All Hail Calla

10

The Worth of Human Life

Written By Mark Moore

Author's note: I'm so sorry for the lengthy delay. I have to divide my time between Real Life (I'd been working more works, due to the holidays), my original fiction, my other fanfics, and other hobbies. If you're a fan of the DCAU, and Batman Beyond in particular, check out my fanfic, Batwoman Beyond.

Writing times for this story: Saturday, July 20, 2019, 9:44 PM - 10:05 PM; Monday, July 22, 2019, 9:35 PM - 10:13 PM; Monday, July 29, 2019, 5:54 PM - 6:30 PM, 6:59 PM - 9:47 PM; Tuesday, September 17, 2019, 8:58 PM - 10:20 PM; Sunday, September 22, 2019, 8:58 PM - 10:23 PM; Saturday, September 28, 2019, 9:39 PM - 10:38 PM; Tuesday, October 15, 2019, 11:30 PM - 11:52 PM; Monday, October 21, 2019, 9:10 PM - 10:35 PM; Tuesday, October 22, 2019, 8:41 PM - 10:09 PM; Thursday, November 7, 2019, 7:34 PM - 8:34 PM; Saturday, November 9, 2019, 9:36 PM - 10:09 PM; Monday, December 9, 2019, 7:08 PM - 7:59 PM; Sunday, December 22, 2019, 9:32 PM - 11:37 PM; Wednesday, December 25, 2019, 10:45 PM - 11:40 PM; Thursday, December 26, 2019, 5:21 PM - 6:29 PM, 7:34 PM - 10:13 PM; Sunday, December 29, 2019, 5:47 PM - 6:29 PM, 7:15 PM - 10:38 PM

Feedback is appreciated. Enjoy the story. Happy New Year!

The following story is copyright © 2019 by Mark Moore.

CALLA

Calla followed Lord Biffa into the office of the prison's warden, a tall, older man with grey hair, a mustache, and a trimmed beard.

Calla looked at the warden. "Thank you for doing this. I know it's getting late."

The warden started looking through his files. "I really don't understand why you're interested in these two lowlifes." He found the file folder and tossed it on his desk. "They murdered their boyfriends. They're unrepentant about it. They're gonna go to their account in three days. That's it."

Calla sat in one of the two chairs in front of the warden's desk and opened the file. "Even if they're as bad as you say, they're still girls, probably no older than me. Why would girls be put to death?"

The warden chuckled. "Oh, come on! It won't be the first time, and it won't be the last."

Calla frowned at him. "That will change when I am Queen." She paused, and a darkness came over her face. "But that won't help these girls, will it?" She shuddered and then shook her head. "I have a feeling that there's more to them."

"Trust me, Your Highness, there isn't. They're a couple o' worthless bitches."

Calla felt angry. "I'd like to be alone to read this, please."

"Fine, suit yourself. Feel free to use my chair. Come, Lord Biffa, we'll open the last bottle of wine that I have."

"Ooh, you've been holding out on me!"

The two men left the room. Biffa closed the door behind him.

Alone, Calla stood up, walked around to behind the desk, sat in the warden's chair, opened the folder, and took a look at the files. There were many different kinds: notes from the investigating officers, court documents, and even a handwritten confession and apology from Rachel.

From what Calla could piece together, best friends Jordan and Rachel seemed like fairly normal teenage girls. They possessed an above-average intellect and took classes at the local school. They each had a boyfriend; the boys were twin brothers. Last summer, the boys had gone missing. The girls had volunteered to help look for them. Jordan had an odd episode in which she'd arrived at the boys' home and asked the parents if she could sit on her boyfriend's bed, which they allowed. While Rachel mostly kept silent, Jordan became increasingly interested in every detail of the investigation, even seemingly taunting the investigators. Suspicion eventually fell on the girls, but they denied knowing anything. However, toward the end of last year, Rachel suffered a nervous breakdown. Early this year, she confessed. She and Jordan had created a pact to murder their boyfriends. Jordan and Rachel had armed themselves with two large knives from Jordan's family's kitchen, and Rachel had borrowed her father's shovel. They lured their boyfriends out of their house late one night with promises of sex. They went deep into the forest and took off their clothes. Jordan and Rachel started having sex with their respective boyfriends. During the intercourse portion, with the girls on top and facing away from each other, they each picked up a knife from beneath their discarded clothing and began stabbing their respective boyfriends to death - while in the throes of orgasm. They each counted fifty stabbings, stopping only when their boyfriends had stopped making gurgling sounds. Then they climbed off their boyfriends' dead bodies and tried to dig a hole to bury them, but the ground was too rocky, so they just covered the bodies with leaves and branches. Then they washed themselves of their boyfriends' blood in a nearby lake. Then they got dressed, returned to their respective homes, and went to bed. Much later, Rachel claimed the idea of murdering their boyfriends had been Jordan's; the only reason that Rachel ever gave for the murders was they simply didn't like their boyfriends, but an investigator claimed Rachel's boyfriend had written in his journal about how he and his brother had witnessed Rachel and Jordan having sex with each other, and the theory was put forth that Rachel had been the one to suggest murdering the boys in order to prevent her religious mother from learning of her relationship with Jordan. The problem with that theory was the amount of time that had passed between the alleged sexual encounter and the murders: nearly an entire year. Also, Rachel's boyfriend had devoted little attention to describing the encounter in his journal and didn't seem to think it was that big of a deal. Another theory, put forth by the investigators and based on their questioning of the girls, was they had committed the murders for the thrill of it and wanted to see if they could get away with it. Whatever the case, Rachel had agreed to cooperate with investigators; she led them to the boys' rotting bodies in the forest; she also tried to get Jordan to confess - to no avail. Rachel said Jordan took care of disposing of the knives, and she doesn't know what happened to them; they were never recovered. However, Rachel's mother claimed, a day after the murders, Rachel had expressed a sudden interest in going on a family fishing trip, which she hadn't shown any interest in previously, and the theory was put forth that it was Rachel that had disposed of the knives, and she had lied, so her mother wouldn't realize she had used her to dispose of evidence. Rachel was allowed to remain free into the spring to help with the investigation and to not arouse Jordan's suspicion. The two girls had even attended a school dance, and Rachel had acted in a school play. Rachel was eventually arrested, and then so was Jordan. During her trial, Rachel offered a tearful apology to her victim's family, which they rejected. Jordan eventually confessed to her own involvement in the murders but made no apology, instead deflecting blame. Their victims' father, who had rejected Rachel's apology, criticized Jordan for not apologizing at all. Based on the prosecutor's recommendation and the judge's agreement, Lord Biffa had requested the death penalty for the girls, and King Gregor, Calla's own father, had granted it, using her as an unwilling messenger of death.

