She gave her dress a nervous twitch. The king paced with impatience. Through the door they herd the noise of the members of the Sabor Naroda getting organized, chatting and finding their seats. The Naroda was meeting in a large chapel in the palace. Her father had never used it. The king preferred to use the small chapel near what had become his office. She had been in the chapel several times this week seeing the workmen making adjustments to the seating. Before the Sabor Naroda had been called, she had never been in there. She decided after the Naroda was dine this would be her chapel. She very much preferred it. It was airy and the stained glass windows were a lot prettier.
The announcer came in and stood by the door. The king stopped his pacing and stood behind the announcer, and the robes equerry came up and attached the train to the kings shoulders and ran the train out behind the king. Then it was her turn to have a shorter train attached to the shoulders of her gown. She felt butterflies in her stomach. They were ready. At a signal from the king two equerries raised op two discreet flags over the screen and the sergeants on the other side of the screen began shouting "Order for the king!" When the Naroda had quieted down the equerries opened the doors and the announcer went into the chapel. ……..
The kings speech from the throne gave the particulars of why the Sabor Naroda had been called. He went back and forth on the issue of the 75 attainders they would be reviewing, going on about the corrupt practices of them collectively at length, mentioning the treason to him personally in passing. He then entered into precedents of the attaining church men. There were a lot of them, but they were mostly from 200 tears or more. He then went on about the iniquities of the abbeys that held lots of farms and huge revenues and very few monks. He then went on at length about the charitable trusts that created the abbeys, and the record of very little charity given out. Then he talked about reforming the tariff code. He went about tariffs that needed increasing, and which ones should be reduced. Finally he began the topic of the new forms for the stamped paper. He discussed the ease of the new forms, and the bringing of more produce to the cities. He talked only a short time on that. Then he got to the heart of the meeting.
'I have called you here to assist me in resolving our finding our course of action regarding the Arch bishop of Stolitsaw. Let me remind you what will happen: if you approve with 80%, the miscreant will be pressed by two millstones, if you approve by 70% he will be hung, if you approve by 60% he will be banished to the furthest southern isle, and if you approve by 55% he will be stripped of all dignities and protections, else he will be allowed all dignities and protections as as a leader adjudged innocent of all charges.' Here he paused and looked at the Naroda as if to say 'Don’t let any of these get less than 60%'
He goT a scroll out from a pocket and began reading the particulars
'For these several and individual acts he deserves to be pressed under two millstones to bring the precepts of orders and the laws of the laws the kingdom, and I request the concurrence of the Naroda to bring the good order of the Holy Church and the safety and security of the subjects of the nobility and populace of the kingdom.'
The king Rolled up the indictment and said 'The witnesses are ready to be questioned. You have the depositions. Does the Archbishop wish to call any of the witnesses?' He waited for the archbishop to respond.
The archbishop stood up and said 'You can’t call these witnesses. They are all women. No woman can swear against a churchman!'
The king said 'I can call as a witness who I wish to call as a witness'
A commoner stood up 'That is against the customs and laws…. But if you put the matter before the Sabor Noroda to permit women to swear against men generally you can change the rule that way with 65% approving'
'That is the only way you can change our ancient liberties, sire' said lord Rayal.
The king said 'Fine… the question before the Sabor Naroda is shall women be permitted to swear in courts against men in all actions before the king and subsidiary courts in all matters. First we hear from the peers. First a peer in favor'
When the verdict was read the high priest said 'No! You can't do this! My body is sacrosanct!' The king gave a signal and six soldiers grabbed onto him. Two of them tied ropes to his hands and the whole procession walked out. The king walked out, took off his train and went upstairs to a viewing platform over the square.
When the king and Milenka reached the viewing platform the Sabor Naroda was filing out onto the square under the kings platform. A crowd had been gathered in the square already. In the center of the square was a pair of millstones, one on a platform, the other held op by several ropes off to the side on a wheeled cart. When the Sabor Naroda was in place the gaged high priest was conveyed in. He had donkeys attached to the ropes, which were led by soldiers and he was surrounded by four more. They conveyed him to the milstone where he was tied down.
When the priest was secure a herald read out the out the charges of the indictment and the verdict. He said "The prisoner will be given a chance to speek" He then removed the gag. The priest said "You can't do this! I am the chief high priest!" The king gave a signal and the cart with the other milstone was moved over the priest. The priest was still fulminating as the millstone was centered over him. When it was ready, the executioner looked up to the king, who waited a moment and gave the signal. The executioner cut the main rope and the milstone came crashing down, followed by silence. The crowd began shouting "Long live the king" and cheering. The king gave no recognition to the cheering, and after 5 minutes he gave a signal to Milenka to lead him, and followed her out.
he went downstairs and, renewed his train, and sat down again. When he was settled in, the Sabor Naroda was let in again. They quickly, quietly resumed their seats. When they were all settled in the herald came down the central path and announced "The verdict of the king and the Sabor Naroda was carried out. The felon is no more. There will be a new election for the position of high priest by the elector priests at the conclusion of the Sabor Naroda. " He slowly backed out.
When he was gone the king said "That concludes today's business. We will meet ' tomorrow for the next days business" Taking Milenka's hand he escorted her out, at which time Sabor Naroda walked out
In the robing room the king was in a sulky mood. "Why did he have to be so stupid"