Long lines of filthy slaves in filthier rags, captured in war or
sentenced for various crimes against His Majesty's Kingdom would also
be forced to march in the parade, mercilessly chained together in long
lines at their necks, and with their elbows tied tightly together
behind their backs, and compelled to stagger with their heads bowed
agonizingly.
A single-file of elephants bore close on the heels of the slaves,
causing them to roll their eyes frequently in terror, lest any should
stumble, or the riotous throng stampede the beasts and cause them to be
trampled without warning.
Following after all of this was a loose-knit crowd of stragglers who
had found any number of excuses to follow behind the royal procession.
Every manner of self-styled high-born and social climber showed up to
be in the parade or at least be seen cheering it. They took great
relish and delight in hurling garbage and dung as accurately as
possible at the cringing slaves, who found it difficult to duck what
was thrown at them.
There was much prestige involved in this sort of thing, and it was well
worth the effort to participate with a great deal of obvious show and
personal public visibility.
Natural intoxicants were not in short supply, nor red wine, nor coarse
behaviors, nor physical altercations, but all such were to be seen at
almost every hand, and in almost every direction one chose to look.
Pages:
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286