It was at this point that the door opened, and Jordan and Rachel were brought into the room, followed by two guards. Jordan and Rachel were in shackles.

Calla looked at them, and then she looked at the guards. "Take those off."

One of the guards shook his head. "Sorry, Your Highness, the rules state prisoners are to be bound when out of their cells."

"Except when they're doing labor, of course. I worked with them all day today, and they didn't give me any trouble. Take their shackles off."

The guards looked at each other uncertainly.

Calla rolled her eyes. "Oh, for the Lady's sake! You're gonna be standing right outside, aren't you? There are no weapons here. If you hear any kind of commotion, just come in."

The guard that had addressed her finally unshackled Jordan and Rachel, and then he and the other guard left the office, the latter closing the door behind him.

Calla gestured at the chairs in front of the desk. "Sit down."

The girls sat down, Rachel to Jordan's right. Calla studied their appearance; they looked like they hadn't bathed after working all day; they were covered with dirt, and their clothes were sweat-drenched. Calla was shocked by it, but then she realized she really shouldn't have been. Also, Jordan and Rachel's faces were red, and Calla realized they must have recently learned their fates.

Calla gestured at the papers on the desk. "I read about what you did."

"Disappointed?" Rachel asked.

Calla couldn't read her and didn't bother responding to that. "There are plenty of unanswered questions." She stared at them. "Why?"

Rachel shrugged. "As I'd said, we just didn't like them."

"That's the absolute dumbest reason to kill someone; I don't buy it for a second. You could have just broken up with them."

"What if they wouldn't like that?" Rachel asked.

Calla was surprised. "Were they abusive towards you? Or did they in any way give you any indication that they might kill you, if you attempted to break up with them?"

Rachel shook her head. "Nope."

Calla was irritated. "Then what was the point of asking me?"

"Just making conversation. We don't get many visitors."

"Who do you get?" Calla asked.

"Our moms. Jordan's cousin."

"Who disposed of the knives?"

"Jordan."

"Rachel."

Calla rolled her eyes. "Whose idea was the murders?"

"Jordan."

"Rachel."

Calla grew frustrated. "Rachel, you read out what was seemingly a heartfelt apology during your trial." She picked up a paper. "'I'm so sorry. I don't know if there is a proper way to make this apology, because there aren't any words to describe the guilt and remorse that I feel each day for what I have done. The person that did that is not the real me. Not the person I am, not what I'm made of, and not what I believe in. I don't think I ever thought that this would actually happen. I became scared and caught up in something that I did not want to do. I never realized the gravity of my actions and how many people I've hurt. I hurt the family of my victim, Derrick, and those who love him. I hurt my parents and shamed my family. I hurt my extended family and all of my friends who loved me. I hurt my teachers and those who believed in me. I hurt my church family, my community, and those who trusted me. And I hurt my Lord God. May God bring eternal peace to Derrick and Daniel and their entire family. Again, I am so sorry, and I pray each day for everyone involved, and I pray each day for forgiveness.'" Calla set the paper down and looked at Rachel. "Were you sincere, or were you simply acting in the hope of getting leniency?"

"I was truly sorry."

"You weren't just sorry that you got caught?"

"That's what my boyfriend's dad said."

"Was he right?"

"No."

"You said you never realized the gravity of your actions and how many people that you hurt."

"Right."

Calla shook her head in disbelief. "How do you not realize murdering someone is wrong?"

