C15 Terrified

Soon a group of carriages arrived in the central square. A seven feet tall, muscular man wearing just trousers got down and picked up two poles, one on each shoulder and took them on the platform. 

Holes for the two wooden poles were already present in the platform, the man put the poles in it and then brought another beam, shorter this time, about half the poles length. He used a chair and fixed the beam on top of the poles of equal length.

The people who had come to watch the show now were aware of what all this was about. Their enthusiasm dwindled, they were here for entertainment which was promised by the prince. Discontent was rising amongst the people, the sun was shining above their head and the temperature was at its highest. The annoyed people started returning with displeasure written all over their faces. 

Evans after assigning the duties returned to the platform, which now had a row of chairs arranged. 

"Eric this isn't good for you. You are still new and the displeasure of people growing against you is dangerous. You have already made many enemies, who would be waiting for a chance to throw you out of the kingdom. Quick think something, I am going to Chief Adney for help." Evans said and was about to dart off the platform. Eric caught his hand and held him back. 

"Relax Evans, Do you think I am an Idiot? I already have things planned." Eric turned back and said, "Bellman come quick, here take this announce."

Evans was skeptical of the plans made by Eric, he snatched the parchment from the eric's hand and glanced at it. His eyes wide open as he passed the parchment to the recently arrived Bellman.

The announcer got to the front and pulled out a cone-shaped metallic horn, the prince had said it would help him to spread his voice over the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen, be patient. Those who will stay here would get a chance to win gold coins."  The announcer looked up from the parchment and glanced at the crowd. The people who were about to return turned back when their ears caught the word 'GOLD'. Who doesn't want the gold coins, Their families could spend one whole year with that amount.

People started murmuring, how are they going to get the coins. When they couldn't reach any conclusion the looked back at the announcer and started cursing him, that bastard enticed them with coins and not is quietly standing on the stage and not telling them how would they will win the coins.

The announcer was a little appalled by the curses and he wanted to return home safely, he continued, "Today the demons who had sucked the blood of the innocent citizens of our kingdom are to be hanged here. Because of them people died of hunger, farmers suicided due to high taxes, they embezzled your money which was to be used to make your lives easy."

After the announcement of gold coins, people got more attentive to what the announcer was saying and started giving desired reactions. All the disgust and annoyance they had for this event and the bloody sunn above their head turned to these demons. But, who are these demons? And what they have got to with their golden chance?

"You the people of Alvaton would be given a chance to punish these demons and those who would be successful will get a gold coin each." The announcer said and quickly got down from the platform. Only that much was written on parchment and he didn't wish for more public hate.

The curious crowd looked at each others' clueless faces, how they are going to punish those demons. Their hate for these people increased even more. The only hurdle which lay between them and their gold coins were these demons. 

The detainees shackled in chains were brought to the third platform, opposite to that of eric. And the tall executioner with his setup was present on the second platform, smiling cruelly at the quivering and wailing lot of prisoners. The platforms were in a c shape, the hanging platform being in the middle. 

The prisoners were who were quivering before were now terrified, the look in the eyes of people. It was as if death had itself manifested in the form of these people. They didn't know why these people were agitated against them. But it must be the doing of that son-of-a-bi*ch prince. 

The only person in this lot unaffected was Duke Reynolds. He had already given up all hopes. His brother in law who his last option couldn't even save himself.

The people glared menacingly at the nobles, but then how are they going to punish them. The setup to hang the prisoners was simple. The masses gathered in the central square were confused. What role were they going to play in the hangings? Did the prince want them to push the convicts from the platform?