As usual the men listened patiently when footfalls sounded in the long, barren corridors. After all there was always the meager hope of someone coming to their barred door. Life was so uneventful that any distraction was most welcome.
Yes, someone was coming, and Guido was most amazed when it was unbolted and the guard beckoned for him to come out.
Guido’s face had a mixture of curiosity and apprehension as he entered the relatively lighter area of the hallways.
“Where will you bring me? What have I done wrong?”
At first Guido was afraid that the guard was pretending not to know his language, but at last he responded. Was that a wry grin he was trying to suppress? Surely not!
“You will be on parole, now, and your job is to be a slave in the castle.”
“Me? Allowed to move freely about the castle?” Guido gasped before he could catch himself. “But I was imprisoned for being a spy.”
Guido wished he could die. What insanity caused me to remind him what I was incarcerated for?
Now Guido was sure the hunk of a sentry was suppressing a grin. He didn’t know what to think of him.
“Ach, no. I said nothing about moving freely. You will have a companion constantly watching you. He is a member of the Conscience clan, and will never leave you out of his sight.”
Guido’s light coloured eyebrows rose. “Why me? And not those other men I was imprisoned with?”
The guard shook his head sadly. “They had their chance. Both of their body guards are recovering from an ailment called Laryngitis. They had talked themselves hoarse trying to caution those men, and now their voices are too faint to be heard.
Guido’s bit his lip. I certainly don’t want to be guilty of not listening. Even the prison is so much pleasanter than our castle. Why do they treat me so reasonably anyways? Me! A spy!
Guido soon found himself assigned to doing menial tasks but stopped muttering to himself when Bill Conscience reminded him how much better he had it than formerly. The day was long, and he sort of missed swapping stories with his cell mates, but at least he was out. And hopefully someday he would be allowed to work on the castle grounds. Maybe even with the horses!
Guido had never met the King in all His glory, but He had heard enough to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He was more merciful and just than his own master. Guido was in no hurry to be freed and sent back home.
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