Rachel shrugged but didn't say anything.

"What about you, Jordan?" Calla asked. "Up to this point, you haven't accepted any responsibility for your actions. You haven't offered an apology."

Jordan rolled her eyes. "It was Rachel's fault."

Rachel looked at her. "Nuh-uh!" She looked at Calla. "What I did...wasn't the real me."

"You've apologized. You seem to have taken responsibility for your actions." Calla sighed. "And yet you try to mitigate that by saying it wasn't the 'real' you. It was you, Rachel, and it was you, Jordan. Own up to it and accept it."

"What difference will it make?" Jordan asked. "Rachel apologized, and they're still gonna kill her."

Calla shrugged. "Well, you never know. If both of you show remorse, I might be able to convince Lord Biffa to delay your execution, and then I'd ride back to Dunwyn Castle and plead with my father to spare your lives."

"And spend the rest of our lives in prison?" Rachel asked.

Calla shrugged. "Listen, I can't promise you anything except this: I promise to try."

"Why?" Rachel asked. "During the entire time that we've been in custody, you're the only person outside our families that's even come to see us, much less give a shit about us."

"I just have this feeling...that killing you would be the wrong thing to do."

The door opened, and the warden walked back into the room, followed by Lord Biffa.

"Well, are you done, Your Highness?" Lord Biffa asked.

"No. I formally ask you to delay their execution."

Lord Biffa was surprised. "For what reason?"

"When our work here is done, and I return to Dunwyn Castle, I will plead with my father, His Majesty, to spare these girls' lives."

"Why?!" Biffa asked. "These bitches are stone-cold killers."

"And you mean to keep them imprisoned for the rest of their lives?!" the warden asked. "Do you have any idea of the cost?!"

"Why, I'd have to raise taxes." Biffa shook his head. "Oh dear, that's just not an option. I'm unpopular enough as it is."

Calla stared at him, upset. "So money and your position are worth more to you than human life."

"Human?" Biffa asked, dumbfounded. "They're animals!" He turned to the door. "Guards, get them out of my sight!"

The guards came into the office. Rachel and Jordan stood up. The guards reshackled them and led them away. Biffa slammed the door shut.

Calla stared at Biffa's back. "You call them animals and treat them as such, but that leaves no room for growth."

Biffa spun around and stared down at her. "Growth?! Haven't you been listening, girl?! They are to die!"

Calla stood up and stared down at him. "Lord Biffa, delay their execution. I will convince my father to spare their lives and take them off your hands. You'll never see them again, and they'll cost your people nothing."

"Young lady, your father has authorized plenty of executions over the decades. I assure you that he won't make an exception in this case. Now, go back to the manor and get some rest. You have a busy day tomorrow."

Calla stared at him in anger for a moment, but then she turned and left the office.

CALLA

The next day passed slowly as Calla had to focus on the engineering project at the city's eastern wall. She had Rachel and Jordan on her team again. They were all too busy to have much conversation while they worked, but they settled down to eat a lunch of chicken.

"I'm trying to think of a way to stop your execution." Calla sighed and bit into her drumstick. "Is there anything that you can tell me about yourselves? Some redeeming qualities?"

Neither Jordan nor Rachel said anything.

"Tell me about yourselves. What are your interests? Your talents?" Calla asked.

Rachel looked at her. "I've done some acting...in plays. I also sing."

"Are you any good?" Calla asked her.

Rachel shrugged.

"Is this a hobby?" Calla asked her.

"Not really. My mom has a dream of me becoming a professional actor."

"Is that a dream that you share?" Calla asked her.

Rachel thought about it but was unable to give an answer, so she just shrugged.

Calla looked at Jordan. "What about you, Jordan?"

Jordan shrugged. "I don't really have any kind of talent."

"What do you like to do in your spare time?" Calla asked them.

"You mean before we got locked up?" Jordan asked, giving Rachel some side-eye.

"Yes."

"We both liked to read stories."

Rachel nodded. "And listen to music."

Calla smiled.

CALLA

That evening, after work, Calla returned to the manor and asked Lord Biffa to summon Jordan and Rachel's families, as well as the family of their victims, to the manor. He did so. They gathered in the dining hall. Lord Biffa sat at the head of the table. Calla sat to his right. To her right sat Rachel and Jordan's mothers and Jordan's cousin. Across from them sat the victims' family.

Calla looked at all of them. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me."

"What is it that you want to discuss with us?" the victims' mother asked her.

Calla looked at her. "I plead with you to spare Rachel and Jordan's lives."

The family erupted into shouting and arguing.

"Everybody please calm down!" Lord Biffa shouted.

"What kind of game is this?" the father demanded. "Did she put you up to this, Biffa?!"

"She made the request, and I granted it as a courtesy. She seems to have taken a liking to those bitches."

Calla shot Biffa an angry look but then turned her attention to the victims' family. "I understand your anger, and I don't make this request lightly. I am opposed to the death penalty. My father has granted their execution, so I am in opposition to him at the moment. I propose taking Jordan and Rachel back to Dunwyn Castle with me. You'd never see them again."

