To the east of Foxley Lake, the land rolled down towards a lush valley. This was prime feeding ground for the cattlemen, and jammed between the rugged escarpment and the dark, dense wood.

As the cattleman drove their animals onto the field, the abandoned horse and cart was all too obvious.

“Strange place to leave a horse.”

He walked over to the edge of the wood and patted the head of the poor animal.

“What are you doing here then?”

He decided to glance inside the grey wooden cart and stepped away at once. Within the box lay the bodies of a family. A young child and the parents, rotting quietly and covered with maggots and flies.
The cattleman had seen death before of course. However, this worried him.

“They must have come from yonder settlement,” he murmured to himself.

He gazed at the grazing animals and made a snap decision.

“I’ll take them back to the castle and bring this to the attention of the king.”

“You look quite fine in that,” Grant commented as Charly did a twirl with the light suit of armour.

“Captain of the guard is quite an honour,” his friend said.

Charly shook himself and the metal duly rattled.

“It’s ruddy clumsy.”

Grant patted his shoulder and said, “At least the arrows will bounce off mate.”

The door rapped and the monarch duly entered. The friends noted the royal purple top and trousers, not to mention the lack of royal crown.

“Can we help?” Charly asked.

The grim faced monarch had plenty on his mind.

“We have received a deeply disturbing message,” the king said carefully. “You had better see this.”

They followed him into the central courtyard where the cart now sat. Charly looked inside at the corpses and winced.

“Where were they found?”

“In the grazing meadow. The cattleman believes that they came from the settlement.”

“It would be bad if they did sire.”

Charly mulled it over and made a decision.

“We need the bodies taken outside sir and lifted onto the ground. I can examine them there. A bowl of hot water is also required.”

When his advice had been accepted, he grimaced as he gazed down at the bodies.

“What do you think killed them?” Grant asked.

“Hard to say mate. The decomposition is fairly advanced. I’ll just make a cursory exam. What I would not give for a doctor.”

Grant smiled.

“Why not ask the wise woman?”

Charly shook his head.

“She may know about healing powders and such but not this.”

He took a deep breath and began to tease the huddled bodies apart. Being very careful, he tilted the neck of the male and looked hard.
“Now this is rather interesting,” Charly muttered.

He was gazing at a large growth and when he squeezed it gently, bloody black puss poured out. Washing his hands, he took a sponge and washed the victim’s throat.

“This looks really bad Grant. Can you just raise his arm for me?”

Grant did so gingerly as his friend felt the armpit. He nodded and
whispered, “Let it down gently now.”

He stepped away and washed his hands carefully in the bowl.

“What do you think?” Grant asked with some concern.

Charly looked grim.

“It’s bubonic plague my friend. We must inform the king at once.”

He was about to do this when he stopped and said slowly, “Whatever you do, don’t mention the ‘P’ word.”

“I’ll keep quiet then mate. We both know what this disease can do.”

The king sat upon his throne as Charly gave the grim report.

“They died from a virulent disease sire. It is imperative that both cart and bodies are burned.”

“What of the horse?”

“It has to be destroyed and burnt alongside them sir.”

“Are we in any danger?” the king asked carefully?”

“Only time will tell sir. Thankfully there are no fleas, which is a bonus.”

“What else can we do?”

“I need to visit this settlement sire. We need to know what is going on there.”

“You may do that of course.”

Charly glanced at the grim faced Grant.

“May I take a squad of bowmen?”

The monarch looked puzzled.

“What need of those men?”

“If the settlement has been struck hard, it needs to be quarantined at once. The bowmen can reinforce it. We will also need a lit brazier and tar.”

“These requests are very strange but you know best. Make the arrangements captain.”

The column was rapidly assembled and quite soon after, they came across the nearby settlement. It had been created in the middle of the forest for protection, and unlike the other, no stockade protected it.

“It looks fairly quiet,” Grant whispered as they approached.

“You men stay here,” Charly ordered. “If anyone tries to leave shoot them down.”

“We shall do that sir. Good luck.”

The friends glanced at each other before entering the silent place.

“We need to find the headman. He perhaps can tell us how bad it is.”

“Do you think everyone is dead?” Grant asked.

Charly pointed to a door as a woman peeked out at the strangers.

“They seem to be cowering inside.”

The headman’s home was the largest of course and they knocked quite loudly. Charly was surprised when a lovely woman opened it.

“Captain of the king’s guard at your service mam. We need to talk about this.”

The woman stepped back.

“Enter with peace sir.”

The living area was quite crude but a roaring fire kept the cold out. Charly sat at the roughly hewn table as she joined them.

“When did this malady arrive?” Charly asked grimly.

“Ten days now. Strangers came from the west and one of them was ill. Of course we took them in.”

“What happened to them?” Grant asked.

“They were dead within a few hours sir.”

“Then the illness spread?” Charly enquired.

“Very quickly sir. I truly think that half of our people have perished.”

“Didn’t you try and contain it?” Grant asked.

The woman shook her head.

“We knew not how.”

Charly sighed.

“Whatever happens now, no one must leave here. My men are under orders to use their bows.”

