Thomas Foxe stood at his post inside the Tower of London. The Kingâs most trusted axeman, he had a busy day in store tomorrow. The Queen herself was holed up at the top of the White Tower, having just been sentenced to die earlier in the day. The charges of adultery and treason were tenuous; no one knew if they were founded or not. The King had a well-known new mistress, though, so her chances never seemed fantastic. As he stood at his post with two guards, a Priest descended the steps, having just performed the last rites on the Queen.
Thomas was a lifetime servant of the crown, having spent his earlier years in the service of the royal navy. Heâd ascended the ranks quickly, but after serving his six years, had no more desire of a life at sea. Returning to dry land, he used a family connection to land a position as a beefeater, guarding the tower and all inside it. Now, at twenty-nine years of age, as a reward for his faithful duties, heâd been appointed the chief executioner. It wasnât exactly a job which was highly sought after. The King had been known to have executioners themselves executed if they didnât do a clean job and sever the head entirely in one shot. The King didnât like unnecessary gore, after all.
He was becoming increasingly disenchanted at the state of the kingdom, though. The royals seemed more interested in satisfaction of their own greedy desires than the good of the people. His own cousin, in fact, had been executed last month for some nebulous reason, an outrage. It seemed like tyranny was becoming the state of the day. He ran his finger through his shoulder length brown hair that he wore with a closely trimmed beard. A little over six feet, he was a burly man, strong enough to swing the heavy axe with ease, yet he wasnât heavy.
Three men were always commissioned to guard a prisoner up for execution, and he glanced around at the two guards with him, both youngsters. âItâs my usual routine to go in and speak with the condemned,â he told the other two. âI like to tell them what to expect, maybe taunt a little bit. Surely you wonât mind if I go in alone and talk to her,â he added with a smile. As they agreed, he ascended the steps, grinning as he wondered what he might behold as he visited the Queen herself on her last night on earth. Knocking on the door twice (as if she had a choice as to whether sheâd accept a visitor), he took out the heavy key and unlocked it.
Thomas was a lifetime servant of the crown, having spent his earlier years in the service of the royal navy. Heâd ascended the ranks quickly, but after serving his six years, had no more desire of a life at sea. Returning to dry land, he used a family connection to land a position as a beefeater, guarding the tower and all inside it. Now, at twenty-nine years of age, as a reward for his faithful duties, heâd been appointed the chief executioner. It wasnât exactly a job which was highly sought after. The King had been known to have executioners themselves executed if they didnât do a clean job and sever the head entirely in one shot. The King didnât like unnecessary gore, after all.
He was becoming increasingly disenchanted at the state of the kingdom, though. The royals seemed more interested in satisfaction of their own greedy desires than the good of the people. His own cousin, in fact, had been executed last month for some nebulous reason, an outrage. It seemed like tyranny was becoming the state of the day. He ran his finger through his shoulder length brown hair that he wore with a closely trimmed beard. A little over six feet, he was a burly man, strong enough to swing the heavy axe with ease, yet he wasnât heavy.
Three men were always commissioned to guard a prisoner up for execution, and he glanced around at the two guards with him, both youngsters. âItâs my usual routine to go in and speak with the condemned,â he told the other two. âI like to tell them what to expect, maybe taunt a little bit. Surely you wonât mind if I go in alone and talk to her,â he added with a smile. As they agreed, he ascended the steps, grinning as he wondered what he might behold as he visited the Queen herself on her last night on earth. Knocking on the door twice (as if she had a choice as to whether sheâd accept a visitor), he took out the heavy key and unlocked it.