“Are the men ready, Karl?” asked Duncan gloomily. His voice was low, more like a whisper. He had been very dejected these past days, for he had been planning a mutinous act. Eleven months, that’s what it took to inquire about the King’s army and his Castle’s security. The more they inquired, the more they found the flaws in the security. But, something wasn’t right, thought Duncan. The King was never vulnerable let alone the Castle. Its walls were never breached, even by the Great raids of King Stefan himself. But, somehow, Duncan’s men found three unaware and unguarded passages into the Castle. One, on the East side, behind a boulder which opens into the kitchens, in the dungeons. Two, near the abandoned dock that gives a direct passageway to the garrison. Three, the King’s own escape route in case of a siege, at the foot of the North hill. Eleven months, he waited for this day, the day which would be remembered as the End of the Oppressor.
Karl, Duncan’s friend and Commander, stood in silence. He was looking at Duncan with utmost reverence in his eyes, but never answered the question. “Do you think our strategy is flawless?” asked Duncan. Karl showed no sign of weakness when he spoke, “Our strategy is at odd. With our numbers, we can never even them out. A plan can never be flawless; it is made by assuming we don’t do anything wrong. But, what if we do? Won’t it make the plan ‘a flaw’? Do not think yourself down, my old friend.” There was a wolf’s howl somewhere, both looked for its source. “It is midnight. We need to get started. Are the men ready?” asked Duncan. “They would be if their King spoke to them,” said Karl.
“I am not their King. I will never be, not after everyone knowing what I am and what I have done.”
“That was in the past. The present You is reformed, everyone knows that, they see that. They – “
“I didn’t forget the looks on the face of every man, woman and child when they hauled me through the streets and threw me in the pits. I will never forget that. It was hatred like I have never seen. They look up to me because I was there for them when no one was, I cared for them, I gave them a life, I promised their freedom in return they wielded arms for my cause and theirs. They like me because I have done so many things for them. But, they hate me for what I have done. I am a sinner, Karl, my sins won’t wash away. And by bringing the people their freedom I will be redeemed – one shouldn’t seek a reward for that. After today, they will find a suitable King to rule them,” Duncan wiped away a tear in silence. “I loved them, you know, my wife and my daughter. I didn’t know why I did it. She was just a child and I didn’t know why I threw the knife at her. After that, my wife came onto me with that knife – we struggled – and when I opened my eyes the knife was in her heart and her eyes rolled up. I sat with them in my arms and cried my eyes out. I was a violent man in my youth and this became my calling to a peaceful one. But, the price was paid, and I was left alone. The people will forever hate me for that.”
Karl was stricken, he never heard his friend speak about his wife and daughter. He stood gazing at his weeping friend and said, “You think deep, Duncan. But, this is not the right time to contemplate our past. The men are ready and waiting for you.” Duncan pulls himself up and moves to the door, when Karl places a hand on his shoulder and says, “Before we leave, don’t you think our men would like to hear something from you?”
“What should I say?”
“The truth, the cause, the outcome.”
“But, they know that, don’t they?”
“Yes, they do. But, they would like to hear from the person who is leading them to their deaths, something to aspire for.”
They both walked in equal and small strides towards their garrison where about 500 men were readying their arms. The soldiers stood up on seeing Duncan. Their forlorn faces turned pleased. One by one they rallied behind Duncan brandishing their arms, swords and shields. A silent war song was being sung by the women, in unison, sitting at the mouths of the tents.
At the end of the garrison, Duncan stopped and hopped on to a tree stump. The soldiers looked at him, a heavily built man with bloodshot eyes, short and dark hair. He resembled like an eagle sitting on a cliff with his head held high. They see hope and freedom on every inch of his face. He gave a bow to Karl and addressed everyone, silence fell like a dark night, “Tonight, we march. We march for the destiny. Not ours, but our children’s. To make our place a better place where they can run, hop and play without fear of getting dragged, amputated or raped by the tyranny of this oppressor. We were outcasted, plundered, hurled in our own city. Our brothers and sisters were pelted to death by stones, their bodies were fed to the dogs. The, then, brown muddy streets ran red with the bloods of our people. But, now, we take the stand to avenge their deaths. To bring the murderer to justice. To liberate the enslaved. To show them that WE WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY MORE PERSECUTION. TONIGHT, WE WALK TO THE KING, TO CONFRONT HIM, TO OVERTHROW HIM, TO MAKE HIM PAY FOR HIS DEEDS. They may be able to kill us but not our ideals, not our beliefs, not our humanity. If we die, let our death cry be heard by everyone man, woman and child in the city so that they will be awakened from their false fantasy.” He took his sword from his scabbard and brandished it high, “TO FREEDOM.”