“Then you intend to watch us die?”

“I came to help my dear. Can you find four stout men for me?”

“Come with me sir.”

Once outside, the headman began knocking upon doors. When no one responded, she moved on. By this simple process the men were soon found.

“I want everybody removed to the last home at the west section. If anyone lives there get them out. When that is done, I want the homes of the dead burned.”

The woman was deeply shocked.

“We took ages to build those homes sir.”

“There really is no other way mam.”

She issued the order and Charly watched as they men started upon their grim task.

“Anything else?” the woman asked.

“I need to check every home in turn. This will tell me the number of the ill.”

She nodded and the search for them began.

Charly was shocked that every home had at least one case. After an hour, he knew what had to be done.

“Order the carpenter to nail them inside. That may stop this advancing.”

“What of the well sir?”

“Have the surviving militia relocate them to the great hall mam. That should solve the feeding problem. Now with that number of ill, the settlement will have to be levelled. That does mean every home you know.”

“I do not like your council sir, but as a loyal kinswoman it shall be done.”

The carpenter began nailing the victims inside, as the healthy were hustled outside at sword point. As they gathered inside the great hall, dark mumblings began.

“What right has the king to do this thing? We live here quite happily.”

“The king knows best,” another said.

“He does not know everything man.”

“What if these strangers are right?” another said. “This malady has no respect for anyone.”

“The wise woman assured us that it would pass.”

The majority agreed.

A more levelheaded individual shook his head.

“She was one of the first to perish. I say that compliance is the only option.”

“It’s alright for you,” the ringleader said. “You live alone. I had to leave my wife and kids.”

The mood of the survivors was rapidly turning ugly.

As the last body was thrown into the last home, Charly gave the order to torch it. As they watched it burn, a frantic woman ran towards them.

“Oh mam...The people intend to free their loved ones. They won’t mind breaking heads either.”

“They must not oppose the king’s authority,” the headwoman said. “That is open treason.”

“It is not the king they oppose but those two.”

Charly looked grim.

“What we do is for the better. Tell the ruddy mob that.”

As he said this, a group of men armed with clubs marched toward them.

“Get out of our settlement,” the ringleader shouted. “Leave us be.”

Charly walked towards them but Grant stopped him.

“They are beyond reason now mate.”

The headwoman raised her palms for calm.

“You must return to the great hall. Go home.”

The ringleader was in no mood for parley. He swung his club and smashed the head of the unfortunate lady.

Grabbing Grant’s arm Charly shouted, “Run for it!”

The mob jeered and followed as the headwoman lay upon the dirt bleeding profusely.

As the friends broke free from the settlement Charly shouted, “Bowman fire.”

The crossbows were lowered, and bolts cut the first rank of people down. As the rest hesitated, Charly called a halt.

“Is this what you want? To lose everything? This way you at least have a chance.”

“We only want our loved ones back,” the mob yelled. “You have no right to imprison them.”

“For pities sake don’t do that,” Charly pleaded.

“Stuff you mate.”

The angry survivors ran back and promptly lynched the carpenter. As the headwoman came to, the frightened people carried her to the burning home of the dead and tossed her onto the flames.

Her short-lived screams rent the air and hardened Charley’s heart.

“Ruddy murderers.”

“They killed her?”

“Of course they did Grant. Well that does it. Every one of them will contract it now. Probably try to flee and these bowmen may not be able to hold them.”

“So what’s the plan?” Grant asked.

Charly pointed to the tar brazier.

“Fire your bows and torch the settlement. Kill everyone on sight. Do not let them touch you.”

The grim faced troops fired their bolts, and sent showers towards the wooden buildings. As the flames took hold, the bowman moved through the settlement with no mercy.

A young girl fled towards them and a bolt cut her down. As a group of men armed with clubs moved against them, the bowmen knelt in line and cut them to pieces.

The crackling flames and screams tore at Charley’s heart.

“I feel like a murderer.”

“They gave you no choice man. Anyone would have done the same.”

“I’m not just anyone Grant. I’m Charly. I’m supposed to save life, not snuff it out like a mad dog.”

The grim task was soon over. As the last four survivors huddled inside the great hall, fiery bolts struck the walls and the roof. As thick smoke poured inside, they leapt out coughing frantically. The bowmen opened fire at once.

As they filed towards their captain, Charly screamed, “Kill me!”

They ignored his plea and headed towards the castle and safety.
Charly sank to his knees and wept uncontrollably as Grant looked on. The first of the burning homes collapsed as thick black smoke rose toward the clear blue sky.

Night had fallen and many miles away an old man was walking along the golden sandy beach. He was a true loner, preferring to live by the coast instead of the settlements. Now that the rain had stopped, his life had become far easier.

“I really need to rest now.”

He sat against a large boulder as the dark waves rolled up. His heavy eyes soon closed as sleep claimed him at last.

A dark shape soon spotted him. As it lumbered from the sea, he remained oblivious. When the teeth lined jaws snapped across his legs he woke abruptly and began screaming in pain and for help. Help that never came.

The beast ignored his pleas and dragged him into the salty water. Water that rapidly turned blood red.