I hurried as fast as I could to find Hyrum and Draves. I did not trust her not to try and hurt herself or run. I found both of them on the practice field training with the other men. I ran to the ring and shouted out their names. I tried to say it in a calm, friendly manner so as to not alarm the others, but I couldn't help the fact that I was wheezing from the run. Curse this stupid body. When I had their attention, I waved them over. They were both sweaty and wearing training pads.

"Get in your uniforms as fast as you can," I said quietly. "We have a serious matter that may turn ugly if we cannot fix it right away."

Hyrum looked shocked and rushed to get out of his training gear, but Draves gave no reaction except to walk swiftly over to his gear. He changed quickly but in such a way that it looked as if he didn't have a care in the world. How did he do that?

As we hurried back to the room where I stashed Carrie, I gave a brief synopsis of what had transpired. If she really had committed murder, could I kill her? I didn't want a person's blood on my hands. Logically I understood the death penalty but I never thought I would be the one to have to do it. Did that make me weak? Could I even survive as a Baron if I wasn't willing to pass proper judgment? I was so out of my depth.

"My Lord, you cannot let this stand," Draves said seriously, "Even if she was not aware of what he was doing at the time, she did not confess."

"We do not have the full story. We all make mistakes. Including the young lady behind that door. I will not pass judgment until I have it." I said.

Even then, I had no idea what I should do.

"As you wish, my lord."

"Hyrum, I need you to go in there and make sure she doesn't leave. More likely, she will try and kill herself."

"It might be best if she did," Hyrum said, stone-faced.

I admit I was shocked. I expected him to want to spare her. What was with this society that they were so ready to kill people? "Hyrum, you and I both know she is a good person."

"She lied to me. How could I trust her when she hid something like this," he said, his face turning red.

"She was afraid, Hyrum. Most people would be afraid if they were caught up in a plot like this. I was going to have you go in and try to calm her down, but I can see you're in no mood to do that. Right now, she might commit suicide. But if you entered right now with that attitude, she would definitely commit suicide. And I don't care how mad you are if you caused her to harm herself, you would be burdened by it for the rest of your life. Maybe not right now, but it would start to gnaw at you and then turn into full-blown guilt."

Hyrum looked like he wanted to refute that, but Draves was nodding at what I said, and so he stayed silent.

"Now stand here and think of better times. If she pokes her head out, be polite and say, I put you here to protect her. Captain, we have a murder to unravel. Let's go."

I burst into the study to find Marcus at the table. He looked up in annoyance until he saw it was me. Before he could even put on his mask of subservience, I started talking. "Marcus, you are found guilty of treason against your lord. Your sister and mother have confessed all they know. What I do with you will be determined by whether or not your stories collaborate. If your stories do not line up, or I feel one of you is hiding information, you will all be tortured and executed. If you all tell the truth as baron of the manor and as Captain Draves as my witness, I will show all the mercy I can."

The look on Marcus's face was one of pure terror. His hatred of me couldn't help him now. Beneath his mask was always hatred, but fear always won out when your life was on the line. It is easy to be brave when you think you can get away with something, but in the prisoner's dilemma, you cannot be sure what has already been told. He cracked as easily as an egg. He started to blubber.

"My Lord, I had nothing to do with it. It was all my father and mother. I didn't know about the poison until he was on his deathbed. I would never do such a thing. I-"

"I told you not to lie, you fool," I shouted, "Do you want to be tortured? I know you would have been happy to slip me the poison if the opportunity was given to you. You are horrible at hiding your contempt for me. Now, let's start from the beginning. When did you first find out your father was stealing from my father?" I started with that because even though Carrie had said nothing, I couldn't imagine a guy trying to poison my family without having stolen from us as well. His mother at least would have known about it, and I already said that I had talked to her.

