A Rogue's Restraints

Chapter Seven: Happy Execution Day

Excitement is not something I want in my life any longer. That only brings pain. I still think of them often, and wonder, what if things had turned out differently?

I tried not to look weary as I walked to my death. I hadn't intended to stay up all night with Willa, but it had simply happened. Thinking back, I don't think I could've slept even if I'd wanted to. There's something about knowing you're going die the next day that puts you on edge.

My wrists chaffed in my rope bonds, they hadn't tied my ankles, maybe I could use that somehow? I looked around and got a forceful shove from the guard behind me. I gritted my teeth and kept moving. If my face didn't still throb from the club last night, I might have been obstinate just out of principle.

Governor Bellamy had drummed up quite the crowd. I got hisses and jeers as I passed them. The murderer had blamed his crime on a fifteen-year-old boy. What a great guy, really, exactly the kind of person I would want in charge of the government.

The Governor stood in front of the crowd looking morose, like a disappointed parent. I had so many vulgar names I wanted to shout at the man. I could still hear Willa's scream as they branded her arm in front of Theo and I. Theo had barely looked with it. Even still, I had hugged him fiercely before they'd hauled me away. If I could make the next few moments count, I would see them again. I owed it to Theo and Willa. They were in this situation because of me. I would make it up to them. I had to.

I looked but didn't see any sign of the Blackheart from last night. Good. I shivered. I had finally been able to get warm last night, but it had taken hours and hours. I didn't fancy running into that guy again, or any Blackheart for that matter.

Eventually, (it felt like a walk of eternity) I made it to the center of the gathering. My three guards stood at the ready, in case I tried something. They forced me to my knees as a crier read down a list of my crimes. Despite myself, I started laughing. The crowd stirred looking at each other uneasily. They likely thought me insane.

Someone had done research. Some of the things they read were crimes done in Gresdand, and Lifoy before that. Did they have record of that all the way out here? I'd only been arrested twice. They must have dug some stuff up. I didn't envy the clerk who'd been assigned that tedious job.

I got cuffed in the back of the head. I scowled at the guard. Apparently, Governor Bellamy wanted to make me seem like a formidable criminal, that in all his benevolence, was taking off the streets. Heaven forbid people start thinking last night had been a freak accident. Or worse, the Governor's fault!

Honestly, anybody worth their salt could see that what happened last night could only have been done with the Black. I don't know about you, but I don't walk around with dead eyes and a flaming amulet. But, hey, that's just me.

The crier finished, and the guards stepped forward to pin me to the block in front of me. I saw the executioner stand up with blood flecked axe. I looked down and saw a basket ready to catch my head. I suddenly felt sick. It's a very out of body experience to imagine your death moments before it happens. I had to act now, or never again.

I stood up. "I have something to say." I shouted, right before a club cracked across my back.

I cried out in pain, but, by some miracle, managed to stay standing. I didn't have much time. They were going to try everything to keep me from talking. "Gov'ner Bellamy," I shouted. "Killed those people!" crack. This time in the shoulder. Cursed Black, that hurt. I gritted my teeth, continuing. "He hired a Blackheart." Crack. This time in the head. The world spun, I gasped in pain. Hands grabbed me and shoved me back to my knees. They started, hastily, tying my hands to the block. "I was in the wrong place, wrong time!" I screamed, through my pain. "He should be the one being—" someone stuffed a cloth in my mouth, cutting off my sentence.