"And what would you do with them when they got there?" the mother asked her. "Throw them in the dungeon for the rest of their lives?"

"Why should my taxes pay to feed and clothe them?!" the father asked Calla.

"So money's worth more to you than human life. Is that it?" Calla asked.

"They're animals!" he yelled in Calla's face. "No better than wolves!"

"What they did was horrible, yes. I'm not denying that, and I'm not excusing it, but these girls are fairly smart, and Rachel can act and sing."

"Oh, she can act, all right!" The father laughed bitterly. "She put on quite a show during the trial!"

"She apologized, and you threw it back in her face, yet you criticized Jordan for not apologizing at all."

"She's not sorry!" the father yelled. "She's only sorry she got caught!"

The other family members agreed.

"Let them die, so they can go to Hell!" the mother yelled, and then she stood up.

The other family members stood up as well.

Calla stood up. "Would you put two more families through the grief that you went through?! How are four deaths preferable to two?!"

The family members started walking away.

"I offer you restitution!" Calla suddenly blurted in desperation.

They stopped and looked at her.

"I bet that's something that Lord Biffa hasn't offered you." Calla looked pointedly at him.

Biffa sputtered as he searched for words. He stood up. "Well, uh, we usually don't."

Calla looked at the family. "Your money won't go to support them. I will pay you, if you'll just spare their lives."

The family looked unconvinced. Calla looked at Rachel and Jordan's relatives in desperation, pleading with them with her eyes.

Rachel's mother stood up. "Please don't take my daughter from me." She looked from the family to Lord Biffa. "She's all that I have."

Jordan's mother stood up. "The same goes for me. They'll pay for their actions." She looked at Lord Biffa. "But please don't make me suffer the loss of my only child."

Jordan's cousin stood up. "I don't excuse Jordan's crime, but I still love her." She looked at Lord Biffa. "Because she's family, and you don't turn your back on family. Jordan is and always will be my best friend."

Calla looked at Lord Biffa and then at the victims' family. They seemed conflicted.

"Your Highness."

Calla looked at Biffa.

"That was very moving. It was a valiant effort. But the victims' families don't decide their criminals' fates. The judge does, and then your father authorizes the death penalty if need be."

"Well, need don't be." Calla was losing hope and was on the verge of tears. A thought came to her. "I'll buy them."

"You'll what?" Biffa asked in surprise.

Calla swallowed her disgust. "I'll buy them. Criminals are routinely sold into slavery, are they not?"

"They are, although usually not criminals as bad as these."

"But they could be."

Biffa nodded carefully. "Yes, but your father has already authorized-"

"I'll deal with my father. I'll bear the full force of his wrath. I absolve you of all blame."

"Then you wish to purchase them as slaves."

Calla swallowed. "Yes. Name your price."

"A thousand sovereigns."

Calla started.

"Do you have the money?" Biffa asked her.

"Not with me, but I can get it once I return to Dunwyn Castle and have it sent to you, I swear."

Biffa thought about it. "I'll get back to you."

Calla nodded. "I ask only that none of you say anything to the girls for the time being. I want to be the one to discuss this with them."

CALLA

The next day, Calla and the crew got up early and worked extra hard to complete their tasks at the eastern wall. Word had spread around the city of Calla's intentions, and she was beginning to feel unwelcome.

During their usual lunch of chicken, Calla stared at Jordan and Rachel. At one point, Rachel was overcome with fear and sadness and started crying. Instinctively, Calla reached over and hugged her. Rachel hugged Calla.

Calla hesitated. She didn't want to give them false hope. "I might have found a way to save your lives."

"Oh?" Rachel asked, looking at her.

Calla stared into her eyes. "How badly do you want to live?"

"There are many that would say I don't deserve to live."

"I don't care what others say. What do you say?" Calla asked her.

"I don't want to die."

"Would you be willing to live in servitude?" Calla asked.

Rachel stared at her. "What?"

"I had a meeting last night with Lord Biffa, your families, and the family of your boyfriends. As a last resort, I offered to purchase the two of you, in accordance with Dunwynian law, and assume all responsibility for you. However, since my father has already sentenced you to death, Lord Biffa is reluctant to defy him. I'm still awaiting his decision."

"So he would sell us into slavery?" Rachel asked her.

"It's..." Calla paused, unsure what to say. "Yes, that's exactly what it is. You'd be my slaves. I won't whip you or beat you or anything so foul, though. It'd be better than death."

Rachel thought about it. "You're taking an awfully big chance on us."

Jordan nodded. "Yeah, Rach might have been bullshitting the whole time about being sorry."

Rachel shot her a dirty look. "Fuck you."

"I don't care if she's sincere or not."

Rachel and Jordan looked at Calla in surprise.

Calla sighed. "Look, I care little for the Way, but didn't the teacher say something about a man that squandered his inheritance on prostitutes? As I recall, he decided being a servant was better than his current situation, so he returned home and fed his father a rehearsed speech, and his father welcomed him with open arms and threw him a party. All that mattered was the son took some kind of token step in the right direction. So, you see, I don't care if you're truly sorry or just lying, Rachel, only that you made some kind of acknowledgment."