It turned out he was not involved in the murder, and he was not aware of the fact until afterward. He knew that his father had been receiving letters and money from someone, but he had never seen the letters or the money. His father said the duke was paying him to keep tabs on the baron. Whether that was true or not, Marcus couldn't say. The letters were always burned. As far as he knew, his father had not told his sister either. Another score was when he confessed that his father had stolen from my barony but didn't know how much. His father had never told him where he hid it, and he was going to look for it right before they left so he wouldn't cast suspicion on himself if he was caught with it.

"Well, Marcus, if what you said is true, you may have just saved your family's life. I have one other task, and then your fate will be decided. Captain, escort Marcus to the great hall where he will await judgment." With that, I left for the gardens. Hopefully, Patricia was not as deeply involved as I thought. She seemed so nice.

I did find her in the garden. I asked if I could have a moment of her time in private as it was concerning her daughter. I was hoping she thought I was just going to ask why she had broken off the engagement. I took her back to the study, passing Hyrum on the way. He kept his face as calm as still water. I am so glad he didn't glare at Patricia.

When we entered the room, I invited her to sit on the chair. I stood. "Patricia, you are guilty of conspiring to kill the members of the house of Bicman. Your children have confessed all they knew of the plot, including the fact that you had foreknowledge of the poisoning of the family and theft of the family's funds."

The chair was no help. Her face turned pale, and her eyes rolled up into her head as she passed out.

Well, that didn't go as planned.

I waited for about a minute before I bent over and shook her. It was at that moment that I realized something. It was getting easier to bend over. I love Tai Chi. Anyways, back to my interrogation. She came to slowly, and when I could tell she was conscious, I continued.

"You might be able to save your children if you can remain conscious long enough to tell me everything you know about the doings of your husband."

“I… I can’t…”

"Then you will watch your children die." I felt like a monster saying that. Pretend that it wasn't me saying them. I kept telling myself I was doing this to try and save them, but really, if I was honest with myself, I just wanted the truth and to avoid killing anyone else.

She was silent for a long time before she said, "I don't know when he started to spy on your house. I don't even know who he was spying for. All I cared about was the silver he was getting for the information. It wasn't much, but it came regularly. I wanted to leave. I just wanted to get enough money to leave. I hate it here. We all did. I thought if we could save up enough money to buy a house in the city, he could find work as a clerk there. And I hated you most of all. The way you treated my children." she said fiercely.

That last part was understandable. No parent wanted their children to be bullied.

"And you never told anyone of what your family was doing?" I said sternly

"Who would I tell, my lord? If I told someone, my entire family would be killed."

"And the poison?"

"I knew. I swear I tried to convince him not to do it. He said they would pay us fifty gold crowns if we killed the entire family. They even sent five crowns to help him do it. He came up with many plans, but all were too risky. I told him to just send the money back. We had almost had enough money to leave. He thought about hiring mercenaries to kill your family when you traveled, but the expense was more than he wanted to spend. He bought poison with the money. When he went to Decmoore. Then, the illness hit. When some of the villagers died, and people in the manor started getting ill, he decided to risk the poisoning. I told him it was foolish. I tried to stop him I swear. He wasn't a bad man. He didn't listen. He was obsessed with getting the gold. He wanted to buy a knighthood for our son."

Most bad men didn't think they were. They were always victims of circumstance. I did my best to keep my face emotionless. I was not cut out for this. "Your story doesn't match that of your children," I said, trying to portray disgust.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"No! You have to believe me. They must have thought lying would save them. Please spare them. Only I knew of the poison. I am guilty. They found out as he was dying."

"Carrie said that she poisoned the drinks herself," I lied. Marcus claims to have known your husband was spying and stealing."

"She couldn't have. Ronald didn't trust her. He thought she was a fool. I don't know if Marcus knew about the spying, but I didn't know he knew."

"Come with me, and don't make a scene," I said in a flat voice.

