Maji Born

07 - Discredited, Dishonoured, and Dismissed

Screaming filled the streets accompanied by the sound of metal meeting flesh. It echoed around the square in chaotic regularity.

Carsire turned taking in the various sights, he had to regain control of his charges and the prisoners. The girl had disturbed the execution, created a riot, and managed to escape. He had watched her do it, frozen in place by the energy wave, which had caused him to recoil and pause as the world spun before him.

Carsire had been watching from the side of the procession when she had been called to the scaffolds and had noticed the blue glow radiating off of her almost at once but he was getting older and his reflexes were not what they had once been. He had managed to turn, cover his eyes, and shout to his guards to watch out, right before she went off.

Then he had stumbled to his feet with his head in his hands, vision blurred and feet unsteady. He had watched as she sprinted for the canal and then two other figures followed after her into the water.

In the chaos, Carsire didn't recognize his Princess, but later he would realize that it had been her. But for now, Carsire stood among a massacre watching his men deal out the King's justice. The soldiers had been told to kill at the first sign of conflict and Carsire felt unwilling and unable to partake in his task. He had tried to reason with the King but Radek was not an easily swayed man.

The nature of this eradication was unprovoked and unwarranted, yes, the maji had become a highly feared aspect of society, dating back to the day the Belestine lineage had come to an end, but they had gone about their business without disturbing the lifestyles of the many. Every once in a while an incident would occur with an Urdart, like the girl, but it would be taken care of on a maji to maji basis.

Carsire watched as another maji, a woman this time, Jedart, was cut down in front of him, his eyes following the crimson trail that meandered through the paving stones.

It took another twenty minutes for the soldiers to quell the riot. The streets leaked blood as if the city itself was bleeding. The square was mostly deserted, containing only the soldier and the few maji who had not run or had not bothered to put up a fight. Most of the civilians had fled to the safety of their homes, hiding behind closed doors and hoping that neither maji or soldier saw fit to visit their sanctuary.

The soldiers ran a length of chain through the remaining maji's manacles, their numbers had decreased by two thirds and most looked too weak and too scared to fight further. Those who could see glanced down at the fallen, most sobbing quietly or looking ill.

Carsire felt his own stomach buckling at the sight of all the dead. They had all been innocent. Unnecessary. He stowed his sword and returned to his position at the head of the procession, this time standing closer to the gallows. As much as he hated his task, and disagreed with his King, he would continue to carry out his orders, after all, he had sworn an oath of loyalty.

He motioned for the soldiers to continue with the executions, trying to contain his nausea and fatigue. This time the soldiers watched the maji with an attentive air of fear and they were taken up to the platform one by one.

It would take longer but it would ensure that no more prisoners escaped or attempted to start another riot. Carsire tried not to think of the families these maji had. He wished that there was an alternative. The King had jumped straight to the conclusion that elimination was better then detainment. On some level Lavinia had been right, her brother was a murderer, killing the innocent for the crimes of a minority.

Secretly Carsire wondered if Radek had indeed killed his father. He would not be voicing that opinion, however. The Princess could get away brazen statements like that but he was only a soldier, even as the Captain of the Kingsguard. It was treason to question the King and he knew what fate came to those who questioned.