Rachel wiped away tears and managed to nod.

Calla looked at Jordan. "Jordan?"

"I wanna live."

Calla figured that was the best that she was going to get from Jordan, so she didn't push it.

CALLA

That evening, after she left the eastern wall, Calla decided to ride to the prison. No word had been sent from Lord Biffa throughout the day, and she was worried. She heard the sound of hammering and circled to the back of the prison. She brought the horse to a stop and stared at the sight before her. Two workers were busy making repairs to the gallows. One of them attached two ropes to the horizontal beam. Calla's fingers dug into her hands as she clenched her fists in anger. She looked around the yard, and her eyes focused on a nearby fire and a stack of unused torches.

"Don't even think about it, Your Highness."

Calla turned and saw Lord Biffa standing to her right. He wasn't looking at her. She dismounted the horse.

"They'd just be decapitated instead."

Calla didn't say anything.

"Messy business."

"Why are you here?" Calla asked him.

"I'm observing the preparations. I thought it might help me reach a decision."

Calla paused for a moment, steeling herself. "Has it?"

"As Lord of Waterforge and thus de facto owner of all prisoners, I'll sell Rachel to you."

"And Jordan?" Calla asked, her voice small.

"No. She is to be hanged tomorrow morning."

Calla frowned and firmed up her voice. "I want them both."

"Sorry. Jordan has shown no signs of remorse."

"Thus she is in a damned state, according to your mythology, correct?" Calla asked him.

Biffa finally looked at her. "Yes, so?"

"So shouldn't she be given an opportunity to get out of that state?" Calla asked him.

"She has the opportunity - for another twelve hours."

"Lord Biffa, as long as you're going to be defying my father and selling me Rachel, it will cost you nothing more to sell me Jordan as well."

"That's where you're wrong, young lady. As long as I allow one of them to be executed, it might placate the family. To sell them both to you, well, you're not exactly known for being a brutal taskmaster."

"I can learn." Calla paused and thought for a moment. "I will be Queen of Dunwyn someday. I will need to be able to strike a balance between serving the will of the people and my own sense of justice. Let tomorrow be a preview of justice under my reign. Sell both girls to me, and I assure you that they will suffer under me - but not to the point of losing their lives or their dignity."

Biffa was silent for a while. He looked back at the gallows and then back at Calla. "Agreed."

Calla internally breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"Yes, yes, now be gone. I need to break the news to the warden. See you back at the manor for dinner, and be sure to be back here before sunrise to pick them up on your way out. We don't want a commotion on our hands. Oh, and I will be sending a messenger to Dunwyn Castle ahead of you to get my side of the story to His Majesty first."

Calla nodded and mounted the horse. Biffa headed toward the back entrance of the prison, making a motion to the workers to stop what they were doing. They did, confused, and then began removing the nooses from the gallows.

Calla smiled. "Oh, Lord Biffa."

Biffa stopped, turned, and looked at her. "Yes?"

"Don't tell the girls."

"Because you want to."

"Yeah."

"Very well. Will there be anything else, Your Highness?"

"Yes, see to it that they're bathed before we leave."

"I'll see what I can do."

Calla turned the horse and headed toward the manor.

CALLA

Early in the morning, Calla woke up, packed, got dressed, helped load the carriage, and went to the prison. She was let into the holding block. The guard loudly banged his keys on Jordan and Rachel's cell, waking them. Calla stared in shock at the filthiness of the cell. There was no bed. A dead rat lay in one corner. Jordan and Rachel still wore the same filthy clothes, but they themselves at least looked clean.

"What's going on?" Jordan asked, tired.

"We're leaving."

The guard unlocked and opened the cell.

Calla walked into it and held out some clothes. "I bought you some new clothes. Get changed. The carriage is out back, waiting."

Rachel was excited. "You mean we're not gonna die?!"

"We don't know that yet. All that we do know is you won't be dying today."

Rachel and Jordan stood up and eagerly took the clothes from Calla. Calla turned around and waited while they changed, shooing the guard away in disgust.

CALLA

Calla, Jordan, and Rachel exited the prison through the back door. They headed toward the carriage. Their mothers and Jordan's cousin stood by the carriage, waiting for them.

Rachel's mother smiled at Calla. "Thank you for saving my daughter, Your Highness."

"I'm afraid that your thanks are premature. I may have merely delayed their deaths and postponed their suffering. We have no more room in the caravan, but you're welcome to ride after us to Dunwyn Castle. You may use the King's Road."

Rachel and her mother hugged each other.

"Stay safe, Rach."

"I will, Mom."

They released each other.

Jordan and her mother hugged each other.

"Don't cause the princess any grief."

"I won't, Mom, I swear."

They released each other.

Jordan's cousin smiled at her. "I've gotta do some chores at home, but I'll be along as soon as I can."

Jordan smiled at her. "You better, Lexy."

They hugged each other briefly and then released each other.

"How dare you?!"