She got to her feet, and trembling, she followed after me. As we passed Hyrum in the hall, I told him to fetch Carrie and bring her along. When I arrived in the hall, I found Draves standing over Marcus, who was on his knees with his head bowed. As I came around in front of him, I could see that he had managed to put the mask back on. His mother knelt down next to him and put her arm around him. He didn't react at all. He may not have even realized what she had done. Finally, Carrie came in half-supported by Hyrum. He led them over to the other two and made sure she didn't collapse as she got down on her knees.

The great hall had once more been turned into a meeting room. Tables and benches were pushed to the side, and all that remained of the baron's table was the large chair. The judgment chair, as they called it. I sat down in it and waved the two men forward. As they approached, I looked at the three miserable people on the floor. The mother knew of the poisoning before it happened. THe daughter knew and didn't say anything, and the son probably wished he had done the poisoning. Did I have justification for killing all of them. As regent, I probably didn't even need justification.

In US law would it make them accessory to murder? That was just a lot of time in prison right? Was not reporting a crime against the law? This wasn't the US, though. This was some sort of feudal society that I didn't understand.

"Captian, what do you suggest?" I said softly.

"Death by beheading." He said, with no emotion. Hyrum, however, was not so calm at the words. His body immediately tensed.

"Even if they were only told of the poisoning at the father's deathbed and were sworn to secrecy?" That, of course, was a lie, Patrica knew, but he didn't know that.

"They should have come to you immediately." His eyes were flat, and I felt there was more to this than just the standard punishment.

"And if they had, what would the punishment have been?"

Draves said nothing.

"This is what I have determined. None of them had foreknowledge of the murder. Patricia and Marcus admitted that they knew of the spying and thievery. Carrie was not thought of as a trustworthy accomplice in this matter and so was never told of the theft and spying."

"And you believe them?" Draves said disapprovingly.

"They were given no time to get their story straight between the three of them. I told them that if their stories did not match up, I would kill all of them. Their stories do not contradict one another. What is the most lenient punishment I can give them?"

"You are not the king. You cannot pardon them."

"I will not kill them."

"It is the law." Draves said.

"Strip them of their title and make them serfs," Hyrum said at the same time.

"Make them serfs?" I said in surprise.

"Yes."

That was an interesting thought. Reducing their title.

I knew the word serf here meant something a little different than serf in my old world.

From what I had seen, serfs had fewer rights than peasants and were treated much like any other work animal. I was responsible for feeding and clothing them. I had to provide shelter but I could pretty much get away with what I wanted.

Hyrum, I need to consult with Draves. Hyrum stepped away and I began to whisper. "What is the difference between a slave and a serf?"

"The kingdom does not allow slaves." He said a little indignantly.

"I know, but what is the difference?” I asked.

“Unlike the southern kingdoms who practice slavery, serfs have the right to be treated fairly and to not be abused."

"Who enforces this?"

“The baron is responsible for enforcing this on his land.”

I didn’t know how people who owned slaves were treated. I suppose some masters treated them well based on their own beliefs. I can't imagine baron’s being any different. I could be wrong.

“Do you feel my father treated his serfs fairly?”

Again there was silence.

“Correct me if I am wrong, but if they are slaves they wouldn’t have freedom of movement. What would happen it they left without the papers of a commoner or peasant and wearing the clothing of serfs.”

“We would put a bounty on them. If they were discovered they would be sent back here. Most likely though the baron over the land they were discovered on would not return them. They would make them work their own fields with close supervision.”

“Sounds like serf is a pretty apt punishment for people who were related to a murder.”

Drives frowned

"Why are you doing this? Even if they had no knowledge of the plot, knowledge of the theft and spying needs to be punished harshly, or others will try and take advantage of you."

"Who do we need to tell? We can just get them out of town. Serfs can be sold. But we can say they just left. They don't need a public execution."

"If you are reducing their title, There must be a public sentencing. You should have the priest witness the event."

I thought for a moment and said, "The public charges will be foreknowledge of theft and spying by Ronold. And that will reduce them to serfs. The punishment fits the crime and I don't have to kill anyone. Then we will send them away."

I my world even knowing about the murder the punishment would only be for a few years. So being turned into basically slaves for the rest of their lives seemed fair.

