudden, h

first time he could hear her sweet, soft

nd took a deep breath of her. He kept smelling her shampo