Realm of Monsters - Chapter 589: Execution Part 1
Chapter 589: Execution Part 1
The sky was a clear cerulean blue and the sun shone brightly the day Marek Helene was chosen to die. Summer was fading and a cool brisk wind of Autumn swept through the plaza of the Central District.
The council’s decision to execute Marek had passed rather easily. Then they had all unanimously decided to hold the execution as soon as possible, which meant the very next day. Some on the council were eager to see Marek die, others like the de facto leader of the council, Lady Ashe, simply wanted to get it over and done with.
A crowd of a few thousand had gathered at the plaza, eager to see the event. Workers and mages had erected an execution scaffold the night before at the center of the plaza, along with a tall crescent-shaped stone structure. The latter held seven booths with balconies, one for each of the Ruling Families to view from. The whole crescent structure wrapped around the back side of the scaffold, giving a perfect of the execution to the seven families, without blocking the view of the crowd.
The entire viewing platform was to give the Ruling Families an air of nobility and power as they looked down from above at the guilty, sentencing them to die. Stryg found the whole thing somewhat pompous and it was annoyingly reminiscent of the Lunar Elect’s chambers where the Elects had denounced his mother. Nonetheless, Stryg had promised Gale and Gian to not comment on the matter. Today he was to play the part of the Lord of House Veres and a lord was bothered by such things.
The execution scaffold itself was a simple affair made of wood, a resource not common nor cheap in Hollow Shade. The prisoners, Marek and several of his high-ranking commanders stood in chains behind the scaffold. There was no chopping block or gallows, none of these men and women would die in such a manner.
A pair of true black mages served as the executioners. They stood at the side in black robes and polished ebony wood masks. In their hands, they held a crystalline orb each. Even from his viewing balcony, Stryg could make out the soul of a shade swirling within the orb.
Gian and Gale stood behind Stryg, on his right and left respectively. They were his bodyguards and closest advisors, they were his Shields and they radiated power to any who looked at the Veres balcony.
Stryg had invited his tribe to come and watch, but they all seemed to have their own opinions on the matter. Feli held little interest in watching any public execution and had opted to stay home at the Veres manor. Rhian was much the same and had decided to spend the day with Maximus. Ever since Loh had granted freedom to all the Noir’s beastkins and given them a sack of coins each, the beastkin had looked towards Maximus for leadership, something the giant centaur was not used to.
Rhian had told Stryg Maximus needed help and support, and while he was inclined to agree, it was difficult for Stryg to read the warrior centaur’s stoic expression. Stryg wasn’t sure if the centaur was pensive or simply wanted to be left alone, either way, Rhian seemed to have a crush on him, so he didn’t voice any of his doubts and let her be.
It was somewhat odd seeing the chipper Rhian gushing to the quiet, cold Maximus about one mundane thing or another, but he seemed to enjoy her company, or at least he tolerated her enough to not trample her on the spot, which was more than most people could say when it came to Maximus.
Nora had declined to come. He didn’t blame her. Stryg would much rather spend the day playing with Kamilo too. Maeve, on the other hand, was too busy trying to rebuild her House. Her manor had been destroyed by the dragonbane’s attack and like so many merchant Houses, her businesses had been left in disarray.
As for Plum, when Stryg told her about the execution she didn’t bother to respond and simply gave him a cold look before walking away. He supposed he deserved that.
What Stryg didn’t expect was Elise not making an appearance. When he asked Gale about his cousin’s whereabouts, she had told him that she had last seen Elise bringing treats to Blueberry. Stryg didn’t trust Elise much, but he trusted her to not hurt the wolf. She was smart enough to know what would happen if she ever harmed Blueberry.
For some reason, Elise had become captivated by the frost wolf, or so Gale claimed. Stryg could not for the life of him understand why; all the giant wolf did was eat and sleep all day. He thought Blueberry might miss the forest and long for home, but so far the wolf was content to eat all he could want every day.
Tauri was the only one who had accepted his invitation. She stood next to him on the balcony. Gian said it was a good show of strength to have both of them side by side in a public appearance. After the fiasco at the dinner party last week there had been many rumors about House Veres and House Katag having a falling out. Their appearance today would help quell those rumors.