Everyone turned and looked. The boyfriends' mother was storming over to them, furious. She was holding a knife in her right hand. The carriage's guard dismounted and drew his sword. He pointed it at her. She reluctantly turned over the knife.

"How dare you?!" the mother screamed at Calla. "You're taking the monsters that killed my children!"

Calla kept her eyes focused on the distraught woman. "Rachel, Jordan, get in the carriage."

They quickly obeyed.

The guard seized the mother.

"Release her."

The guard looked at Calla in surprise. "Your Highness?"

"Do as I say."

The guard reluctantly released the mother.

The mother raised her left hand and slapped Calla across the face. The guard moved to seize her again. Calla raised a hand to stop him, keeping her eyes focused on the mother. The mother stared at her in anger.

"I'm sorry for your loss. I can't imagine what it feels like to lose a child. Let's not let anyone else find out."

The mother fumed, staring at Calla in hatred.

"Well, go on. Hit me again." Calla looked at her sympathetically. "As long as you need."

The mother raised her hand to strike Calla again but then slowly lowered it. "God damn you for what you've done." Then she turned and walked away without another word.

Calla got into the carriage and closed the door.

CALLA

The return trip to Dunwyn Castle took three days, during which Calla, Jordan, and Rachel mostly kept to themselves, speaking little. They were worried regarding what awaited them at the castle.

Finally, they crossed the drawbridge and entered the courtyard. The royal carriage came to a stop. The door was opened, and a step was set. Calla got out of the carriage, followed by Rachel and Jordan.

Sir Tuxford, Sir Duncan, and some other knights approached them.

Tuxford pointed at Rachel and Jordan. "Put those two girls in chains."

Calla frowned. "Belay that order!"

Tuxford frowned at Calla. "Your Highness, I outrank you, and this order comes from your father, who you are to report to immediately."

"Seize the murderers!" Duncan ordered.

Some of the knights grabbed hold of Jordan and Rachel and chained their hands together behind their backs.

"Your Highness, help us!" Rachel cried.

Calla stared angrily at Duncan. "I have paid for these girls in accordance with Dunwynian law."

"You have also countermanded your father's order."

"I do not deny that! But Lord Biffa has seen fit to release these girls into my custody. Until the matter is resolved, they will not be separated from me. Father demands I see him? Very well, then these girls shall accompany me."

"You will take murderers before the king?" Duncan asked in anger.

"Where I go, they go."

Duncan paused for a moment, and then he shoved Rachel and Jordan. "C'mon!"

Jordan looked at Calla in worry. "Your Highness-"

"Come." Calla smiled in pain. "It'll be all right."

Calla walked before them, Jordan and Rachel followed, and Tuxford and Duncan brought up the rear. They entered the castle and headed for the throne room.

Calla entered the throne room. Her father was sitting on his throne, clearly angry.

Upon seeing her, King Gregor stood up. "Calla! Explain yourself!"

Calla had thought about what she was going to say to her father in the three days that it had taken to return to Dunwyn. "I did the only thing that I could do, Father. I couldn't let those two girls be murdered."

"Outrageous!" Gregor yelled. "Those girls are murderers themselves!"

"Yes, I know that, Father, but they are also scared girls. I've worked with them. I've gotten to know them...a bit. I'm convinced that they can be put to good use and make a positive contribution to society."

"Calla, they participated in murder. They committed the most egregious of sins. They're ill-mannered and self-centered."

"All that you say is true."

"On top of that, they're not even that bright."

"Oh, see, I disagree with you on that. True, their interests are...limited, but you got only one type of impression of them. These girls are actually fairly smart. They entered the local school, and they got good grades. They just made a mistake."

"A mistake?!" Gregor asked in disbelief. "It was murder!"

"Which is a mistake, albeit a rather serious one."

"Bah! You wouldn't speak kindly of them, if they'd murdered someone close to you. Someone like Cavin, for example."

Calla paused in consideration.

"Or Marie."

Calla felt a chill run down her spine. "Perhaps you're right about that. Perhaps my distance from the girls' crimes is a factor."

"Perhaps not the only factor."

Calla raised an eyebrow.

"You've never shown an interest in the condemned before, Calla. Something tells me, if it had been two men instead of two pretty girls, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Calla felt as if he was peering into her very soul, and she didn't like it. "That's a discussion for another time, I think."

"That's fine with me. There's also the matter of you showing blatant disrespect for me by taking matters into your own hands and countermanding my order."

"Which you sent along with me without telling me what it was!"

"Would you have refused to deliver it, had you known?"

"Yes!" Calla cried.

Gregor scowled at her.