“TO FREEDOM. TO FREEDOM. TO FREEDOM,” the men cried aloud after him marching across the fields. They all fell silent when they neared the castle for their scheme was to go unnoticed.
According to the plan, Duncan was to lead 5 men to the king’s chamber from the foot of the North hill. Karl to lead most of the army to fight the infantry at the garrison as a diversion. A group of 50 men were to enter the castle by the East side to free the enslaved.
When the troop reached the lake, they divide into three groups. Karl held out his arm to Duncan, “It was an honour to have known you and to fight beside you.” Duncan shook his arm, “There is no greater honour to have a friend like you.” The three parties parted ways. The East side and the North hill party were to wait till Karl and his men started a riot in the garrison.
Duncan kept staring at the abandoned dock for the signal; he wasn’t blinking. He knew that if he had reached the king and finish him off then none of his men would have to die. Ten tensed minutes passed by, all the men were out of sight at the dock now. Any minute a fight would break out at the garrison, and all the army would be sent to fight, leaving the king with minimal guard.
He kept listening to the winds howling and the trees rustling. Suddenly, the night wasn’t pleasant anymore. It was filled with the clinking of the swords and cries of the men. Duncan hurried his men inside the cave at the foot of the North hill and lead the way. It was a narrow path and they had to stoop to walk along, only one can walk at a time. So, they walked in a single file with Duncan at the front. It was a long walk and he hoped Karl to be putting up a nice fight to hold the army at the garrison. Meanwhile, his passageway was getting so narrower that they couldn’t walk any faster. Minutes passed by and there was no sight of a light.
The sounds of the battle became faint and the passageway steep. They climbed up and there was a trap door adhered to the roof. Duncan couldn’t restrain his anxiety. He climbed faster and faster and reached the trap door. With one swing, he heaved the door open and climbed out into the King’s bedroom, the men followed. To his dismay, he saw the King sitting on the bed grinning at him.
“Welcome, Duncan, child killer,” said the King opening his arms in welcome. “Or do you prefer wife killer?” He was older than Duncan yet looked younger. For a King, he had all the qualities to be, tall, strong, handsome, charm. There was not a scar on his body, for he had never been in a fight. “You made a valiant effort getting here, but my friend, your journey ends here. Before I have you executed, I want to talk with you. Only you.” The King pointed at Duncan. There was a sound of splicing and blood spurted from the throats of the 5 men accompanying Duncan. The King’s guards went back into the shadows.
“You see, Duncan, I am intrigued by the way you inspired all these people from your tales and marched them to their deaths. I want to know how you are going to live with yourself knowing that you killed your men.”
“Sacrifice for the greater good. I knew what would be in my plate when I chose this path. I knew a hundred would be sacrificed for the cause of the thousands.”
“Sacrifice? You call this a sacrifice? No, it isn’t. This is murder. A cold one. You lead them to it. A murder by your oppressor, your tyrant, your beloved king,” he made a gesture to his guards to bring him wine. He poured two goblets and offered Duncan one. “I don’t think your ideals are as good as my atrocities. Oh, don’t look so surprised, Duncan. I know I am evil. I am the wrath of violence, torture and inhumaneness. The people need men like you, Duncan, to give them hope, a false hope, on which they can build their false lives which I enjoy shattering.” He took a long gulp of the wine and poured himself more. “Oh Duncan… Duncan… Duncan… an evil cannot persist without the good. You see, it feeds on the good. They must co-exist. You cannot know evil when there is no good. You helped me, you see, to give people what they need in turn helping me giving what I needed. For that I will give you a wish. Tell me, which way would you like to die?”
“Before you bestow your wish upon me, I would like to know how you knew?”
“About… your attack? Well, of course there is always a black sheep in a herd. Karl, was it? Your friend? He was charmingly greedy. Boy, oh boy, by the way he wished to be bribed, I think you guys were living of scraps. He was easy; he brought me you where I wanted you to be.”
There wasn’t much strength left in Duncan after what he heard. He couldn’t believe that Karl could betray him. He didn’t want this to be true. But, how can that be. He trusted him with his life. He was his trustee, his advisor, his only friend and family. He was responsible to lead the men to their deaths placing his trust in the wrong person. All his ideals, his people are gone. And now, Karl, who was his friend, who stood by him when no one was, who believed in him, who walked step in step with him, who was in his life and thought will be in his death, all gone.
He decided what he want. The King would not deny his wish but would enjoy this atrocity. He took a deep breath and said out loud, “I would like to be decapitated,” he took another deep breath, “by Karl.” The King was amused to have heard Duncan’s request. He tap danced in joy, “You are evil yourself, Duncan. Even I couldn’t think of such thing. Bravo! Bravo!”
