Crime had become a big problem in the kingdom and the king had a new idea for how to deal with it.
The prisons were filling with robbers who stole from the people near the castle. There would soon be no room for new criminals.
He decided to do something unheard of. He showed them mercy and freed them, extending an invitation to fight in a special army on his behalf. They would be fed well and have a purpose in life.
Thus a special group of newly trained soldiers became known as the Army of the Forgiven. They had the king’s trust and blessing as true knights to defend the kingdom.
This only angered the people of the kingdom. While the king showed mercy, they showed scorn. They hated these men and instead of calling them the Army of the Forgiven, they called them the Army of Thieves.
Shortly thereafter a battle broke out in the kingdom. Most of the high knights and the king’s guard were off fighting enemies in a different part of the kingdom and only the regimens and the Army of the Forgiven were there to protect the king and castle.
The attacking army moved closer to the castle sure that it would be able to take the king without much to stop them.
Then, the Army of the Forgiven emerged from the castle gate for battle. Despite their intention to defend the kingdom, the people in the castle booed and hissed at the men and shouted insults at them. The people hiding in the castle had no hope in the Army of the Forgiven.
But, the battle was not lost. The Army of the Forgiven won a most-glorious battle and defended king and castle.
Many men lost their lives in the battle and those that survived returned not to scorn but to awe and respect.
These knights, who had received the mercy of the king, now felt the love and mercy of the people. Never again did they hear an insult or experience disrespect.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. (Matthew 5:7)
To read and share more fables inspired by the Beatitudes, download a free eBook edition of Beatitales: Volume I.
