Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2013 15:06:07 GMT -5
The land before you is harsh, yet there is a beauty to it that most cannot or will not see. Even when the temperatures plummeted to numbers in the double negatives. So cold in parts that drawing in a breath of the frigid air would freeze your lungs instantly, there was brutal beauty in it. The way the sun forced its way through catching the ice just right and making it sparkle like a diamond. During some of the coldest days when you could look up and the sky was so vivid a blue you could barely take your eyes from it.
This was the land to which she was born, the land of Alzorc. There were many who were poor in these lands, and her family was most definitely poor each meal to be placed on the table was a blessing and the gods were thanked. Since her fathers death a freak accident with an icicle the family, her mother and younger sister had to survive on charity which was a rare thing in these brutal lands and what little could be gathered from the town square. They had no money to buy but often times things would be dropped to the ground allowing one who was quick to gather it before caught. No doubt had the girl been caught she would have been called a thief and punished severely, but the survival of her family was utmost in her mind and getting caught was not something she relished.
So it was that this day she started out on the path to the square. The chill in the air told her that the long winter was hailing down upon them, soon it would be so cold that travel would be difficult to and from the square. She had spent the summer with her sister and mother gathering wood for the fire, better then that she had carved herself a bow and some arrows and taken down a few small critters her mother had preserved, and with careful preservation of the things she gathered at the square they would make it through another winter.
Today would be a good day, she knew that supposedly a trial would be underway, that meant every ones attention would be upon the condemned and not on the small slip of a girl darting silently about finding what she can for her family to survive. The sun was just breaking over the horizon as she moved silently into the square. She paused to watch a cat pounce and snag its breakfast for the morning. A playful bark drew her eyes to the dark brown and black dog that whirled about itself in a bid to catch its own allusive tail. Her lips curled into a smile as she watched, wishing to join in such care free fun. She stood near one of the buildings letting the sun as it crawled over the grounds touching first her foot clad in thin leather she felt her skin beneath the thin warm and she sighed. Her eyes moved from the dog as it left its tail chasing for pursuits in finding its own breakfast. Her gaze paused on the raised section directly a crossed from where she stood. The mahogany carved chair where the ruling noble would sit. Then the three like chairs on either side of the larger more regal chairs it all seemed so grand, she found herself sighing. As she heard the sound leave her own mouth she jerked up and shook herself out of her day dream. Today was not the day for that she would have to be quick,...and quiet,..but above all she must not allow herself to be distracted today could be a good day for her, or a very bad one.
Before she could begin to plan her strategy the sounds of feet many feet in unison caught her attention. A motion drew her gaze up and her eyes widened as archers, hundreds of them it seemed begin to position them self around on any spare area. It seemed a bit of an overkill,..unless,..the one coming to trial was that dangerous. She shivered a bit not from the cold. No she was used to that but the thought of what horrid person could warrant so many precautions. Seeing the formation begin to arrive she found herself slinking back the cruelty of the guards were renowned. Crouched now in the deepest shadows she stared her eyes wide. Wait,..she stood some there was a man in the guard midst. She turned her head some as she watched a guard shift just so, no doubt a pretended accident and the tip of the gleaming axe caught the flesh of the man. She could see between the marching group to the man he had many such nicks and cuts upon his flesh. So overwhelmed by the sight of this man bound in such heavy chains she barely blinked. As her eyes began to burn she blinked them rapidly.
Wiping at her eyes she watched as they stopped before the platform. She heard it then the shouts from those who had gathered more now then before. She crept forward slowly as if drawn by some unknown force, she stopped just before making her presence fully known. Two peasant woman spoke together not attempting to be quiet. "Did ye hear he left them to burn alive, beast, barbarian, he should die" she shivered her eyes darting like a terrified baby bunny to the condemned man. She moved slowly around the outskirts of the square, careful even though no one was paying her mind. She was a mere 10 year old child dressed in rags dark hair cut ragged against the neck, it was hard to say if she was male or female. Which was how she liked it. What could be said if she was ever seen. A child with brown hair. That could easily be any of a hundred.