Of course, it would only fan the flames of the other rumors floating about, of how Tauri and Stryg had shared an affair. Not that Stryg really thought it was an affair. He had never really been in a relationship with Elena. The public had different opinions on the matter.
Krall and Evelyn Katag stood across from Stryg, their viewing balconies were at opposite ends of the crescent structure. Evelyn was giving them a contained, but icy glare, whether it was aimed at Stryg or Tauri he wasn’t sure.
Judging from the troubled expression on Tauri’s face, she clearly felt the glare too. Stryg wrapped his arm around her waist with a sense of protectiveness and possessiveness.
She tensed for a moment and glanced at her parents, then back at him, “Stryg what are you doing?”
“Let them talk about us, it doesn’t change anything.”
At that, she lowered her chin in a subtle nod and relaxed into his embrace.
The Noir’s balcony was next to the Veres’. Loh, Dolores, and Unalla were in attendance. Holo’s son, Atlas, and her granddaughter, Una, were nowhere to be seen. Nor was Loh’s father. Holo or Melantha weren’t there either. Stryg would have guessed his sisters would have appeared, but they were nowhere in sight. Curiously, Lily, the Noir’s seneschal, was standing behind Loh, eyeing the execution scaffold with barely hidden excitement.
Freya stood at the Goldelm’s balcony alongside a blonde dwarf who sat in a wheelchair. The two looked alike, Stryg guessed they were siblings or perhaps a niece and uncle. Either way, the man didn’t look like he wanted to be here. Nor did Freya. Stryg had barely gotten a chance to talk to her after yesterday’s council meeting. They had promised to have dinner and catch up sometime in the next few days.
It seemed as if Freya wanted to talk to him about something urgent. He didn’t mind, if he could help his friend he would. Gian also approved of their friendship. The friendship of the Veres and Goldelms had lasted for the last thousand years and the continued relationship would only serve to strengthen both their positions on the council.
Vayu Glaz stood alone on his balcony. Stryg’s Purple chromatic mentor had seemed to have aged a decade since the last time he had seen him. The drow’s cheeks were sallow and his eyes gaunt. He looked as if he hadn’t slept in days. Vayu had pushed for the execution more than any other council member, yet there was no happiness or even satisfaction in his expression, only grim determination.
“My lord, you have a visitor,” said Gale.
Stryg turned and to his pleasant surprise saw a familiar face in the doorway of the viewing booth. “Plum, you made it!”
Plum eyed Stryg’s arm around the voluptuous orc’s waist. “Romance in the public eye? What happened to your sense of propriety?” she taunted, but there was none of the usual mirth in her voice.
“Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite troublesome drow. You always did have a way of walking in on us at the most unexpected times,” said Tauri with a smirk.
Stryg stepped over and hugged his friend before stepping back with a smile. “It’s good to see you, Plumela. I didn’t think you’d come. Is everything alright?”
Plum cracked a small smile. “Look at you, being all empathic. I guess people can change.”
“Just a little,” Tauri teased.
“You know, I didn’t think I was going to come, I don’t agree with these sorts of things,” said Plum.
“You don’t think people should be executed for their crimes?” interrupted Gale, her voice was taut and her glare dared Plum to disagree with her.
Plum sighed, “People should pay for their crimes if they are guilty, but no one should be executed by shade devouring. No one.”
“Marek killed my brother, he deserves to die the most painful of deaths. Are you saying he should be spared such a death?” asked Gale angrily.
Stryg looked at his Shadow and gave her a subtle shake of his head. This was not a fight Gale wanted. Plum had lost her mother partly because of Stryg, the last thing he needed was to bring that all back to the forefront. Plum and he were finally in a good place, he didn’t want to ruin that.
Thankfully, Gale caught his look and relented.
Stryg turned to Plum and smiled weakly, “It won’t be a shade-devouring this time. Well, at least not for Marek.”
Plum furrowed her brow and glanced at the two mage executioners standing on the scaffold platform. “What are you talking about?”
“The council decided that the warlord deserved a more ‘fitting’ end. He hurt a lot of people, Plum.”
“That doesn’t make it better,” she sighed. “Look, I’m only here because I heard something strange. Is it true that you’re sending the Veres army to attack the Cairn Tribe?”
“Ah, that. Yeah, it is,” he replied.
