Chapter One
Tiberius gently eased his horse through the crowded streets, looking out for any trouble that could come about while at the same time, wondering about the young king. The poor boy. At this thought, his horse grunted making Tiberius look down before him, forgetting his thoughts on the king.
Shrikes issued out upon the streets making a large commotion before him.
"Leper!" Some shouted, and all of the crowd instinctively moved out of the way, shoving their children with them.
Some young boys even were so bold as to throw large stones at the crouched figure. Finally, the knight had enough. Spurring his horse forward, he entered the fray. But it was not him who stopped the mass of stones and the crippling shouts that drenched souls. Before he could even yell, a young woman erupted from the crowd yelling, "Mother! Stop!
Stop!"
The rocks began to cease, and the screams of leper all but diminished. Tiberius watched from his high mount as the girl knelt at the lepers side and began to tend to her fresh wounds with a dirt riddled rag and some water that she dipped into a bowl.
"Are you all not Christians?" She yelled to the crowd, her black hair bellowing from what might have been an angry wind. "God said to help those in need, and not to throw the first stone did our Lord Jesus state!" She then helped the frail rotting woman up and continued, " Come mother. You should know not to come in this town.
The king instantly came to Tiberius mind and he dismounted his horse wondering how this young woman could touch this leper and not fear for the outcome. Approaching the girl, he spoke with his rough voice, "She is your mother?"
The girl spun and upon seeing that it was a knight instantly bowed and replied, "Yes my Lord."
"Stand. I am no lord," Tiberius returned. "Do you live with her?"
"Who else am I supposed to live with sir?" She answered, continuing to tend to her mothers wounds.
"And you have no lepersy?" Tiberius asked.
"I have none."
At this, the knight grew silent wondering how this was possible. His eyes wandered over the frail woman who seemed to almost cower from the sight of someone new. Her sores were boiling in the sunlight, and her bandages were not fresh, or if they had the dirt and grime of the street and the stones that were previously thrown at her had made the clean attempt futile. However, to his trained eye the bandages had not been removed for some time. The thick blood was rattled against her body and it seemed as though it was rejecting the infection of which had taken her body. She had been a beautiful woman before no doubt. But his thoughts were upon his king. Had God granted his king something wonderful after all? "How would you like to meet the king?" He suddenly asked, his hopes hinting his voice.
This made the girl gawk almost in awe. "What would the king want from me? I am nothing."
"All people are something in the kings eyes. You are a great gift to him if you can look upon your mothers face without pity." Tiberius replied.
"Why do you say this?" the young girl replied.
"I would rather explain after you have met the king. My words would only be like water running through your brain if I told you now." Tiberius replied, and then looking at the leper once more replied, "Is it alright if I take your daughter to the king?"
The woman nodded taking her daughter's hand and squeezed it lightly whispering with a horse voice, "This is a great gift from god Agness." Then the woman turned and with her blood riddled hands grabbed her black shawl around her body more securely and slowly limped away, making sure to stay away from the crowds.
Tiberius offered his horse, but the young woman refused stating, "Only royalty should ride beasts."
"That is fine. I shall walk beside you then," he replied smoothly, pulling his horse along.