She stopped once more crouched at the edge of a building closer now that she could see the man better. He looked as if he had been carved from stone hard and unyielding even in the chains. She watched him then as he moved his arms some sliding till the chain between them came taunt. Could he break it would he,..what would happen if he broke them. She could easily imagine him snapping all of the chains and spinning on the guards destroying them. Yet oddly she felt no fear. Shouldn't she feel fear this man had killed and probably had no problems killing a ten year old child who might just be in his way, but no, there was no fear just awe as his head moved she could see the flesh of his neck tugging against the metal about his throat. It must be very tight she thought.
She watched as the guards moved changing their position, if not for her sharp eyes she would have missed the entire scene, but she had spent the past 4 years training her eyes to see the slightest things. It was how she survived. The elbow to the prisoners side, then the prisoner spoke she was to far away to hear him but his lips moved, and to her utter shock that evil sadistic guard actually took a step back. Her eyes widened. What could have been said that would make such a man take a step back. Her imagination leapt ahead of itself imagining a deep voice saying "I will skin you alive and wear your skin as my armor" she shuddered lowering herself more to the ground she couldn't move away nor drag her eyes from the sight before her.
He was moving again he looked like a large cat growing more and more enraged at its treatment, as his arms lifted the chain stretching. Her breath caught in her throat she swallowed hard as if she could feel his very rage touching her. Then he turned his head, for a moment she saw true darkness as he looked upon the crowed, she saw several men back up as if they expected him to rip free and come at them, and still she couldn't move she remained crouched there watching. She knew she should go,..move about find the discarded to take home but her body would not obey and soon her mind followed suit as the large man made a sound like nothing she had ever heard before but in the rage, anger and hate of the sound something more, a touch of anguish, of triumph so much in one sound. As his arms reached out the snap of the chain causing not just the guards but many nearby to jump as well. She heard heavy breathing as if someone was panting and realized it was her own as her eyes watched the strain of the chains, thin white lines appearing in the metal. He would break free, she knew it,..break free and like some enraged beast destroy all of them. Her fingers curled into the stone beneath her, feeling a slight pain in them as they scraped the rough surface. It brought her back to herself and she shook her head some she started to turn when he suddenly went quiet,..as if a flame had been extinguished. She lowered back again watching,..it was impossible to look away.
She heard the crowed again, they were growing bold it seemed once more seeming to forget the fear they had felt at the mans look. Or the snap of the chain from his powerful arms. She heard bets being made, her eyes slid around the group, a new sound assaulted her ears and she jerked her eyes back. A young noble was strutting about now talking she could barely hear him and well even if she could she doubted he said much of interest. He probably was only about 8 years her senior but the way he strutted she instantly thought of a rooster in a barnyard putting on his little show for the hens.
She heard the chain once more and her eyes were drawn back from her thoughts to the man and the boy who spoke. She caught the look in the eyes of this condemned man, as did many for suddenly everyone was silent. She felt fear for the first time when she looked upon the chained man, no terror as if he was already standing before her the dirty unwashed flesh inches from her reaching for her body to tear it limb from limb jerking back she was sitting on her ass, apparently having made a sound as a woman clinging to her child looked behind her. Not good she didn't want to be noticed, crawling away quickly she ignored the sharp sting as the rocks dug into her flesh through the thin clothing she wore. She didn't know what had happened but she was soon finding a new spot just as the man spat between himself and the boy on the raised stage. She blinked starring at the contempt that was written there as easily as if it had been spoken.
He was turning now she saw,..turning to fully face them she stood slowly in the shadows as her eyes were locked to the massive form each scar seen some in places he should not have lived for,..a warrior,..a man that took life and didn't bat an eye. She heard nothing in the crowed silence as everyone stared now. Fear rose from the crowed in a tangible wave that could almost be touched and even as they feared him she could see,..and feel his hatred, hatred of them the very crowed that stood about condemning him and taunting him. No,..no one was taunting him now.
