"I can go, you can talk privately."
She began to stand up when the woman held her hands tightly. Maria,a looked at her and she gave a gaze that seeked companionship.
"S-she can stay." The woman said to the king.
The king did not spare Mariana a glance and he and Charles sat on the other sofa.
Was he upset? Was he furious on her for doubting him? Mariana chewed her lip in sad confusion. Her heart was warm with embarrasement. She should've asked about the condition to him.
However, her attention was diverted when Miss Tamira began to talk.
"When I went to the m-market yesterday, a man covered my m-mouth with his hand and b-b-brought me forcefully to a house. He - he -".
Mariana could see how fearful Tamira felt about speaking that moment. She wished she could do something to ease her discomfort.
"What did he do, Miss Tamira?"
They all startled hearing the king's angry voice. Mariana saw he sat straight, holding his anger for the man who did what Tamira was about to say. His fists were clenched tightly on his thighs.
Mariana placed an encouraging hand on Tamira's back and the woman clutched Mariana's hand even tighter. It was almost painful, but no way in the world was she about to leave her hold. The woman needed her support and Mariana was going to provide it abundantly.
"He-he began to h-hurt me but I r-ran away and then I-I fell. He grasped my ankle and he saw a birthmark t-through my stocking. He screamed that I-I am a w-w-witch."
Mariana gasped. It would have been a horrible day for her. A man trying to rape her, she trying to escape him and then he seeing a symbol and yelling she was a witch.
"What happened then, Miss Tamira?" Mariana asked softly caressing her hands.
"T-then p-people came and the women t-tore my stocking to s-see the symbol and they yelled t-that I-I am a witch. They d-dragged me from my h-hair and t-tied me to the t-tree". She said everything weeping, and Mariana realised she herself too, was on the verge of crying when the woman's face blurred because of the tears. How brutle her day was. She looked at Miss Tamira's face, so innocent. How could someone drag her so brutally. She saw the woman's hair plaited loosely, the lightest shade of blond, they almost appear white. How could someone pull such beautiful hair. Mariana wanted to beat those people to a pulp for hurting her.
A loud screech distracted her from her revengeful thoughts. The king had stood up, so harshly that the sofa, on which Mr. Charles was already sitting, moved back. His fists were clutched tightly and his eyes held ferocity. He looked very different from the relaxed, smiling king he always was.
"Charles", he called out.
Mr. Charles stood up immediately. "Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Gather the entire colony right now in the same yesterday's spot."
Charles bowed and left.
"Do me a favour, Miss Tamira," he spoke quietly but in a angry voice. "Show me those men," saying this, he strode out of the house.
The woman looked at Mariana. Her eyes wide with fear and lios trembling. "I am afraid."
Mariana left her hands and held the woman's beautiful face in her hands and smiled. "His Majesty will punish them. They all will pay for what they did to you."
"B-but I am afraid," she said again while her lips quivered.
Mariana wiped her tears. "Trust me, and trust His Majesty. He won't let anyone harm you from now on."
When Mariana said those words, she knew they were true. He trusted the king enough to know he was about to do something right.
The woman looked at her with wide torquoise eyes. "Will you c-come with me?"
"Of course."
Mariana stood up and went inside other room which, as she guessed, was a kitchen. She brought her a glass of water and made her drink some.
After few sips and taking some steady breaths, Miss Tamira stood up. With an encouraging smile, Mariana offered the afraid woman her hand and she took it.
When they reached outside, they saw a large number of people waiting and discussing among themselves, probably about why there were made to gather there.
Mariana's eyes searched for the king and she found him leaning on the same tree Tamira was tied to yesterday.
His one leg was bent and the foot placed on the trunk of the tree, hands as usual in the trouser pockets. When he saw them, he straighted and walked forward. The people quieted when he came near. He looked very regal, very strong. He looked the very king he was even in the casual white shirt and dark trousers he was wearing. His eyes were cold now, and Mariana realised how much she missed the free humour in them.
He stood near them but looked only at Tamira. "Who tore your stockings?" He whispered so that only they could here the private clothing.
Tamira looked at Mariana who nodded at her encouragingly. She chutched her hand and they both began walking. Tamira searched in the people, until she found the person. She held up a shivering finger at a woman about forty years of age. She was plump and her eyes widened when Tamira pointed at her.
The king nodded at the guards and they immediately handcuffed the woman.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty. Please, I did not do anything!"
Her words itself betrayed her. Asking for forgiveness and denying that she did anything at the same time. The guards pulled her away.
"Who dragged you?" The king asked loudly this time.
Tamira pointed a finger at a very broad man. The guards grasped the man and took him in front of the king.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I won't repeat it. I won't," The broad man begged with his now trembling body.
The king looked at him and then raised his hand to punched the man hard on his face. Blood sprayed out of his mouth and Mariana winced.
"Who abducted you?"
Tamira searched the crowd and then looked at a man who was already shaking with fear. Tamira did not point at him but clutched Mariana's hand tighter.
The king followed her gaze amd without waiting, he grasped the man at his collar and dragged him to them. "Is he the one?"
Tamira's lips quivered. Mariana squeezed her hands.
Tamira gave a nod.
The king punched him and then held him at his throat and threw him on the ground. Holding the man's neck under his booted foot, the king spoke loudly to the crowd. "If I ever see a woman insulted, degraded, harmed or molested in any way on my land, that person will be made to see hell in my dungeons!"
Mariana could see fear lurking in men's eyes and satisfaction on every woman's face standing there, including herself.
A woman spoke loudly from the crowd, "Hail King Aaron!"
The people repeated in chorus. "Hail King Aaron!"
Mariana felt a feeling of such proudness in her chest for the king. How majestic he looked with his foot on a criminal and his people chanting his name in respect.
"Charles, tie both these men to the carriage and drag them throughout the town," the king announced. "Let everyone know what will happen if they illtreat a woman."
The two men squirmed and begged for forgiveness as the guards took them for their punishment.