I thought of my mother and her exasperated smile every time I made trouble with the johns that visited the brothel. I thought of her ability to love a monster and both admired and hated her for it. I thought of my twin, Bael, and wished that I had noticed the darkness growing inside him. I might have been able to do something. If nothing else, I would have tried.
But, these were just passing thoughts…
During the short walk to the courtyard where the executioner’s block had been set up and a crowd had already arrived to witness my death; I mostly thought of the princess who acted like no ordinary princess. One who possessed an inner light and an endless supply of love. I recalled her memories of her two consorts, Soren and Aramis, as well as the other men in her life; Rhys, Jezura, etc.
I was jealous of them.
The guard who held my chains led me up the crudely built steps and then kicked the back of my knee, forcing me to kneel before all.
Cassius stood on to the side upon a makeshift dais and rambled to the crowd. After a few seconds of listening to his asinine nonsense, I tuned him out. From the expressions gracing most of the crowd, I wasn’t the only one with selective hearing.
“Joaquin.”
At the familiar voice, I glanced to the side at one of the four men standing behind the executioner and grunted. Of course, he was here… “Xing.”
Xing shifted on his feet, subtly moving slightly behind the man next to him. “How goes it?” He asked, flashing a quirky grin.
“I’m about to be executed. How do you think it’s going?” I asked drolly.
“Are you?” Xing murmured ominously, sliding even further behind the other men who were too dazed by Cassius’s monologue to notice.
I shook my head at his antics and turned away, not feeling up to dealing with him right now. Just in time too, as it appeared the false king had finished torturing the masses.
The executioner moved behind me and lifted his sword high into the air, awaiting the king’s order. If it weren’t for the black cloth mask that hid his identity by covering his entire face except for two eyeholes; I would have sworn I could feel his breath upon my neck. Every hair that graced my body felt as if it were standing on end.
I took a deep breath and summoned Sienna’s image to the forefront of my mind, closing my eyes so that she was all I could see.
“For his part in the assassination of King Lyons, Joaquin Gagnon also known as the King Killer is found guilty.” The crowd cheered. Cassius held the suspense for a few moments before he raised his hand, quieting the crowd. “His punishment…is death.”
The executioner swung the blade.
And just seconds before it separated my head from my shoulders, he grunted as two arrows slammed into him from the front while Xing’s dagger stabbed him from behind.
Freed
PART THREE IN THE AKELDAMA CHRONICLES
Coming Soon!
P.S.: It will be out in December 2017.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Once again, I want to thank you for taking a chance on me and reading my book. I hope you loved it. The next chronicle (Freed: Part Three of The Akeldama Chronicles) will be out in December 2017.
If you loved it or even simply thought that it was ok, please leave a review. Reviews help authors out so much. One way they help, if you didn’t already know, is that the more reviews a book has the higher up the list that book will show in online search engines at stores like Amazon, for example.
I wish you a wonderful day/night.
With lots of love,
F.N. Hammack
AUTHOR BIO
I am 21 years old, born and raised in Mississippi. Unfortunately, I am not overly fond of this hot and humid state; it makes my hair do strange things. I work as a research assistant and go to college during the day while writing all through the night. I don’t sleep much…if you haven’t already figured that out.
Some of my hobbies and interests include: reading and writing (lol), archery, photography and painting, hiking, ancient civilizations, mythology and fairytales, collecting swords, knife throwing, henna, guys with tattoos, foreign languages and cultures, trying new things, and baklava…. (If you send me baklava, I will love you forever. No joke. I have an addiction…)
Execution: (The Akeldama Chronicles) Page 6