I'm simultaneously disappointed with myself and proud of myself as well ??

who knows

-

The ropes binding his wrists were tied all too tight. With every step they rubbed against his skin, slowly and painfully peeling it. His feet hurt, too. Walking barefoot across a rocky, uneven road was nowhere near comfortable, but he didn't have to put too much effort into seeing that comfort wasn't what the six men at his sides were worried about.

The wall of Koadaeta came into view, and he knew it was practically over for him. He watched on as three men worked to roll the gigantic, brass gate open. One stood above the all, completely dressed in shining armor from head to toe. His broad shoulders and multiple monochrome badges across his chest gave notice that he was commander - total authority of the city.

"We come from Kulo-Shaeda!" the man right in front of him called out. The armor-clad man turned his gaze down to the group and crossed his arms across his chest.

"State your business," he growled back, eyes trailing over a small cart of goods that was exiting the city.

"The execution, quite obviously." A tone of sarcasm was lacing his speech. "What else would we be doing here?"

The tall man practically snarled, then made a gesture towards the three men at the gate. In a flash, they weighed the gate's cables down onto the ground to keep it open.

The small group continued to move, and he couldn't help but look around at the inner city in awe. A man at the back roughly shoved him forward, cutting off his 'sightseeing,' then barked out a call for him to simply move.

"Can't help but admire it, eh shkrep?" One man taunted with forced laughter. "It's a step up from the dump you call a home."

He snapped his teeth at the man, letting his shiny, metallic tongue glisten in the sunlight for a split second. The man flinched back, but only for a short moment. In an even quicker instant, the prisoner was face down in the dirt. His arms were painfully pinned behind his back and his mouth was full of dirt.

"You think you're smart?" the man he had apparently 'provoked' spat in his ears. "You're nothing but a piece of scum that doesn't deserve to live." He chuckled darkly, lowering his voice to a seething whisper. "In just an hour, you'll be dead. No one's gonna remember you - no one cares. This will be the greatest moment of my life, kid. Watching you writhe in pain as you're slowly dying."

The real victim - Marius was his name - struggled under the man's strength. He cringed at the taste of the dirt, but didn't waste any time in taking the man's words to heart.

'No one cares,' he told himself, 'but that's how it's supposed to be. No one's supposed to care, anyway.' He let out a short, breathy laugh as the man hauled him upright again.

"Somethin' funny?" another asked him, keeping a hand on the rope that was tied to the ones bound around his wrists.

"No sir," Marius practically mocked, keeping his eyes ahead of them.

They were walking towards a large platform that appeared to be situated in the direct center of the city. People were gathered around it, some fidgeting nervously while others were scanning the area with violent excitement. Marius knew that it was mandatory for the cityfolk to attend the execution, so he wasn't nearly as surprised as he probably should have been.

As the men pushed Marius up to the top of the platform, a man of a very regal demeanor stepped forward; front and center.

His immensely long, blonde hair cascaded over his back. His skin was as white as a cloud on a sunny day and his amethyst eyes glinted with an emotion of malice.

"Citizens of Koadaeta!" the man commanded, catching the attention of anyone and everyone. "We are gathered here today under the watchful eye of our King." Everyone that was able to even remotely hear his words raised four fingers towards the sky - the country's symbol of respect for their monarch. "The execution of this man has been approved by the king and all of his advisors, and shall proceed as follows." He stood a bit straighter, then held his hands out towards two men who were very noticeably overdressed for the occasion.

"We shall read a passage from the King's almighty word regarding the crimes of the criminal." He raised the book up, allowing the people to see the intricately designed leather book. A golden trim glimmered in the sunlight and ultimately shined in most everyone's eyes.

He gently opened the large book and flipped a few pages until he found what he needed. He held it closer to his face, then breathed in.

"Shevatth motoanak," he recited, his voice dark and gravelly, "laerani kufojar." The people began to speak along with him, acting as if they were mindless slaves. "Teegaenai kejjarabellu - aegenoa."

They spoke in such fluent Rhodeneimish it was almost shocking. Marius knew that some cities were more religious than others, but this was greater than just religion and everyone that was not a native knew it.

After the crowd died down, the man continued on with his plans of action.

"We will now secure him to the King's Stanchion for the whipping." His thin fingers wrapped around Marius' forearm and he yanked him forward. With a scary amount of force, the man shoved him against the decently sized stone pole. The two priestly men from before came up from behind and snapped off the ropes, only to bind him to the smooth stone with an even tighter piece of rope.

The blonde man came closer to Marius' face until they were nearly pressing against each other. "I'll get you out," the man whispered, his breath hitting the other's ear. As he stepped back, his lips parted and he stuck a bit of his tongue out at Maris. A flash of gold caught the sunlight then disappeared. Marius nearly let out a gasp of shock, but managed to keep it inside. The man noticed his expression and chuckled softly.

'Don't worry,' he mouthed with a manner that only a metaltongued being would understand, his tongue turning back into that of a normal human's. He flipped around to the crowd whom had been watching the exchange with utmost interest.

He was handed the 'ceremonial whip' by a hooded man. He ran it through his hands, careful to maneuver around the sharp shards of a witching substance that had been woven between the fibers. He spun towards Marius and marched in front of him.

He continued back and forth, back and forth until someone in the crowd called out 'Just get on with it!'

He breathed deeply and rose the whip when he had come near enough to the Silvertongue. Marius flinched back, ready to feel the burn of the shards and rope but they never came.

It felt as if time completely stopped when the man whistled loudly. Suddenly, the hooded man and many from the crowd sprang up and rushed towards the platform. Some clouds of intense, multicolored smoke swirled elegantly through the air and creatures appeared in their place. The crowd was screaming, people were running, and Marius felt the ropes being loosened.

Bolts and beams swirled around the pillar Marius had been tied to, shooting at the guards and even the priests.

Loud, pounding footsteps were heard just as the crowd had completely dispersed. In their place stood the commander and his face was so much more than simple anger.

"EROS!" he roared, charging for the blonde man who still had the whip in his hands. Marius watched in fear, but then felt his body being pulled back by two unfamiliar pairs of hands. He quickly circled around to see two dark elves behind him, both female. The taller of the two had concern plastered onto her face as she and the other let go of his arms.

"Marius," she whimpered, stepping back. "Please, come with us. Eros will meet us back there. He can take on Evander - trust us!"

"How do you know my name?" Marius questioned, completely mindless about the situation he was currently in.

"Everyone does, idiot," the smaller woman commented, wrapping her clawed fingers around his wrist. "Now, you'd better start moving before you become Evander's dinner. He's ruthless, but Eros is tough. Come on!"

Marius nodded, running off with the two women. Screams and screeches could be heard behind them, but they all belonged to what Marius thought was the man called Evander. Nothing came from Eros, which slightly worried Marius but also reassured him.

Something wasn't quite right, though. Marius knew, deep down inside that nothing about this situation was quite within the standards of true reality.

-

shkrep - a nasty term used by cities of higher status to describe and/or taunt people of Kulo-Shaeda.

shevatth - an immoral creature

motoanak - (shall) face condemnation

laerani - under the watchful eye

kufojar - of our god

teegaenai - the silvertongued devil

kejjarabellu - shall be put down

aegenoa - no matter what

Eros - obviously Marius' futur-

I mean

whaaaat

Anyways, happy reading. Thanks for reading. Read more. Reading. YAY?

- Aveh

[U N E D I T E D]