The crowds have all but dispersed from the scene. Can't say that it's not a relief. Public beheadings are never fun for anyone involved. No easy way around them, and no easy way to cleanse the faces of the damned and their loved ones from you memory. Taking a son or daughter from their parents... It's never easy to watch, much less, condemn them to. Even dangerous criminals are sometimes difficult to rid the world of, when they have a mother who weeps for her beloved son, mourning the child she once knew. Maybe that's just me. It does't ever seem to bother the headsman any.
Today was a bit different. As the winter's first snow began to sprinkle down, and the cold bite of the season of frost began to take the land, I was tasked with presiding over this execution. I had read the charges out loud for the spectators to hear, just before condemning her to the headsman's axe. Witchcraft. Three hundred and seven accounts of larceny. Two accounts of murder. Conspiracy to commit theft... The list goes on. Oddly enough, not one charge of resisting arrest. But maybe she was just smart enough to know she was caught. In fact, I heard that she practically turned herself in. I'm not sure if I can believe that- being that I was't there to arrest her personally. Witchcraft is the charge that got her beheaded, however.
Witchcraft. That word rings in my head like the chapel bells on a wedding day. Though, this is for a less heartfelt ceremony. It's the only crime immediately punishable by death regardless of the extent of the offense. It's an instant death sentence for any and all who practice it. But most witches and sorcerers get their due when we Knights of Purity try to arrest them. Usually.
Demon-consorting individuals such as this used to be so uncommon. But it was hardly a year ago that we executed a woman under the exact same circumstances. Of course, she was an Aylarsi, and no one stayed after her head rolled away from the block. But I do remember a young girl screaming when it happened. Must've been a frightening experience for her.
Sema Surik, one of the most notorious thieves of her generation, and we just ended her crime spree. The strangest thing is, there is only one person mourning in the crowd. With most criminals, they either have no one to care about their demise, or they will have the standard family and friends. Odd to only see one person cared to stay after the excitement is over.
The mourner is an Aylarsi- a race of intelligent beast-people that walk n two legs, but are covered in fur and have claws and pointed ears and such. This one in particular is fox-ish in appearance. Though, comparing these creatures to an Aylarsi is not only offensive to them, but incredibly inaccurate. The kid is probably about fifteen or sixteen, judging by their size, and probably female, by the sounds of the sobs. Though, the gender is hard to truly discern, given that-what I assume is a she -is wearing black robing complemented by a hood.
As traditional courtesy, the knight presiding over an execution will wait with the mourners to keep them company, assist them with funeral preparations - not that a witch gets anything besides a cremation and having her ashes kept in a church's undercroft- and, most importantly, to remind any sympathizers what happens to those who would defy the will of The Devine.
Most knights today rarely follow these long-held traditions, but damn if I'm going to abandon long-held standards. I'm nothing if not an honorable knight. At least I try to be.
After several minutes of standing silently I approach the Aylarsi and kneel next to the distraught young girl who just lost her friend. I study her for a moment and examine the situation. The last thing I want to do is make things worse. But I can't help but feel guilty for taking away a beloved friend. Damn my conscience.
Against my better judgement, I remove the armored gauntlet from my hand and place my bare palm on her shoulder.
She makes no effort to resist my sympathy, but it doesn't seem to help either.
YOU ARE READING
Soulfire: Knightfall
FantasyIt is the year 1,247 of the Age of Vindication. Since the beginning of this era, there have been scant few open conflicts, thanks to a holy sect known as the Knights of Purity. This order has successfully accomplished the task of reducing violence a...
