"So who's going to die today?"

A sentence that used to make fun for me. I could feel it in my bones. I barely looked at faces as ribbons of flesh we cut. The village gone in seconds. But one certain stuck with me. A lady, fair, er, I mean I servant. She is now at least.. She used to have hair that was darker than obsidian. Longer than a river, seemed to flow on forever. That was until she was a servant. We had brought her back for her beauty. It wasn't my idea..She didn't come lightly. The madien came like a wild horse. She was beautiful but unruly. I had never seen anything like this. Tears came from her eyes so strong and fast I thought she might summon a Mélusina. But as I found out quickly her skin was just as delicate. The ropes leaving deep marks as my fellow knighthood brought her back. As more than a head on a stick but less than a woman.. I knew nothing what to expect. Her hair cut to her shoulders. Her jewelry stripper away, thrown in a simple cloth tunic. I couldn't understand her, the words that I was supposed to consider barbaric. She was now expected to so as the princess said. Or be it so 12 lashes per word she spoke of that barbaric language. So primitive. She soon learned French. But never lost the accent of the barbarian. The tan skin and brown eyes. She held herself high despite the sorrow at losing her hair and her people. The maid grew respected from me. Somehow this so called barbarian wasn't so barbaric. Alas I knew I could never be the same to her. I was higher. A full blooded Frenchman. A knight of the kings command. But it still hurts to see as I taught my princess self defense and how to use weapons as she requested. To see the madien flinch everytime it was in her direction. I shouldn't be feeling this way. Those words said again as we saddled up to ride into barbarian land.

"Who's going to die today?"

A peel of laugher after. Only time could tell if I really understood the suffering. But as I could tell the madien was no barbarian. If even.. She seemed Royalty. I felt guilt as she turned away, the only on the Royal family with such skin. I knew she wouldn't dare wave us off, already knowing what we were ordered and off to do. I felt shame. My armor feeling like it weighted tons, I felt like the boy I was when I first had it on. But I fought though it. Only to feel the cold hand of fear on my shoulder as we rode on. The castle not but a slight in the distance. I had never felt anything like this. The madien was a sorcerer. The only explanation. She could relive memories and make others relive them as they looked upon her. My mind would not be muddled by such trickery. Yet one of her golden bracelets that I had managed to grab from the pile almost melted still hung on my mares bridle. I could hear it's ghostly jingle as the screams I had yet to hear echoed again. My hands tightened as the leather bit into my skin. Such magic shouldn't be showing it's face to a knight like me. So I pushed on with my fellow brothers. Knowing only one thing, someone would die again today. As every other. But at lest not the madien... Whom may lie safer in the castle that she roams. I can only think what a hideous name Félicie is for such a maid. Kezia once fit better. For no fortune or happiness has found her. Her name on the bracelet that hung upon my mares bridle. Maybe once she knew fortune and happiness.. But for now she should only know the princesses words.