The peasants are revolting

Marcus was hit by a wave of noise as Lyra dragged him out the castle by the throat. Spread out in front of the gates was a larger crowd of people than he'd ever seen in his life. They were all shouting, screaming and waving torches and pitchforks. Most of them were just wearing grubby, dirty clothes too. The young prince couldn't even make out what any of them were saying. He froze in the gateway, too scared to move, only to be pulled forward by another hard yank of the collar. Lyra was striding out in front of the crowd with a proud smile on her face. Her one good eye flickered over the mob with obvious satisfaction as she pulled Marcus along with her like a dog.

The young prince had thought nothing could be scarier than her and her two brutish companions. He'd been very wrong. All these people, staring at him and screaming in rage. He was too terrified to be embarrassed by his nakedness, his hands clenched into trembling little fists by his sides. Why were they so mad? What had he done wrong to any of them? His captor pulled him in front of the crowd, towards a large, wooden stage his Father had used sometimes to make speeches or address the castle guards.

"Get the boys lined up to keep the people back." Lyra glanced over her shoulder at Jack, her eye gliding over Marcus like he was utterly beneath her notice. "Things might get rowdy when I start my speech."

"Got it." Jack nodded. He turned and padded away to a group of rough-looking men standing in a group to one side. All of them wore at least some armor, grubby bits of leather and rusty mail. At a few words from him, they moved out, forming a line in front of the stage. They were all tall and brawny, and though the crowd kept screaming and waving things, their looming presence seemed to calm things down a little.

Lyra pulled the young prince up the stairs and onto the stage. Standing here alone beside her Marcus felt even more exposed. Cold wind whipped past his naked body. He was crying again, little wet sniffles making his throat ache and chest heave. One hand feebly covered his soft little dick, while the other hung limply by his side. All those angry faces, all those horrible shouts. It was too much for him to take. His knees trembled, and he felt like at any moment he'd fall flat on his face. How had he made all these people hate him so much? Was it really just because he was a prince?

"My friends!" Lyra boomed suddenly, holding her hand out to the baying crowd. "I have grand news! News that all who value freedom in their hearts will rejoice to hear!" The noise of the mob died away, and all those faces turned to watch her, hanging eagerly on her every word. "Today, myself and a band of brave fighters have cast down the oppressors who so mistreated us all. Tonight is the start of a new era for our country, one where no man or woman will have to bow down in the dirt again!" Marcus found himself staring at her in shock, even as painful tears still streamed down his cheeks. There was so much fire in her voice, so much feeling it made his skin tingle and his heart ache. Even though he hated her, he couldn't look away. "No longer will these parasites lord over us, taking all but the scraps from your children's hands!" She continued, thrusting her hand up in a fist to the sky. "No longer will we starve while those in crowns gorge themselves like swine with more than they could ever eat! No longer, my friends! From this day forth, our country belongs to you, the people!"

There was silence for a moment as her words died away into the cool night air. She stood there over the crowd with her hand held high and a smile like Marcus had never seen before on her scarred face. Her one good eyes glistened in the torchlight, a single tear dripping down her cheek. She looked so happy, so relieved, like all her life she'd been longing for this one moment. Those things she said...she really did believe them. Marcus shivered, wondering how she'd ended up this way. He had never heard anything like that speech before. Starving people...scraps taken from children, that didn't happen here, did it? The castle always had plenty of food, of course, but that was just the way things were.

"For freedom!" Someone shouted from the crowd, a very loud and strident voice that cut through the air. "For Lyra and the brave fighters!" The wave of cheering then hit the stage like a hammer blow. The crowd who'd been so furious before were now grinning and stamping in wild happiness. Shrill whistles and shouts filled the air. People were throwing hats and coats and hugging each other.

Suddenly Marcus felt a hard tug on the collar. Squealing shrilly, he was dragged to Lyra's side. The scarred woman grabbed him firmly by the shoulder and yanked him in front of her. She pushed down hard, forcing him to his knees. The young prince yelped in pain as he hit the wood hard. His stinging knees were the least of his problems though. Now he found himself kneeling naked in front of this cheering mob, with the cruelest woman he'd ever met standing over him. She hated him and his family, and he was at her mercy.

The young prince was trembling, too terrified to even think. What were these awful people going to do to him now?