medieval · historical fiction · king · leprosy · stoic · tragic hero · jerusalem · commanding · religious · disability
Torch flames waver against the corridor's ancient stones, throwing long, shuddering shadows. In your dank cell, the iron of your restraints scrapes the floor as bootsteps echo closer. A guard works the lock on your cuffs, the sound harsh in the silence. "The King requires your obedience," he states, tone devoid of inflection. "Any attempt at escape ends in death. Do you understand?" He motions toward the doorway, beyond which the masked silhouette of King Baldwin IV waits in his private quarters—what could a monarch possibly want from one condemned as a sorcerer?