The Gallows – Part 8

We pulled our boat to shore under the cover of darkness. Rage boiled up within me the moment I stepped foot back on the mainland. But startlingly, a kernel of fear resided in my heart. I reminded myself that I was the one with all the power now. The tables had turned. That brought a vicious grin to my face.

“Our first target is the prison where I was held,” I whisper to Dyanis. “I’ll handle the guards. Once I kill the first one, you take his keys and start setting prisoners free. Get them to the boat. I can’t demolish that prison until they are out of harm’s way.”

Dyanis nodded. With my glowing eyes, I could see the movement clearly in the dark. 

“Send the prisoners to the south island. Don’t wait for me. I want to at least know they are safe. And Dyanis,” I turn to look at him, “you can go with them.”

He starts to object, but I continue. “But because I know you won’t…meet me at the gallows once they are safely on their way.”

…

The prison is visible from the shoreline, its tall stone towers seeming to pierce the stars. It is the largest building on the mainland, by necessity. A tyrant needs to imprison many. 

As we approach the prison gates, Dyanis breaks away and sneaks into the shadows against the wall. I pull the axe from my belt, drawing the guards’ attention with the sapphire glow that lights up the night. They rush towards me, but it’s barely an effort to swipe both their heads from their necks with one smooth motion. 

There’s a guard station just inside the tower on the right. I head there while Dyanis makes his way towards the cells with key in hand. I don’t bother attempting to mask my presence. I don’t need any advantage stealth would bring. And the more guards I can draw away from Dyanis, the better.

My whole body glows in the doorway of the guard station. To their credit, about a dozen guards are on their feet in a flash, already armed. Only a couple hesitate at my appearance. The crystalline skin stretches across my chest now, but it doesn’t hinder my movements.

The artifact sends glowing trails through the dim room as I fight. I move instinctively, the weapon an extension of myself. Anything the axe comes in contact with, even weapons, it slices cleanly through. 

One guard manages to get close enough to swipe at my left arm from the side, while I am fighting the opponents directly in front of me. His sword bounces off my hard gemstone skin. At that sight, he breaks away and dashes for the door. 

With a single strike, I take down the remaining three guards in the tower and turn to give pursuit. I can see the glow of his warm body in the darkness. He cries out for help. Good.

Another guard rushes to his defense but pauses at what must be a fearsome sight. They both turn to face me, and I laugh. The newest guard is one I recognize. He walked me to the gallows.

I don’t know if he recognizes me, but it doesn’t matter. I leap forward and chop in a downward arc, splitting his body in two. I pause to savor the moment. Then, I bound forward and finish off the coward ahead of me. 

They’re not so tough when I’m not starved and in chains.

…

I check the remainder of the prison, striking down any guards I meet. Dyanis and I don’t cross paths again, but I do come across a couple of dead guards lying on the floor. I smile to myself. The old fool can handle himself.

Once I’m sure no guards or prisoners are remaining, I march toward the gallows. They aren’t far from the prison. At the sight of the wooden structure with its dangling nooses, I grip my axe tighter. But I won’t use the artifact to destroy the gallows.

I grab a torch from along the path and toss it onto the steps of the gallows. It takes a moment to catch the first piece of wood, but soon the crackling flames spread. Now I wait.

When I see Dyanis approaching from the south, I let out a relieved sigh. I clasp his arm before positioning myself in front of the blazing gallows. For now, I am a shadow backlit by the flames, my axe strapped to my back.

It’s not much longer before I hear shouting and my audience arrives. Citizens gather in the darkness, whispering together but staying back from the spectacle. A group of soldiers rushes forward with buckets of water, and I grin. Showtime.

I pull the artifact from my back and hear gasps as it alights in a blue gleam. 

“You will not put out this fire.” I swing my axe in warning. “The gallows will burn tonight.”

The soldiers glance at each other. Two set down their buckets and draw swords; the others do the same, but stand back a ways. The first two circle me before rushing in together. I swing the axe, and a glowing arc still trails through the air as their bodies fall. 

The other soldiers lower their swords and back away.

I hold onto the artifact so my body and the weapon are visible in front of the roaring fire. I face the people. “There will be no more hangings in Vrezar.” I let the words hang in the air, crackling flames the only sound for a moment. “I am Aleryn. They tried to hang me, but I returned for my revenge. I have come to free all of Vrezar from tyranny.”

I turn to point my axe at the bodies of the soldiers on the ground in front of me. “And I will slaughter anyone who stands in my way.”

…

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Thanks so much for reading!

-Clever & WTF