The executioner was looking from he crowd to the king wearing a confused expression.  He seemed unsure of whom to listen too.  His fingers tightened on the lever and Raoul could stand to do nothing no more.  Before the rabble had broken into this display he had resigned hope but now he was emboldened by the whispers as if they were the air currents beneath the great bird that was their hope.  "All Hail Princess Josephine!"  He called out his lips twisting in a smile as he looked at his queen.<br/><br/>"ALL HAIL PRINCESS JOSEPHINE!!" several repeated from scattered places within the crowd.  The king's composure cracked slightly as he started to sweat.  His rotund belly, fat off of the peoples' very lively hood, began to heave accusingly.  The executioner started to pull the lever and for a moment Raoul feared the plan ma not have worked until a deep and resounding "WAIT!" floated up from the middle of the crowd and one of the most powerful supporters of the king stepped forward.  The king's face loosened a bit with relief and motioned to the executioner to stop and hear the man's words to settle the crowd back down again.<br/><br/>"Hezekiah," he said, calling the king by his first name, "I swear to you on the blood of all of the innocent lives you have slain if you kill this girl your head is next!" A collective gasp went up from the crowd and they stared at the man whom had always seemed so stoically by the King's side.