Moonzach of Tiers was a youth of noble birth. He was born in the family of a town judge, a distinguished man of wealth and influence. His father doted upon him and spared no expenses hiring best tutors for him, to teach him the love for order and justice, education and science from his childhood years on. The judge hoped for the time when his son inherited not only his estate, but his position also, along with the townsfolk's respect. His hopes, however, turned to be in vain.
From his childhood years on Moonzach had no inclination to study, no respect for the laws of gods and people. Of all arts he preferred the art of hot passion and the art of cold steel. At the age of sixteen he had happily parted with his purity and committed himself to depraved life body and soul, having secret affairs with numerous people regardless of their rank, occupation, age and sex. So cunning he was at covering his tracks that his father was none the wiser, and the rest of the household had been bribed or blackmailed by Moonzach.
When Moonzach turned eighteen, his father took into his head to send him for the capital, to enter a famous law school. He provided his son with money and valuables, servants and horses. Upon reaching Kinsala Moonzach sent away the servants, sold the horses and began to spend his father's money as he pleased. When he run out of funds he didn't even think about going back to his father and confide his sins begging forgiveness on his knees. No, he chose to join a gang of robbers and quickly became its leader's right hand. What a sorry sight to see a noble youth so sunk in vice!
The gang leader, named Ysphizar, was a man of the lowest birth, who knew neither his father nor his mother. He was a former fugitive slave and a convict, lashed and branded with iron on the forehead for his crimes. Never before he was interested in men, but Moonzach had him under his spell immediately, being not only young, beautiful and well-versed in amorous arts, but also smart, witty and cheerful. They became lovers and spent days making love and nights — robbing and killing people.
Some of the gang members were not happy with their leader involved with another man. At first they openly voiced their disgust and demanded of Ysphizar to end this perverted affair. Yet little by little they got used to it, especially with their plunder doubled after Moonzach's joining the gang. At last no one spoke against it anymore.
They say the pitcher goes often to the well, but is broken at last. So during a robbery Moonzach happened to be caught by the town guards. He was tried in court, found guilty and sentenced to death. When Ysphizar heard about it, he gave out a cry of despair, scratched his face all bloody and torn his clothes to pieces. He tried to bribe the judges and prison guards, but to no avail. There was no way to free Moonzach, and no one could be talked into giving him poison, to save him from the most cruel and painful execution.
The day of the execution arrived. Kinsala's main square where the scaffold had been build was surrounded by town guards, to prevent anyone from getting to the prisoner and freeing him or giving him quick death. There were even archers on the nearest roofs with their bows at the ready.
Moonzach was brought upon the scaffold and his long list of crimes was read out by a town crier,
"Moonzach of Tiers is found guilty of innumerous crimes, being accessory to robbery, murder, burglary, theft, bribing state officials, extortion, kidnapping and many others. Also he is guilty of leading a depraved life, practicing sodomy, seducing noble and virtuous men, neglecting his filial duties and the duties of a loyal subject of His Majesty the king. Therefore Moonzach of Tiers is condemned to death by breaking on the wheel."
That meant that the convict would be tied to a huge wheel, and the bones of his arms and legs would be broken one by one, then his ribs, and his spine last. Quite a few of the convicts subjected to this particular execution happened to stay alive after that for a whole day or two even, in a state of unimaginable suffering.
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Gates to Glory: Epic Fantasy Adventure Tale (Ashurran #1)
Macera[FINISHED]She was born in a tribe of fierce female warriors. Swords and spears have been her toys from the cradle. She has the only path before her, to become the tribe chief after her mother. Yet Ashurran dreams of strange lands, of bigger battles...
