The Gallows

The Gallows
71 Autumn 217

The World
It was beneath a gray sky in the failing light that five stood on the platform of the gallows built at the heart The Farrow, the central district of Northgate. There had been seven, but two had risked the hope to flee and found a quicker and more violent end of screaming at the end of pikes and swords.

The five that remained were those that would hope to the end of the very last moment, searching the crowd with eyes that would not believe until the lever was pulled — would not believe that this injustice was possible, that they could die when they had done no wrong, but sought instead what they knew was good.

It was beneath a gray sky that had gathered the many had come to see and in their faces were all the kinds of hatred, glee, worry, pity, and sorrow. A careful eye would see the dull metal of armor and sword in belts where moved the plum and the gold of the Painted Swan soldiers that here kept order.

Ethan
Ethan made his way through the crowd, his meeting with Sav momentarily set aside. It had been helpful, that talk. Plans grew undeniably more complicated when involving others, but there were benefits too. Plus, he needed others for the title – a “conspiracy,” by definition, requires a group. Alone he was just… what, an agitator? An insurgent? What would his title be…?

He pondered this as he slipped past spectators who had gathered around the courtyard in anticipation of the executions.

On the Gallows
There was a thin and gnarled finger — a thing like an old tree branch which pointed from beneath the wide sleeve of dim dyed robes. “See here the traitors. See here the blasphemers. See here the wicked and the woeful…”

There was a voice like twigs and wire — a voice that commanded age and presence, but inspired little more than fear. “See here the twisted villains that would corrupt the hearts of the pure and good Isendelian people!” the crier’s voice was given flight across the gathered crowd and the crowd stirred in the building tides of anxiety and dread.

Ethan
I never understood why people wanted to watch these things… he mentally spoke to Bishop.

You rather enjoy the spectacle of the Grand Theater, the ring man countered.

Ethan held copies of the wanted posters for the people who were set to be executed very shortly.

That’s different, he said, pausing in front of a confused and mildly alarmed spectator who looked vaguely similar to a prisoner in profile but was clearly unrelated after closer inspection. Ethan moved on.

Those are battles… two gigantic beasts (which I hope never to encounter outside the walls of the arena) are pitted against one another in a fight to the death! That’s a fight. This is just…

A slaughter? Bishop offered.

The World
“Witch!” The first shout leaped alone from the murmuring of the crowd, but it was soon joined by many others. Cries flew from the angry faces of those most eager, those most willing to press the blame of their hardship on strangers and foreigners — and it would seem too their neighbors — with furrowed brows and glaring eyes and mouths twisted in spiteful cursing.

It was a withered tomato which first flew, but the second was a stone, which struck a young dwarven boy who stood bound upon the wooden slats. He ducked his head, but already was the skin there pale and gashed and soon flushed as the blood began to run. He had often played ball with the other children in the streets of Dustown. Beside him stood his father, bearded and gray with hands that had worked the hammer, the hand-plane, and the chizel in Northgate for all his many years, and too there stood his mother who had kept the runes of the Jorungun people — who had carved the rune for healing and the rune for good and pleasant dreams.

“Generous and kind has been Her Lord, The Baroness Tyr Isendel. Generous and kind have been the good people of the realm — and for that kindness we are betrayed by whispers of treachery, whispers of conspiracy that would see our good ways befouled!”

Ethan
Exactly! I don’t see crowds standing around the butcher shop just waiting to see a pig get disemboweled…

Gods how I miss food… Bishop lamented.

That’s what made you miss food?

Across the crowd, he spotted a man towards the back. He was standing alone, his hands wringing a weathered hat.

Ah! I think I found one…

The World
“See here the traitors! See here the blasphemers! See here the wicked and the woeful! See here the twisted villains that would corrupt the hearts of the pure and good Isendelian people!” he said with spittle glistening on narrow lips, before climbed higher the voice into a bellowing cry. “Look here and see the justice that awaits those who turn against the barony of Isendel!” The crier howled and threw his arm and waved the billowing of a sleeve and too came the pull of a lever and from the crowd there was a gasp and a wail.

There were five which had been seven and they hung from ropes in the gallows at the heart of The Farrow. The faces of those most eager seethed with fury and elation to see the grim work done, but not all were eyes filled with glee. There were others — those which gleamed wet with tears or had turned away in anguish, those who stood with folded arms and narrow feet with faces pale and stricken with the wrong of what had happened there.

Ethan
It may have been little comfort to the men and women (and yes, even a child) who hung by their necks until their legs stopped twitching, but none of them died completely alone. Each had at least one person who cared deeply enough to brave the horror of watching a loved one die, just to be with them in the end.

And this was exactly what Ethan had been looking for — friends or relatives of the unjustly executed.

Ethan knew their pain, their anger. But most of all, he understood the bitter resentment of their inability to do anything about the injustice. He intended to turn these feelings to his advantage.

So, after picking out prospects from the crowd, he followed them. And in the hours and days that followed, he approached each one in turn. He had a brief conversation with them. And for those with no other means, he offered to pay for the burial expenses… once the bodies were allowed to be cut down.

Because these were not just men and women with a petty grievance; No, these individuals were now potential allies in the fight against a common enemy.

For the moment, he wasn’t certain how these commoners would be able to help, but as far as he was concerned, from now on, every innocent person killed by his enemy was just another opportunity to grow the size of his invisible army.

Chess games have pawns for a reason. And a smart player knew both their value and their power…

Back to:

YMDT

Explorer

The Gallows