Nathaniel glanced over his shoulder and saw three other white masked faces a dozen feet away.

The king had remained behind.
He shuddered and looked at Neil.

His companion's appearance was almost startling.

He seemed half a head taller than himself, yet he knew that he was shorter by an inch or two; his shoulders were thrown back, his chin held high, he kept step with the guards ahead.

He was marching to his death as coolly as though on parade.
Nathaniel's heart beat excitedly as they came to where the scrub of the forest met the plain.