"They need to die. They will stab you in the back."

“They won’t be in a position to do so.” I said.

I didn’t think Carrie and her mother had it in them to commit murder anyways. Marcus, I couldn't punish him for a crime he didn’t commit.

I looked at the family kneeling in the great hall. "I am not going to kill anyone else. Ever!"

"Anyone else?" Hyrum said, shock evident on his face.

I said nothing.

The captain was silent for a while and then said, "May I be frank, My Lord?"

"As always."

"You are a good man, but you are foolish and not fit to be a baron."

That hurt even if I knew it to be true. “I am quite aware that I am not fit to be baron." I said, a little deflated.

We stayed that way for a moment before I straightened my shoulders and looked up at the two men, "Hyrum, take this family to their rooms."

"Not to the prison?" He said in surprise.

"You will guard their door. Captain, Find the priest and let the people know that after field work is done today, there will be a sentencing of Patricia, Carrie, and Marcus. There will be no supper today until the sentence has been passed."

"The priest may be in another village."

"Then find out and bring him back. We will get this over with as soon as he returns."

They both bowed and left.

After they left, I collapsed into my chair. I was too soft. I couldn't do this. Draves was right, I couldn't just let people go and expect them not to stab me in the back. But every time I tried to steal my resolve and tell him he was right, I thought of Nathan. I thought of the heart beating in my chest. I swore on his grave I would be a better person.

I would have to find a way out of this. Maybe the king could appoint another baron. Give it to the baron south of us or something? Then, my thoughts turned to Aaron. This was his inheritance. I doubt if I tried to put this burden on someone else, they would just hand it back to him when he came of age. I had to do this, not for me but for him. I had to learn to be a proper regent until he was of age. I couldn't fail him by letting his villages collapse or be taken away. By the Endless One's shiny bald head, I had to do this.

I wonder if the Endless one had a bald head. Did he have a head?

Marcus

The beating of my heart quieted as the door shut behind us, and I was not too proud to admit it was fear. Who wouldn't be afraid, facing the knowledge that they were about to die? A new emotion started to grow within me. Rage. I rounded on my foolish sister. She was sitting on their bed with her head in her hands. I grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet. I pulled her into my room and slammed the door. I slapped her hard across the face and shoved her down. "You moron! All you had to do was stay quiet. We were almost out of here, and now he will kill us all."

She mumbled something under her breath. I snapped. I could not contain the anger I felt towards my worthless sister. I kicked her in the stomach. "Don't you dare talk back to me!"

Just then, my mother walked in, "What are you doing?" She gasped.

"Trying to teach this idiot to keep her mouth shut, even though it's too late. We're all dead."

"But he said-"

"Mother, are you as much a fool as her?" I said, pointing to my sister, "He was obviously lying. He is a cruel monster. Nothing has changed except for the fact that he has become more crafty. Trust me, he is just trying to keep us calm, give us hope before he destroys it."

"I hope he does kill me," Carrie muttered.

"You-"

"That is enough, Marcus. I may not be your father, but you will respect me," my mother said firmly.

I stayed quiet, not out of respect but because I wanted to hear what she had to say.

"How did Lord Amos find out?"

"Isn't it obvious, she-"my mother held up her hand, interrupting me. I ground my teeth.

"He already knew," Carrie said.

"What?”

“I could tell. He mentioned me murdering people.

I scoffed, "So he was just toying with us, waiting for us to confess. He knew you were the weakest and just waited for you to snap. We should have run."

"He hates me," Carrie said as she started to cry.

"So what if he hates you? He's a monster."

"Not, Lord Amos." My mother said.

"Hyrum," I snorted in disgust. "He never loved you. He just wanted someone to have his way with. If he really loved you, he could help you escape. Instead, he is loyal to that monster, guarding our door like the faithful dog he is. Trust me. He won't shed a tear as we hang."

I slapped my sister again, not even caring about my mother's protests. She was as stupid as my