“The Valley Tribes have already retreated. Don’t you think attacking the Cairn will only antagonize the other tribes? The city is barely recovering, the last thing we need is another siege,” said Plum.
“Perhaps, but Marek needs to pay for the lives he’s taken,” said Stryg.
Gale nodded silently in approval.
“Isn’t that what today’s all about? Making him pay? You’re literally about to watch him be executed,” said Plum.
“That isn’t enough,” he replied.
“How isn’t that enough?”
Stryg’s voice grew solemn, “Clypeus Gale was a brother to me. And when Marek was about to kill me, Cly saved my life by sacrificing his own. I swore that night that I’d avenge him, I would destroy everything Marek loved. I intend to keep that promise.”
“Do you even know whom Marek loves?”
“His tribemates, of course.”
She frowned. “So you’re just going to— what? Kill them all?”
He didn’t respond.
Plum’s eyes widened. “Oh my gods, you are. Are you insane? You can’t just kill all of them.”
“They are our enemies, they had no problem killing all of us. So long as they live they are a threat to Hollow Shade and those I care about.”
“And if you kill all their warriors, the ones who attacked the city, then what happens to their children?”
“If we let the children live they will grow up with resentment and hatred towards us. They will become a threat even worse than their parents; they will be the heirs of the Cairn Tribe. People will flock to them and this whole war will begin again. But, if we wipe their entire tribe out now, we will send a message to any who would dare threaten us.”
“You’re talking about killing children, Stryg,” Plum whispered in disbelief.
“How many children do you think died in the siege? How many of my orphans died protecting this city against our enemies?” Stryg’s voice broke into a deep growl. “Those children were mine to protect and they died, Plum. Because of Marek and his tribe.”
“Stryg, I’m not sure what orphans you’re speaking about and I’m sorry for your loss, I really am, but this isn’t the way.”
He sighed. “I know you’re a good person, Plum, perhaps one of the truly few good people in this city. But people in this Realm aren’t like you. They don’t respect mercy, they respect power. If we show mercy to our enemies, the other Great Cities will see us as weak. It’s like you said, Hollow Shade is barely recovering. We can’t afford to seem weak or Murkton, Frost Rim, and Undergrowth will attack us. Even if I hadn’t made my promise to Cly, I have people now who look to me to keep them safe. They are my responsibility. If I have to choose their lives over the Cairn’s, I’ll choose my tribe’s every time.”
Plum clenched her fists tight and tried her best to calm her breathing. “Stryg…” she whispered. “You wanted us to be friends again, even after everything that happened between us. You wanted me by your side. After the siege, I didn’t plan to stay in Hollow Shade, but you asked me to support you to help rebuild this city. And I stayed, because I thought you could make a difference here. But this isn’t how you do it.” She grabbed his hand between her own, “Please, Stryg, don’t do this, I’m begging you. Tauri, tell him.”
Tauri gave her an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, but Stryg is right. We need to show the Realm that we are strong, that we’re dangerous. If we don’t, we’ll be the ones in danger. That’s just the way of the Realm.”
“It’s the way of monsters,” Plum scowled. “Don’t you see? We can be better than our predecessors. We can choose to show mercy. If you destroy the Cairn Tribe, the Valley Tribes will never forgive us. There will never be peace.”
“Marek worked closely with Caligo; we don’t know if there are others in the Cairn who also made deals with Caligo. I don’t like it either, but we can’t take the risk of letting them live,” said Tauri.
“Then at least spare the children, please. They didn’t ask for any of this.” Plum leaned in close to Stryg and whispered quietly, “I know you’re a demigod of Death and maybe killing others doesn’t bother you, but you’re still half mortal. Have some empathy for the people who were born like you, powerless. They didn’t ask to be born in the Cairn. If you kill these children, you will be just repeating the mistakes of all the Ebon Lords before you.”
Her final words struck a chord in Stryg and he was reminded of the Ebon Lord Ravellan Lutharik and the others who had waged war on Lunis. He thought of his father and the destruction he wrought upon Ravellan’s army.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your discussion, my lord, but it seems we have company,” said Gian.
Stryg glanced up and spotted small dark silhouettes in the sky, circling around the plaza. He narrowed his eyes, “It can’t be… Dragons?”
