Saffron looked on bitterly as the
finishing touches were added to the pyre and the congregation
muttered and jeered. They were growing restless. Both they, and the
pyre were ready now.
“I knew you would be the making of
me. I just didn't realise it would be this much” She said turning
to Heléna who was being held firmly by a priest guard.
“You are learning what loyalty is,
then, what power costs, and what love is worth out here. I can be
thankful I have taught you something at least. I could teach you
more!”
“I am sorry Heléna, but I have a
son. My family would have always come first, even if they didn't
hold the same values, the same heart”
“You could save me. In memory of our
time together. I could teach you more! Exile me or punish me some
other way! ”
“Heléna”, Saffron answered, “You
arranged to have my husband murdered. Your greed has put you here,
if I did nothing, you would have me wrapped around your finger again,
before.
“Please, my lady” Heléna began to
beg, slipping out of the guards reach and falling down onto all
fours. Saffron nodded and the muscled priest- guard grabbed at the
back of Heléna's dress, and dragged her back up, tearing it as he
pulled, baring her back and shoulders for the waiting crowd.
Saffron had wanted to comfort her and
meet her on her knees, but she couldn't risk it being one of her
tricks. She looked up at the guard who seemed just as terrified of
Heléna as she was.
“We can't save you My lady Heléna.
We daren't”, the guard nodded in agreement
Heléna sighed, 'worth a try' and
smiled happily, as though she were a child going to a new sweet shop
rather than a master manipulator waiting to meet her death.
“I could reveal your secrets, tell
the crowd that you don't believe! They will listen, they will
remember.”
“They might, but probably not. The
people love to see the mighty fall lower than themselves. They care
not a jot what you say, only how much they get to humiliate you, how
loudly you scream as the flames fan at you, and the smoke smothers
your breath”
“You are smarter than you first
appear, Saffron”
“Being the wife of a priest king I
had witnessed more of these things than most. I know how they go
Heléna”
“You know how they went, but not this
time!”