The rain poured down. It was freezing. We stood around waiting.
There came the fanfare and we all looked towards the balcony.
He appeared, his arm raised, a smile on his face. He was surrounded by acolytes, the same people who had days ago been denouncing him on all media outlets.
‘Hail to the King! Hail to the King!’ rang out from the PA system.
At the front of the crowd his supporters took up the chant.
Reluctantly, so did we. It was not the time to show disobedience.
The rain turned to hard ice. Battered down by the hail, we bowed to our leader. His power had never been greater.
He went back inside his grand palace. We turned and trudged away through the mud and sleet.
Written for #FOWC, hosted by Fandango on his blog This, That and the Other. Today’s prompt word was: Hail. Click on the link to read contributions from other writers.
Iain Kelly 
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