She heard the reigning noble begin to speak bringing down a sentence to the condemned fifty lashes, she stared in silence watching his face but nothing could be seen now nothing but the anger. As he walked to the whipping post she moved closer forgetting herself again so much so that when it came,...the executioner,...she had to scramble out of the way or get trampled beneath its feet. She darted about finding her way through others who were also running from the approach of the executioner. Finally she was safe once more against a building, closer to the whipping post where the condemned had stopped now. She swallowed hard as he took his own position. Something was different she could tell, where there had been such a play of emotions, even if they were hate, rage and disgust, now there was nothing but a strange,..smile,..yes she could see the slight smile as if he was amused. She watched as he even arched his back some once gripping the rough whipping post. From her position she saw the look given. Yes something was different, it wasn't anger or hatred that he gave the executioner but contempt as if they had picked a child to do what only a man should. Then laughter, did she truly hear him laugh. Oh not a sound of joy, no one that added to the look of contempt he had given. Then suddenly it began she jerked back at the first strike of that sadistic weapon into the back of the man. She pressed fingers to her lip as it tore into the bare shoulder. She wanted to look away she didn't want to see this, but it was like her body was frozen there refusing to obey the screams of horror her mind gave. 'look away look away' her mind screamed but she didn't she couldn't. She heard the counting began, one,..came the rough voice of the executioner, two. She cringed unable to even close her eyes. Somewhere around thirty she realized she was no longer covering her mouth nor was she standing she was on her knees starring. The form no longer looked like the back of a man it looked like bits of flesh, muscle and exposed bone shimmering in the sun light, once so beautiful now mocking as it beat upon the torn mutilated back. Watching the whip as it continued even to rip past his torn shoulder and catch into his cheek she soon found herself counting along in silence of her mind. Not with the glee of the others but like a chant as if almost cheering on the prisoner, she didn't know why, it could have been her or her family he killed, yet she couldn't help it slowly as the whip descended again catching an already torn bit of flesh causing it to actually rip to fall and hang loosely at his side she clenched her fists feeling her nails biting into the palms of her hands. Fifty,..it was not yelled out in triumph or even said loud enough for anyone to hear. But she heard it resounding in her head, a number that would forever stay with her, fifty. She watched now,..feeling not disgust as so many others who turned to run away from the sight, but awe, how could anything live through that. Yet the man was moving. Leaving with each step a bloody foot print as if to commemorate his slow measured walk. She watched turning now, she heard it then the first whisper, then another and another a word,..no, a name. He had become a named man "Bloodied"
Her thoughts played and replayed each second over and over and as she returned to herself she was halfway home. She did not have any trampled bruised fruit dropped and forgotten. Now bits of meat tossed away by those in a hurry. No but she did not come away empty handed. She came away with a purpose now. One day she would meet The Bloodied, in person, and even if it meant her death she would meet the man that could receive such brutal punishment and walk away without ever uttering a sound.
This was the land to which she was born, the land of Alzorc. There were many who were poor in these lands, and her family was most definitely poor each meal to be placed on the table was a blessing and the gods were thanked. Since her fathers death a freak accident with an icicle the family, her mother and younger sister had to survive on charity which was a rare thing in these brutal lands and what little could be gathered from the town square. They had no money to buy but often times things would be dropped to the ground allowing one who was quick to gather it before caught. No doubt had the girl been caught she would have been called a thief and punished severely, but the survival of her family was utmost in her mind and getting caught was not something she relished.
So it was that this day she started out on the path to the square. The chill in the air told her that the long winter was hailing down upon them, soon it would be so cold that travel would be difficult to and from the square. She had spent the summer with her sister and mother gathering wood for the fire, better then that she had carved herself a bow and some arrows and taken down a few small critters her mother had preserved, and with careful preservation of the things she gathered at the square they would make it through another winter.
Today would be a good day, she knew that supposedly a trial would be underway, that meant every ones attention would be upon the condemned and not on the small slip of a girl darting silently about finding what she can for her family to survive. The sun was just breaking over the horizon as she moved silently into the square. She paused to watch a cat pounce and snag its breakfast for the morning. A playful bark drew her eyes to the dark brown and black dog that whirled about itself in a bid to catch its own allusive tail. Her lips curled into a smile as she watched, wishing to join in such care free fun. She stood near one of the buildings letting the sun as it crawled over the grounds touching first her foot clad in thin leather she felt her skin beneath the thin warm and she sighed. Her eyes moved from the dog as it left its tail chasing for pursuits in finding its own breakfast. Her gaze paused on the raised section directly a crossed from where she stood. The mahogany carved chair where the ruling noble would sit. Then the three like chairs on either side of the larger more regal chairs it all seemed so grand, she found herself sighing. As she heard the sound leave her own mouth she jerked up and shook herself out of her day dream. Today was not the day for that she would have to be quick,...and quiet,..but above all she must not allow herself to be distracted today could be a good day for her, or a very bad one.
