Adelaide

The rain pounded my face, and darkness loomed all around me. It was up to the flashes of lightning to illuminate my path, paired with my horse’s instinct to get me back to the cottage hidden deep within the forest. The continual rain had carried on for a fortnight working in my favour, washing away any tracks that lead back to my humble abode. I am convinced that after tonight the bounty on my head will significantly be increased by decree of the King. My neck unequivocally would find its way to the guillotine. Once secured within my home, drying myself by the fire, I reflected on the events leading up to this dreary night.

The people were growing progressively restless. Heroes and villains alike were cropping up everywhere, taking advantage of the unsettled and dire circumstances. With whispers of an impending revolt, one had to be careful with which side you took. I felt a deep urgency to rid the world of the evil slowly creeping into the weary population. I hesitated to trust anyone.

Rumours had reached my ears of a woman who dared take a man’s life while he was bathing. She was becoming a hero amongst the people, inspiring women across the land, like me, to take action. The pompous bourgeoisie has become increasingly corrupt. It was time to topple the regime and bestow the power back to the people. The time to weave together a plan and execute it had arrived.

I analyzed the region for weeks, travelling to various hamlets and villages in the area, scouting out possible targets, learning their patterns and habits. I find it crucial to know as much detail as one can muster while maintaining discretion. Once I ascertained who my target was going to be, I set forth to memorize his comings and goings. Eventually, gathering what I needed to know, I seized the moment.

During my surveillance, I was astonished to learn how corrupt the clergy were, often hoarding money for themselves, getting rich at the expense of the commoner. My target, an archbishop, was known to have harlots, that he exploited to release his burning passions. Moreover, he was the key financial supporter of those wanting to squash the looming revolt. With this newly obtained knowledge, a passion welled up within me to see this wretched man die. Taking out key players would surely aid the success of the revolt.

It was his weekly routine to go to market on Tuesdays unaccompanied, which made it easy for him to seemingly disappear somewhere along the way, as the path to his estate from the market snaked extensively through the depths of the forest. I hid amongst the trees and drew my sword, ready to bring his foul life to an end. Once I was certain that he had drawn his last breath, I dragged his lifeless form to the river, which was raging swiftly. I need not fear that he would be found, as provisions were made that would sink his form to the swirling depths below.

Soon after, there were raids across the land, hundreds of people involved with the uprising were captured and thrown into jail. I packed what little I had, and headed elsewhere, to avoid being captured myself. Journeying long into the night, I came upon another cottage deep within a different forest. I hung my sword over the mantle of the stone fireplace. Then, I stoked a fire and sat warming myself, contemplating what the future held for me. At last, the word spread that even the Queen, herself, had succumbed to beheading. Only time would tell if this was truly the beginning of the end of the corrupt regime.