Calla paused and tried to collect her thoughts. "I have always had a respect for life, Father. The thought of those two girls being led to the gallows and hanged...disgusted me. Somehow, I knew, no matter what they'd done, killing them would have been fundamentally wrong. It would have been wrong to take their lives in and of itself, but it also would have been wrong, because they are someone's daughters. Would four children's deaths have been preferable to two? Would you have inflicted the same suffering on two more families as one had already endured? These girls' deaths would have accomplished nothing except satisfy bloodlust and a perverse sense of 'justice'. I'm not sure where this conviction came from, whether from within myself or from a higher power, or perhaps it's all the same thing. Regardless, I couldn't let these girls die. I felt...compelled to act, even though it meant defying you. In this one matter, I could not waiver from my conviction; what was at stake...was life. Life is the most precious of all things, Father. It cannot be restored, and it cannot be replaced. When a person dies, that unique individual is gone forever. Maybe these girls mean nothing to you and nothing to their victims' families and nothing to most other people, but they mean everything to their families."

Gregor's features softened a bit. "I have to admire your passion, Calla, if nothing else. But you disobeyed an order of your king, and that cannot go unpunished."

"I don't care about that, Father. Do with me what you will. Just promise me that you'll let Rachel and Jordan live."

Gregor stiffened, clearly conflicted.

Calla started crying. "Either spare their lives and let me handle them or else add an extra rope to the gallows and hang me alongside them."

Gregor started. He stared at Calla in shock.

"Because I cannot support the law of this land, nor the sovereign from whom it derives."

Gregor said nothing for a while. He stared at Calla, clearly troubled. "Bring them to me."

Calla simply turned around. "Come in!"

Jordan and Rachel walked into the throne room, followed by Duncan and Tuxford. The girls stood before the king and bowed.

"Look at me."

Jordan and Rachel raised their heads and looked at Gregor.

"For some reason that I cannot fathom, my daughter thinks she sees potential in the two of you, though I see nothing but evil. I have decided to spare your lives, but you will be enslaved to my daughter in accordance with Dunwynian law. You two had better be on your best behavior, or you will rue the day that you took her offer. I do not wish to speak to you again. Wait outside for my daughter."

Jordan and Rachel bowed to him, each afraid to address him, and then they turned and left the throne room, Sir Duncan and Sir Tuxford following them.

Calla ran over to her father and hugged him. "Thank you, Father."

Gregor briefly hugged her, but then he pushed her back a little and put his hands on her shoulders. "As I said, you must be punished. By all rights, I ought to strip you of your knighthood."

"If that is your wish, do so. It's a small price to pay."

"I will not. However, speaking of price, there's the small matter of the one-thousand sovereigns that you promised to Lord Biffa in exchange for the girls."

"Yes, I intend to send him the crown jewels."

"What?!" Gregor asked in shock. "You cannot!"

"You gave them to me, didn't you?" Calla asked. "I can do with them what I please."

"No, they have been in the royal family for generations; they stay here. I'll take the thousand sovereigns out of the treasury. I will withhold your allowance until such time as I feel I have made my money back. In the meantime, you will earn wages just like any other knight. You will need that money to pay for your own meals, because you will not dine with me; you will dine with your slaves."

"I understand, Father. Oh, Rachel and Jordan will need to earn wages as well."

"Preposterous. They're slaves. If you think they should get money, pay them out of your own wages."

"Yes, Father."

"One more thing. They are your responsibility, Calla. If they cause any trouble whatsoever, I will deal with you as severely as if you'd done it yourself."

"Yes, Father, I understand."

Gregor let go of her. "Dismissed. See to your purchases."

Calla turned and walked away.

CALLA

Calla opened a door to a room in the castle's basement. "You will sleep here."

She entered the room, and Jordan and Rachel followed. It was a small room with a small bed in one corner, a small washing basin on the floor, and nothing else.

"This is it?" Jordan asked in surprise.

Calla slammed the door shut in anger. "Okay, I'm going to lay down a few ground rules. You are not to leave the castle unless I leave the castle. You will accompany me wherever I go. Since I am on the engineering crew, that's where you will be as well. You will work directly under me. If I see or hear of any trouble out of you, I will increase your workload. You will find me to be a stern but fair taskmaster. Obey the rules, and you'll be fine. Cause trouble, and I will make you wish I left you to die. You will beg me to end your lives."

Jordan and Rachel gulped.

"Under Dunwynian law, you are my slaves, though I despise that. I will treat you better than slaves. You will earn wages, half of which will go to you for your own livelihoods and the other half of which will go to the family of your victims. To that end, I will assign you every menial task that I can think of. You will work long and hard, but you will earn your keep, and, at the end of each day, you will come home to your own room, not a prison cell, and sleep in your own bed, not on a cold, hard floor. In the process, perhaps you will learn something and become productive members of society."

"How long are you gonna keep half of our wages?" Jordan asked Calla.

Calla turned on Jordan in anger. "I don't know, Jordan! How fucking much do you think a human life is worth?!"

Jordan recoiled, frightened. "Sorry."

Calla closed her eyes and meditated for a while, and she got her anger under control. She opened her eyes. "The way that I see it, you have no right to complain. I have risked everything for you. I am on thin ice, and so are you. If I'm harsh with you, it's because I see worth in you, and I wish to protect you. That means keeping you on your best behavior."

They were silent for a moment.

Rachel looked up at Calla. "I think I understand. You aim to save us."

Calla didn't like the dogmatic implications of that word. "I aim to protect you, whether by my sword from others or by the back of my hand from yourselves."