Before she could begin to plan her strategy the sounds of feet many feet in unison caught her attention. A motion drew her gaze up and her eyes widened as archers, hundreds of them it seemed begin to position them self around on any spare area. It seemed a bit of an overkill,..unless,..the one coming to trial was that dangerous. She shivered a bit not from the cold. No she was used to that but the thought of what horrid person could warrant so many precautions. Seeing the formation begin to arrive she found herself slinking back the cruelty of the guards were renowned. Crouched now in the deepest shadows she stared her eyes wide. Wait,..she stood some there was a man in the guard midst. She turned her head some as she watched a guard shift just so, no doubt a pretended accident and the tip of the gleaming axe caught the flesh of the man. She could see between the marching group to the man he had many such nicks and cuts upon his flesh. So overwhelmed by the sight of this man bound in such heavy chains she barely blinked. As her eyes began to burn she blinked them rapidly.
Wiping at her eyes she watched as they stopped before the platform. She heard it then the shouts from those who had gathered more now then before. She crept forward slowly as if drawn by some unknown force, she stopped just before making her presence fully known. Two peasant woman spoke together not attempting to be quiet. "Did ye hear he left them to burn alive, beast, barbarian, he should die" she shivered her eyes darting like a terrified baby bunny to the condemned man. She moved slowly around the outskirts of the square, careful even though no one was paying her mind. She was a mere 10 year old child dressed in rags dark hair cut ragged against the neck, it was hard to say if she was male or female. Which was how she liked it. What could be said if she was ever seen. A child with brown hair. That could easily be any of a hundred.
She stopped once more crouched at the edge of a building closer now that she could see the man better. He looked as if he had been carved from stone hard and unyielding even in the chains. She watched him then as he moved his arms some sliding till the chain between them came taunt. Could he break it would he,..what would happen if he broke them. She could easily imagine him snapping all of the chains and spinning on the guards destroying them. Yet oddly she felt no fear. Shouldn't she feel fear this man had killed and probably had no problems killing a ten year old child who might just be in his way, but no, there was no fear just awe as his head moved she could see the flesh of his neck tugging against the metal about his throat. It must be very tight she thought.
She watched as the guards moved changing their position, if not for her sharp eyes she would have missed the entire scene, but she had spent the past 4 years training her eyes to see the slightest things. It was how she survived. The elbow to the prisoners side, then the prisoner spoke she was to far away to hear him but his lips moved, and to her utter shock that evil sadistic guard actually took a step back. Her eyes widened. What could have been said that would make such a man take a step back. Her imagination leapt ahead of itself imagining a deep voice saying "I will skin you alive and wear your skin as my armor" she shuddered lowering herself more to the ground she couldn't move away nor drag her eyes from the sight before her.
He was moving again he looked like a large cat growing more and more enraged at its treatment, as his arms lifted the chain stretching. Her breath caught in her throat she swallowed hard as if she could feel his very rage touching her. Then he turned his head, for a moment she saw true darkness as he looked upon the crowed, she saw several men back up as if they expected him to rip free and come at them, and still she couldn't move she remained crouched there watching. She knew she should go,..move about find the discarded to take home but her body would not obey and soon her mind followed suit as the large man made a sound like nothing she had ever heard before but in the rage, anger and hate of the sound something more, a touch of anguish, of triumph so much in one sound. As his arms reached out the snap of the chain causing not just the guards but many nearby to jump as well. She heard heavy breathing as if someone was panting and realized it was her own as her eyes watched the strain of the chains, thin white lines appearing in the metal. He would break free, she knew it,..break free and like some enraged beast destroy all of them. Her fingers curled into the stone beneath her, feeling a slight pain in them as they scraped the rough surface. It brought her back to herself and she shook her head some she started to turn when he suddenly went quiet,..as if a flame had been extinguished. She lowered back again watching,..it was impossible to look away.
She heard the crowed again, they were growing bold it seemed once more seeming to forget the fear they had felt at the mans look. Or the snap of the chain from his powerful arms. She heard bets being made, her eyes slid around the group, a new sound assaulted her ears and she jerked her eyes back. A young noble was strutting about now talking she could barely hear him and well even if she could she doubted he said much of interest. He probably was only about 8 years her senior but the way he strutted she instantly thought of a rooster in a barnyard putting on his little show for the hens.
