* * * * *
Keane was dragged backwards by his hair to the King’s Inner Court, thrown down upon his face, and told to beg for mercy before the feet of Fair King Pengar. Perhaps he might have been granted a more dignified entrance had he not nearly strangled the first guard that dared touch him. Keane pushed himself up with his hands but before he could rise he was met by a massive fist and found the bland taste of cold stone paving in his mouth once more.
“Kneel!” Came the voice, “One does not rise ahead of the King’s command!”
Keane raised his head and saw a giant of a man he knew well glaring at him with little pointed daggers where his teeth should have been. He was Odum Daeg and from his left side dangled the Captain’s sword… Keane’s sword… a sword with which he’d unequivocally freed so many of those who’d stood against him.
Keane spat— a transgression punishable by death in the presence of the King. Just as Keane hoped, the new Captain was all too eager to prove his worth and, incensed with rage, he rushed at Keane. Keane dropped flat at the last second, rolled and caught Odum’s legs in his own, quickly twisting him to the ground. He hit him square in the nose with his forehead filling Odum’s face with his own hot blood. He slid the Captain’s sword free of its scabbard then wrenched back Odum’s bloody face by his braided hair as he bent over him, knees into his back, blade tight beneath his chin. A collective gasp ran through the court quickly followed by dread… sometimes known as silence.
“And what is the only way you may depart the Captain’s post Odum?” asked Keane. The knot of Odum’s larynx bobbed just above the blade and he dare not speak even if he could.
“I can’t hear you, Odum! Speak clearly so all here might know.” Keane adjusted the blade’s angle while pressing Odum forwards, even harder, with his knees to keep him off balance.
“Dismemberment,” gurgled Odum; feeling far more humiliation than either pain or fear.
“Archers— on my word!” Prince Bram’s voice rang out and twelve bow strings were nocked and locked quicker than a beat of an aged king’s heart. It was then Keane saw the heavily bandaged ear of Prince Bram and threw his sword! Prince Bram only barely turned his head in time to avoid losing his other ear. One archer let fly an arrow and Keane closed his eyes praying it might pierce his broken heart but it missed the mark embedding itself just below his collar bone.
“Useless,” seethed Keane, ripping the arrow free in disgust and throwing it back at him. “I would have you flogged thrice for that…once for loosing your arrow ahead of the call and twice more for missing the heart of the matter.” In truth it was an unfair assessment for Keane had once saved the man’s life though, as with so many others, he remembered it not. He pulled Odum to his feet and tossed him aside as if he were carrion blocking his path.
“Yes… dismemberment! But today is not your day Odum for it is mine— and I claim this right to die as my own and without hesitation for the world remaining has no sun, no moon or stars and I recognize not even a twig amongst its ever-blackening branches. You have taken from me all that ever galloped free in my heart. I had bound the essence of the only thing magical I’d ever witnessed in this world within my soul… but you found and stole that too! What pray tell could you EVER do to me now? Don’t you see? I am already dismembered… severed from all that ever truly mattered.” His eyes stared into the King’s own where they burned without remorse. The King was about to speak but Keane beat him to it.
“Bring the horses!” Keane commanded as if it were he still in charge of the Guard.
“Bring the lines! Bring the straps! Tie me tight boys and move the horses slow! I want to remember every stride and I want you all to witness… one cannot feel pain if one is dead already!”
Several newer recruits of the Guard looked about apparently unsure whether they should follow his orders or not. Prince Bram rose and began clapping, quite deliberately and very slow. The King stood, raised a hand and the Prince ceased at once.
“Enough of this! This is a barbaric custom from a barbaric age! Take the horses away!”
“No! Father! Our laws demand this price be paid! Only by dismemberment might a Captain of the King’s Guard relinquish his post!” Prince Bram insisted, obviously enraged.
“Silence!” The King bellowed. “Then the law will be rewritten! Scribes… include from this day forth that special irrevocable pardons, privileges and consideration may be granted at the King’s discretion where circumstances of past valor have been demonstrated on the battlefield.” The King glared at his son who sat down quickly.
“No… stand my son for I have more to say to thee yet. It is clear to me now that the death of the Captain Keane would serve no purpose. In fact, to leave him alive is to see him truly suffer. Thus he shall live out the remainder of his days in the dungeon— never knowing what became of his love and with only his ever fading memories to keep him company. Now… remove him from my sight!”
“No!” Hollered Keane. “Dismember me! It is the law! It is my right!” Keane cried out in protest as the six members of the guard knocked him to the ground and dragged him away.
“But enough of that,” declared the King. “This all leaves a bad taste in my mouth and that shall be the last command ever spoken by this king for I once loved that man not so unlike a son.” He paused.
“I thus do abdicate the Sunship of Halyshea. From this moment forth… King Bram does rule! Long live King Bram!”
He then took the crown from his own head, placed it upon his son, and left… not only the venue but the entire court shaken and aghast.
Dismemberment Page 6