He ordered his guards to bring Karl to him. Some brief minutes passed, Duncan gulped down the wine bottle. There was a knock on the door and Karl entered the room. The air became thin suffocating Duncan with treachery and betrayal. Karl stood beside the King with no remorse but averted looking Duncan in the eye. Finally, the King broke the silence, “I think I will add a bit more to your wish. How about having your execution spectated by everyone?” He called a guard in, “I want everyone present.” The guard left leaving Duncan, Karl and the King alone.
“Your men are putting up a good fight,” the King said looking through the window. “After tonight, I will raid your cave and have all the women to myself. I think their breasts would make a lovely decoration around my bed, what do you think, huh?”
“You won’t lay a hand on anyone after tonight; the only person to touch today will be me,” said Duncan, his voice was so hoarse and full of hatred that made the King shiver. “Karl, am I to assume that you did as we planned?”
Karl nodded. All the merriment of the King vanished, he was looking from Karl to Duncan to Karl. He couldn’t believe his ears, how can he be so ignorant, how can he possibly have thought that Karl was one of his men. His eyes reddened in anger, his head gushed with thoughts. Then, he realised he was standing alone with them, unarmed, unguarded and vulnerable, as they thought he would be. Karl made a moment in the back and the next thing he knew he was dangling from the chandelier.
“We won’t keep you waiting, my King. We have our plans,” said Karl. He had a dagger in his hand and kept looking outside through the window. A horn was blown somewhere, and the cries of the elated soldiers were heard. “Your men are dead, Duncan. My soldiers would tear you to pieces,” said the King. Duncan squatted and looked the King in the eye, “Not if we kill you first.”
Karl cut the king down from the chandelier and dragged him to the balcony and held him by his back with the dagger at his throat. Duncan called the soldiers over their battle cries, “Kingsmen, lay down your weapons and join me. Your king is in my hands.” All along the castle walls, the marching stopped. Everyone was looking at Duncan now; the people came out of their homes and stared. Duncan pushed the king forward, Karl handed Duncan his dagger. He stood behind the king, brandished the dagger and sliced his throat. Both the soldiers and people cheered the death of their King. All of them laid down their weapons and embraced each other. Duncan and Karl, the heroes of tonight and many nights to come stood at the top watching the sunrise.
The dawn filled the castle with light, illuminating the blood along the streets. Duncan strode down the stairs towards the garrison. Bodies were scattered, blood covered the walls, dead eyes staring into void, he couldn’t help any of them, everyone was dead, both his and the king’s men. He walked to the middle of the pile and closed his eyes. Tears fell heavily on to the ground. Karl came after him and said, “You couldn’t have done anything, Duncan.”
“I could have. I should have saved everyone one of them. I thought of saving everyone, but I failed. There are fathers in here, what would their child think of me. A murderer, that’s who I was, I am and will be. To bring order, I fiddled with my men’s lives. I should never have done that. It should have been me. No one would have cared if I died. I should have saved them,” his legs gave away and he fell to his knees. More tears trickled down his cheeks. He still had the bloody dagger in his hand. “IS THIS WHAT YOU CALL REDEMPTION? IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED FROM ME? IS THIS WHY YOU HAVE LET ME LIVE? TO SUFFER. HAVE I NOT BEEN PENITENT? HAVE I NOT SHOWN REMORSE? WHY DO I HAVE TO BE IN PAIN? WHY IS THIS SO DIFFICULT?” he cried to the sky with his hands aloft. He closed his eyes once more, tightened his grip on the dagger and sliced his own throat; he never opened his eyes again. Karl, dumbstruck, couldn’t see his friend’s lifeless body. He turned away and walked and kept walking till his feet bled.
“As a young man, he was arrogant, brutish and a bully. His haughtiness led to the murder of his family. We met in the prison. We were not so different from each other. Our days in the prison would include Duncan talking about how good the world was and how cruel he was. Not once he spoke about his wife or his daughter. He kept that to himself. Maybe, he wanted that pain not to leave him. That made him what he was. We left the prison at the same time. But, what waited for us was unfathomably disgusting. He couldn’t digest the world he saw. He started a revolt against the King soon after. He gave up violence in the prison but showed his courtesy to it to overthrow the king. Every time he had a fight, he would go to his chambers and pray for forgiveness. He was kind – he would have made a benevolent king. But, he saw too much of himself with power. He bore the pain of losing his family for a long time and couldn’t bear any loss anymore. He was my friend, my leader, my King, and he will always be.” – Karl’s notes.