Sacrifice

Chapter 39 - The Sentence

Makiel crouched in a shadowed hollow by the entrance of the Cirt compound. He had used this little hidey-hole in many of the games that he had played with his friends, and it had never betrayed him. He was hoping his luck held out as he watched a mix of soldiers from the South and West Gates pack up their gear.

As Kalli had told his grandfather, the soldiers received the order to leave just after noon, and Makiel had taken up his watch for the messenger. A soldier walked a little ways into the compound and filled his canteen from the one of the fountains by the gate.

Makiel took a deep breath and stepped out from his hiding place. "Sir?" he asked, as he approached the guard.

The guard turned, and as soon as he saw Makiel, his face twisted with contempt. "What are you doing, talking to a guard of the Imkan Empire you little whelp?"

Makiel started to back-peddle, but he wasn't fast enough, as the guard's booted foot whipped out and caught him in the side of the chest. Makiel hit the cobblestones with a cry of pain. A number of guards stepped inside, a couple of them laughed at the scene.

"Maybe we should teach the brat a lesson," suggested one of them, moving towards where Makiel was huddled.

But another soldier stepped forward. "We need to get our gear back before the Captain has a fit. You go on and get to work on that." The soldier began to remove his belt. "I'll teach the boy a measure of respect."

Makiel lurched to his feet and tried to run. He only managed a few steps before a hand caught him roughly by the back of the neck and pulled him down one of the shadowed lane ways. Makiel fought but wasn't able to break free until he was dumped unceremoniously at the base of a wall. He turned to face his attacker only to find the guard crouching with his hands spread.

"It's OK kid," the guard said softly, "I won't hurt you. I'm a friend of Captain Doran; my name's Corry, I'm looking for a messenger."

Makiel straightened up so that he was sitting with his back to the wall. "That's me," he answered, rubbing his abused ribs.

Corry handed him a data pad. "It's all on that, you think you can make it home safe?"

Makiel nodded. "I'm just a bit bruised."

Corry helped him to his feet. "Good luck on your voyage kid."

Makiel nodded his thanks and took off towards home.

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Kalli had expected a prosecutor of sorts to meet her in her cell and either formally lay charges or call her bluff and toss her out on the streets thus condemning the Cirts. What she didn't expect was to see the Emperor, dressed in the splendour and jewels of his station, enter her dank cell.

She should have curtsied, but she didn't. At this moment, there was nothing in the world that could induce her to go to her knees before a man who had so coldly calculated the death of thousands for personal profit. Instead, she stood and met his eye.

"I know that you no more shot my son that I did," he said, watching her reaction critically. "Despite your unusual knowledge of fire arms. Which led me to wonder why you would take the blame when it would surely mean your life."

Kalli couldn't think of anything productive to say and so remained silent.

"Then when my people searched your possessions, they found that you've been spending an absurd amount of time consorting with the Cirts. Tell me, what do you know of my plans for them?"

Kalli just glared at him quietly.

"Enough to risk your life in order to grant them a few days of limited freedom. I marvel at how a silly chit like you would stumble across enough information to devise my plans, let alone be able to put it all together."

Kalli's temper flared. "I'm smart," she said.

"I doubt it," was the Emperor's cold reply, "Tell me. My son informed me that you were his inspiration for his challenge to scientists to decrease the toxicity of the gas output. Did you know then that it would ruin my plans?"

When Kalli didn't answer, the Emperor shook his head.

"Regardless, your father was more than willing to help put our plans back on course. You should know that your sacrifice is meaningless. Some of the Cirts may escape the poison gasses, but there is nowhere on this earth where I cannot find and destroy them. I will wipe them out in retribution for how they have dealt with me."

"You act for personal profit, not justice."

"SILENCE," the Emperor shouted. "You would do well to remember that I have the power to make your days excruciatingly painful. You're foolish if you're not afraid of the power I have over you." The Emperor was breathless from the strength of his anger.

"I'm afraid to die." Kalli answered in a whisper. "I'm very much afraid. But I'm willing to do the right thing even if it's not the easy thing." Kalli watched the hard man in front of her and wondered what he made of her words.

"The Cirts will be dealt with," the Emperor said finally. "As for you, you have been tried by special tribunal before a select jury and found guilty of high treason in the attempted assassination of the Crown Prince. You have been sentenced to die by firing squad at midday tomorrow."

Kalli locked her hands behind her so that the Emperor would not see them tremble. She had expected this, but there was no way to prepare for your own death sentence.

"Guard," the Emperor called out; a guard entered the cell. "Gag her and chain her," the Emperor ordered with a negligent wave at Kalli.

The Emperor watched as the guard shoved a dirty cloth gage into Kalli's mouth and knotted its rope tightly to hold it in place. Kalli's hands were chained so that she could not reach the knot behind her head and could not remove the gag.

Only once this was done was Kalli left alone. She sank to the stone bench and curled her legs to her chest. Then she closed her eyes and tried to forget where she was.

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