Gods and Guardians

Chapter 44: The Betrayal

The execution ground was filled beyond capacity as everyone waited to see him hanged. The executioner stood below the noose on the wooden platform. He was making a speech. He was a man with reckless formality and had a form that made him resemble Zola. He finished with the name of today's condemned.

'Luwa Nimrod!'

Dasirus tensed as Nimrod was led out, shackled around the neck, hands and feet. His emergence provoked a lot of noise and sentiments.

The structure was roofless with tiers of seats arranged around a square amphitheatrically. This was the execution square, the last vision of many offenders. The east wing seats were reserved for the crown and the Lords. It had an imposing canopy from the distance. The crown and all the Lords were present as this was no ordinary execution. Haneya held the king's hand, squeezing strength into it. Some of the Lords conversed in whispers. Lord Xexa and Lord Zumma did not talk. The Lord of War sat, arms folded, watching with unusual aloofness.

On the west end of the square was the death-house prison. Condemned prisoners were remanded here until the day of their execution. Dasirus could see Nimrod from a distance and he saw the betrayal in his son's eyes as the latter was led out of the death-house prison. A giant gate stood at the southern end, a massive steel gate. A net of iron ran around the square, separating the spectators from the dying.

Dying in the execution square was one of five different experiences. In front of the death-house prison were execution poles. Archers were the executioners of those condemned to the poles. At the end of each method, a physician checks to ensure that the person was truly dead before the process was stopped.

A set of locks on the side of the gallows were used when the condemned is to be beheaded. It was a swift merciful blow that ended the life with only a brief grunt and a headless body. Drowning was a less humane one. A bathtub sat in one corner with a cistern above it. There was also the execution chair where one is chained and veins around his body are punctured and drained into a container. Today's execution was by hanging. The gallows creaked and yawned as the condemned stepped to the top of the wooden platform.

The executioner's voice rent the air. He read from a papyrus sheet how many crimes the Law soldiers had convicted him of. Then he raised the execution seal, sealed by the king.

'Luwa Nimrod has been sentenced to death by hanging. It was sealed by His Majesty, a demonstration of the law's unbias and his Majesty's unalloyed regard for the law of the Islands.

'What we see here today is a sure marker that no one is above the law and no sentiments have a place in the discharge of justice.'

There were murmurs from the crowd.

'What are your last words?' he asked Nimrod.

Nimrod turned and looked in Dasirus' direction. Then he turned his eyes away without saying anything. Dasirus filled with immeasurable remorse. Strangely now, he couldn't remember issuing a warrant for his arrest in the first place not to mention sealing his execution. But he knew he was responsible, for no one dies in Simsee's execution square without his seal.

Nimrod was facing death with such outward calm as was characteristic of the deeply penitent or the utterly resigned. Dasirus knew it was none of these. It was the pain of betrayal. How could he have done this? How could he by the law condemn the same one who against the law fought to save his own life? He couldn't bear this anymore. He couldn't resist anymore the urge to act. Stop this whole thing. Haneya's hand clasped his tightly to console him.

Nimrod mounted the stool and the noose fastened tight under his chin.

Dasirus warred with himself. No, he couldn't let this happen. Haneya kept whispering to calm him down. He didn't hear, couldn't listen. He looked up at Massey and Breth standing behind. Their eyes revealed nothing. He was alone it seemed. He couldn't let this happen. He found himself detached from the scene, but not from the pain. He shot to his feet and screamed.