She heard the chain once more and her eyes were drawn back from her thoughts to the man and the boy who spoke. She caught the look in the eyes of this condemned man, as did many for suddenly everyone was silent. She felt fear for the first time when she looked upon the chained man, no terror as if he was already standing before her the dirty unwashed flesh inches from her reaching for her body to tear it limb from limb jerking back she was sitting on her ass, apparently having made a sound as a woman clinging to her child looked behind her. Not good she didn't want to be noticed, crawling away quickly she ignored the sharp sting as the rocks dug into her flesh through the thin clothing she wore. She didn't know what had happened but she was soon finding a new spot just as the man spat between himself and the boy on the raised stage. She blinked starring at the contempt that was written there as easily as if it had been spoken.
He was turning now she saw,..turning to fully face them she stood slowly in the shadows as her eyes were locked to the massive form each scar seen some in places he should not have lived for,..a warrior,..a man that took life and didn't bat an eye. She heard nothing in the crowed silence as everyone stared now. Fear rose from the crowed in a tangible wave that could almost be touched and even as they feared him she could see,..and feel his hatred, hatred of them the very crowed that stood about condemning him and taunting him. No,..no one was taunting him now.
She heard the reigning noble begin to speak bringing down a sentence to the condemned fifty lashes, she stared in silence watching his face but nothing could be seen now nothing but the anger. As he walked to the whipping post she moved closer forgetting herself again so much so that when it came,...the executioner,...she had to scramble out of the way or get trampled beneath its feet. She darted about finding her way through others who were also running from the approach of the executioner. Finally she was safe once more against a building, closer to the whipping post where the condemned had stopped now. She swallowed hard as he took his own position. Something was different she could tell, where there had been such a play of emotions, even if they were hate, rage and disgust, now there was nothing but a strange,..smile,..yes she could see the slight smile as if he was amused. She watched as he even arched his back some once gripping the rough whipping post. From her position she saw the look given. Yes something was different, it wasn't anger or hatred that he gave the executioner but contempt as if they had picked a child to do what only a man should. Then laughter, did she truly hear him laugh. Oh not a sound of joy, no one that added to the look of contempt he had given. Then suddenly it began she jerked back at the first strike of that sadistic weapon into the back of the man. She pressed fingers to her lip as it tore into the bare shoulder. She wanted to look away she didn't want to see this, but it was like her body was frozen there refusing to obey the screams of horror her mind gave. 'look away look away' her mind screamed but she didn't she couldn't. She heard the counting began, one,..came the rough voice of the executioner, two. She cringed unable to even close her eyes. Somewhere around thirty she realized she was no longer covering her mouth nor was she standing she was on her knees starring. The form no longer looked like the back of a man it looked like bits of flesh, muscle and exposed bone shimmering in the sun light, once so beautiful now mocking as it beat upon the torn mutilated back. Watching the whip as it continued even to rip past his torn shoulder and catch into his cheek she soon found herself counting along in silence of her mind. Not with the glee of the others but like a chant as if almost cheering on the prisoner, she didn't know why, it could have been her or her family he killed, yet she couldn't help it slowly as the whip descended again catching an already torn bit of flesh causing it to actually rip to fall and hang loosely at his side she clenched her fists feeling her nails biting into the palms of her hands. Fifty,..it was not yelled out in triumph or even said loud enough for anyone to hear. But she heard it resounding in her head, a number that would forever stay with her, fifty. She watched now,..feeling not disgust as so many others who turned to run away from the sight, but awe, how could anything live through that. Yet the man was moving. Leaving with each step a bloody foot print as if to commemorate his slow measured walk. She watched turning now, she heard it then the first whisper, then another and another a word,..no, a name. He had become a named man "Bloodied"
Her thoughts played and replayed each second over and over and as she returned to herself she was halfway home. She did not have any trampled bruised fruit dropped and forgotten. Now bits of meat tossed away by those in a hurry. No but she did not come away empty handed. She came away with a purpose now. One day she would meet The Bloodied, in person, and even if it meant her death she would meet the man that could receive such brutal punishment and walk away without ever uttering a sound.