Ermine walks up the hill and faces her necessary destiny.
“Your grace, what brings you here,” the executioner asks when she approaches.
Sister Ermine hands the executioner the signed release. “I am to take prisoner Donston’s place at the stocks.”
“What?” The executioner asks confused. “Is this some sort of mercy mission?”
“No sir. This is a necessary mission,” Ermine says flatly.
The executioner calls to the constable, “Release the monk!” Blessed Donston cannot believe his eyes and ears. Sister Ermine is here to take his place!
Blessed Donston has a tough time straightening his back because it has been in a bent position for such a long time. His arms feel limp and his neck muscles severely strained.
Finally he stretches and raises his hands to the heavens, “ Watcher be praised! I am freed!”
The executioner knowing what Ermine is about to get herself into, offers her a comforting hug, “May the Watcher be with you good sister,” he whispers in her ear.
Ermine does not know if the executioner is a fellow Peteran or not, but his heart is kind despite his cruel job.
“Thank you for offering comfort. I am afraid that I will need it.”
He places a hand on her shoulder, “You are not deserving of this.”
“Neither, I am sure, was blessed Donston,” believing that she is exchanging her innocence for his.
The constable walks over, “You are now under arrest!” He says in a cruel voice that is frightening to Ermine.
He then pulls out his sword. Ermine almost feels faint as she stands under the second sword that has threatened her tonight.
“That is not necessary constable”, the executioner says in response to the constable’s harsh behavior toward the priest.
“I just do not like these ‘hollier than thou’ types,” he answers in an attempt to justify his treatment of the priest.
The constable holds open the stock and Ermine stands reluctantly behind it.
As much as she tried to prepare for this moment, Ermine finds that she is just the opposite of prepared for this. No one can prepare for the humiliation that comes with being sent to the stocks.
She opens her mouth to plead with the constable, but the cruel smirk on his face stops her words. “Lower yourself!” He demands with more authority than necessary.
Ermine places her head down on the wooden plank. The notch where her head rests is wet with the monk’s perspiration. Her nose is immediately filled with the scent of rotten eggs and tomatoes that have been thrown at the prisoners as they stand helpless.
As the top plank is lowered, Ermine can feel splinters graze her neck. She is sure that she is bleeding. She holds as still as possible to avoid further injury from the rough wood surrounding her neck.
The monk questions the executioner as to why Sister Ermine has agreed to take his place at the stock. The executioner has no answer for him. “You shall have to get your answer from her.”
The constable walks off with a gleeful grunt. He really enjoys his job.
After the first half hour, Ermine’s back aches from standing at an unnatural angle. Her legs are weak and threaten to bend at the knees, leaving only her neck to support her.
After an hour, she dozes only to be awakened when her head falls limp, scraping her chin on the harsh untreated wood.
The monk stands close, wanting to hear from sister Ermine the reason behind her self sacrifice. Ermine is not in the position to answer. Instead she cries out to no one in particular.
Again she dozes, only to be awaken by a splat, pressure and a thick fleshy liquid that slowly gravitates from her hair and face to the ground. She has been hit by a tomato.
Ermine tries to keep her composure as the Watcher would want her to do, but she can feel her sanity slipping away as another hour passes.
More tomatoes are thrown at her by passers-by seeking some quick cheap amusement as they head to or return from the village. A particularly large tomato hits her cheek before exploding in fleshy red juice. Her cheek stings and her eyes burn from the tomato juice.
Just as she begins to doze once again, she is crudely awaken by the constable’s harsh voice, “Wake up!”
The constable begins to release the latch on the side of the stock. The monk and executioner stand by watching; both glad to see the priest being released.
Ermine is thrilled to be freed, but her back does not immediately respond. She cannot stand. “Leave or I shall close you back in!” The constable shouts.
Ermine forces her back to respond to her brain’s demand to stand. She stretches in an attempt to regain some feeling in her arms and back.
Everyone stands to watch what she does, but all she can do is cry. She is deeply humiliated and more tired and hungry than she has ever been in her life. She feels for the soul who is still locked up beside her. Only now is she aware of the second prisoner’s cries of pain and suffering.
She ignores her whole purpose for trading places with the monk. Now that they are both free, she can seek answers from him, but right now she cannot. She steps away from the stocks and heads home.
