Post by mcian on Apr 16, 2024 20:34:48 GMT -5
Itannar found Kerrigan resting at his home, Brotherhood Abbey. It was raining… a perfect frame for the word he had to give to the man whose fraternal twin, Kerridan, had been given a death sentence. He dreaded this with all his being, but it had to be done. Kerrigan greeted him warmly and asked him to be seated beside an equally warm fire.
“I know why you are here,” Kerrigan stated. “I can tell by the look on your face. When will it be?” he asked.
Itannar sighed. “Tomorrow at sunrise. We decided to wait any longer would be cruel. Already your brother has sunk into deep depression and has stopped eating and drinking.”
Kerrigan rose and went to the cellaret, drew from it a bottle of wine and two glasses. He poured wine into the glasses, evenly, and returned, offering one to Itannar who nodded and took it. Kerridan sat back down. “I, too, have dreaded this day. If I thought there was some hope for him, I would offer myself in his stead… I lie not. Yet I know he will never change. Darkness has tainted his heart. Free of cost, it would rear its head again within him.” He took a drink from the glass.
Itannar nodded. “I have a brother, an older one… Vospar Nylam. His last name was given him by his druid friends, as he is one like them. If I had to go through with him what you are with yours, I do not believe I could do it, or even allow it.”
“But he is a good man is he not?”
“Yes. Still, there is that bond between brothers that cannot be broken.” Itannar sipped his wine and paused for a moment. “Do you wish to speak to him tonight?”
Kerrigan looked away but the guest saw the misting of his eyes. “I do not know what to even say to him. If he begins begging… I…”
Itannar nodded. “Shall I take him any word then?”
Kerrigan nodded slowly.
Kerridan opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, shaking his head and lowering it. Then he muttered, where only Itannar could hear him. “Tell my brother I love him… and to forgive me, if he can.” Itannar nodded and stepped away. In position, he raised his right hand. “By the sentence of the court, I hereby fulfill its wish. May the gods have mercy upon thee and thy soul,” he spoke, loudly, and impassively.
When his hand dropped, five arrows flew to their mark…
“I know why you are here,” Kerrigan stated. “I can tell by the look on your face. When will it be?” he asked.
Itannar sighed. “Tomorrow at sunrise. We decided to wait any longer would be cruel. Already your brother has sunk into deep depression and has stopped eating and drinking.”
Kerrigan rose and went to the cellaret, drew from it a bottle of wine and two glasses. He poured wine into the glasses, evenly, and returned, offering one to Itannar who nodded and took it. Kerridan sat back down. “I, too, have dreaded this day. If I thought there was some hope for him, I would offer myself in his stead… I lie not. Yet I know he will never change. Darkness has tainted his heart. Free of cost, it would rear its head again within him.” He took a drink from the glass.
Itannar nodded. “I have a brother, an older one… Vospar Nylam. His last name was given him by his druid friends, as he is one like them. If I had to go through with him what you are with yours, I do not believe I could do it, or even allow it.”
“But he is a good man is he not?”
“Yes. Still, there is that bond between brothers that cannot be broken.” Itannar sipped his wine and paused for a moment. “Do you wish to speak to him tonight?”
Kerrigan looked away but the guest saw the misting of his eyes. “I do not know what to even say to him. If he begins begging… I…”
Itannar nodded. “Shall I take him any word then?”
Kerrigan nodded slowly.
* * *
The sun had barely risen when a gate spell provided the arrival of the shackled prisoner and his guardian host. The Grand Inquisitor was led to a wall in the courtyard of the Hall of Justice in Yew. He was clothed in a grey robe only, and barefoot. He did not beg, cry, or resist in any way. His sunken eyes and emaciated face told the tale of his utter resignation to death and welcoming of it. In front of him stood five Wardens, archers all, his executioners, their eyes set firmly on their pitiless task. Before him stood the Captain Warden who looked into his eyes. “Do you have any last words?”Kerridan opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, shaking his head and lowering it. Then he muttered, where only Itannar could hear him. “Tell my brother I love him… and to forgive me, if he can.” Itannar nodded and stepped away. In position, he raised his right hand. “By the sentence of the court, I hereby fulfill its wish. May the gods have mercy upon thee and thy soul,” he spoke, loudly, and impassively.
When his hand dropped, five arrows flew to their mark…