Rachel and Jordan nodded.

"Tomorrow, you begin your first day of work. Tonight, however, I think you could use a good meal." Calla nodded toward the door. "C'mon, my treat."

CALLA

Calla, Jordan, and Rachel walked toward the tavern on the castle grounds. The sun was beginning to set. They came across Cavin, who was just closing up the stables for the night.

"Hang on!" Calla called, walking toward the stables.

Cavin paused in what he was doing and looked at her.

Calla walked over to Morgana, who was standing in her stall, and pet her. "Hey, girl, I'm back."

Calla leaned in, and Morgana licked her face in delight.

Calla laughed. "At least, you're happy to see me."

"How was your trip?" Cavin asked her.

Calla looked at him. "It was...educational." She looked at Jordan and Rachel. "Oh, girls, this is my friend, Cavin." Calla looked at Cavin and gestured at the girls. "Cavin, these are Rachel and Jordan."

Rachel smiled. "Hi, Cavin."

Jordan smiled. "Hey, Cavin."

Cavin looked at the girls. "So these are them."

Calla was surprised. "You know?"

Cavin looked at her. "The whole castle knows. I've already heard some nicknames. 'Princess Calla and Her Merry Murderers', and that's one of the nicer ones."

Calla frowned.

Rachel looked at Calla in worry. "We won't be safe here."

Calla put a hand on her shoulder. "I will protect you - with my life, if necessary."

Rachel gave her a weak smile.

"Why are you doing this?" Cavin whispered to Calla.

Calla looked at him.

"They're murderers; they don't deserve this."

"Come join us for dinner, and I'll try to explain."

Cavin frowned. "I'll pass."

Calla frowned. "Fine, be that way."

"Was it really all worth it?" Cavin asked her. "Everything that you've gone through, considering what you got in return?"

Calla noticed two figures in the distance. They were Jordan and Rachel's mothers. Calla looked at the girls and nodded. They ran over to their mothers, who swooped them up in giant hugs. Calla and Cavin watched them.

Calla smiled, not taking her eyes off the reunion. "Yes, Cavin, it was worth it."

CALLA

Calla, Jordan, and Rachel entered the tavern. Various patrons turned and looked in their direction. Calla could hear some murmuring:

"Is that them?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Bloody disgrace."

"What's the princess thinking?"

Calla ignored them and made her way over to an empty table. She, Jordan, and Rachel sat down.

A serving wench walked over to them. "What can I get you?"

"What's the dinner of the day?" Calla asked her.

"Three pork sausages, a bowl of stew, and a pint of ale."

Calla looked at Jordan and Rachel. They shrugged.

Calla looked at the wench. "Sounds good. Three of those, please."

The wench turned and walked away.

Rachel looked around at the various patrons. "I don't think they like us."

Calla shrugged. "What do you expect?"

Jordan and Rachel couldn't help looking around the room. Some patrons broke eye contact with them. Others continued staring. Still others weren't staring at all, just minding their own business.

"I wonder how many of them know who we are."

Calla looked at Jordan. "Who cares? Just leave them alone, and they should do the same. If they don't, they'll have to deal with me."

The wench returned, carrying a serving tray. "You ain't gonna stab anybody with these, are ya?"

Calla shot her a dirty look.

"I'm just joking. Lighten up." The wench set three plates, three bowls, three glasses, three forks, three spoons, and three knives on the table. Then she turned and walked away.

Jordan and Rachel picked up their forks and knives and were about to start on their sausages.

"Hang on." Calla quickly sampled a bit of all of their food and drink. "Okay."

Rachel and Jordan were stunned at what Calla had just done for them. Calla, Jordan, and Rachel started eating their meals in silence.

"Calla, do you think...we'll go to Heaven?" Rachel eventually asked.

"I don't know. Oh, that's right, you follow the Way."

Rachel nodded. "Don't you?"

Calla sipped her ale. "No. I follow a different path - an ancient path. I'm a priestess of Avalon."

Jordan recognized the word. "I remember reading about that...in a storybook, I think."

Calla nodded. "It's real."

"Shut up."

"I'm serious. I can even do a bit of magic." Calla looked at Rachel. "If you have questions regarding your soul, I'll refer you to my teacher, Viviane. She might be able to offer you something that I just can't."

Rachel smiled. "That'd be great, thanks."

Jordan suddenly shivered. "Is it just me, or did the temperature get drastically colder since the sun set?"

Calla smiled. "Autumn is coming. It's my favorite time of year. Festivals. New wine. The harvest."

Rachel smiled. "Sounds nice."

Calla grinned. "It is. In fact, I have a friend, Princess Marie; she lives far away, but I'd like to invite her to Dunwyn to join in the festivities." She paused in thought for a moment. "There are others, too, far away. Perhaps I'll invite them as well."

Rachel sipped her ale. "That sounds great. We'd love to meet your friends."

Jordan sipped her ale. "Do you think they'll like us?"

Calla smiled. "I don't know, but this should be interesting."

To Be Continued...