Iron angel (Book 1 of IA)

[40] Executioner

For the first time in Rochan's Pass I could tell it was morning. Rays of sunlight beat through a slim fissure in the mists above. Several hundred people had had come to witness my execution, in what I presumed to be the town square. It was dusty, with a bunch of squat stone buildings sitting to the side. Turns out I was right, the place was some sort of abandoned village, wedged between the two enormous canyons, just like the two men holding me down at my side.

"Good evening! No. Good morning! Ladies and gentlemen!" a familiar voice shouted. The crowd parted for Soulsteel. He wore the same wicked scythe like grin on his face, but held himself with an extra cocky demeanor.

"I present you all, a spy from the army!" he threw his arms wide open like a magician about to put on a show. A show for the crowd, when I looked and saw them, most of them were dusted, wary eyed and wore ragged clothes. Some of them casted me sympathetic glances, but most remained emotionless.

"Now just like in the old days, you will all get to decide his fate! SO YAY OR NAY?"

The crowd was quiet, but when Soulsteel eyebrows twitched, a series of chant came from the back and began to make its way towards the front:

"BOO!"

"KILL THE BASTARD!"

"DEATH TO THE GOVERNMENT!"

Soulsteel nodded and seemed to be enjoying the attention, as he raised a hand and signaled the crowd to be quiet.

"Then to respond to the people's wishes! I Soulsteel the first, sentence Kard, the little metal arm man to DEATH!"

Soulsteel stuck his tongue out, and gave thumbs down gesture, while the crowd cheered.

"Now, I shall let lady death herself do the honors!"

The crowd cheered on loudly, as a figure emerged from the crowd. It was Kuro, but she wasn't wearing any armor. Instead she wore a long black dress, as if she were a widow at a funeral, and in her left hand held a sleek katana.

Kuro...

The two men holding me shoved onto my knees. Kuro was at my side with her katana poised right above my neck.

"ON MY COUNT! 5!" Soulsteel yelled out happily, as the crowd repeated after him.

Is she really going to do it? Well I can't say I don't have any regrets.

"4!"

I couldn't see Kuro's expression from this angle, but if I had to guess, it would be her poker face.

"3!"

So naïve for me to think there is going to be a miracle...

"2!"

"CURSES!!!" my shout went above all chants, as I shouted like it would be my last.

"1!"

Rumor said that, you will see your entire life flash before your eyes right before you die. But for me it was just closing my eyes in the darkness, waiting for the inevitable end of my life to come; but it didn't come.

I opened my eyes and blinked away tears, I already knew what was happening, but I needed to see it. The other ending I feared, the one where my death would merely be delayed by a few seconds.

A furious war cry came from Kuro, as she hefted her katana and charged at Soulsteel. His sneer was clearly saying: I knew it from the start.

"Kuro! NO!" I tried to reach my hand out towards her, but I knew it wouldn't make a difference, her choice had already been made, and there was nothing I could do about it.