Thalian
"Er.... er ... how is the delve for the king's guard?"
Caustically queried the man brows rose scrunching up his face.
As he drank before twisting the wine glass between in his fingers. Drawing the attention men in the room who were dissolved in their own engaging discussion , seated across the wooden table to his associates spread in the great hall dressed in the uniform SturdyTie upstaged in silk shirts, white cravats, vested waistcoats and impeccable fine long cotton breeches.
" Lord Edna no advancements at this point, the are still potential prospects being trained"contorted in the contorted in the known assumption ,disquiet from his companions it was a burden excessively far.
"Unfortunately it's not easy scouring a consistent replacement with the King's interference" impatiently drumming his fingers on the wooden table where he sat.
" Sadon, the position cannot be left vacant for too long..... l think gentleman your aware of the issues that will become a deterrent hurdle"
Adjusting in his seat in the great hall meeting a room between one and a half and three times as long as it was wide, and also higher than it was wide.
" The king ! ....keeps pressuring for a replacement with the deadline " fist banging on the surface with thump Lord Merck had quite a temperate ,rustling of the tree leaves sounds in faint background from the large bay windows along the screens passage along the long side of the hall.
"The festival of fire light is not enough time however....."stroking his chin in thought Hadrian looked at the other nobles for a school of thought.
" Captain... absurd title ! His personal hunt dog if you call it " Lord Quinn scoffed off the statement.
" After the last Captain insignificant demise ..."Lord Terrowin dismissed the tale of what occurred.
"Now he wants us to clean up his mess again .... What was ..it this time again !" playful smile had drawn into a hard line across his face,Lord Ulric as the others not impressed however amused.
" His majesty got caught again ... it's not our fault" Lord Jarin in frustration eye-rolling the inconvenience of the subject.
"Pathetic more like ... Lord Merck ,he lacks self-control after assisting him take control of the kingdom as an candidate"
" Lord Terrowin patience .... as for the replacement who might be potential?" Looking at the man ,side of his straight nose two blazing hazel eyes. Spiked, warm brown fringed with smooth green. His dark brows were actually graceful, but currently furrowed in a frown.
" Williams would do ..... disciplined won't give us problems and we'll skilled in sword mastery" Lord Edna dark eye brows, sloped downwards in a serious expression.
" Aaaah ....Haven't .....heard of such talent in Thalian" Ulric average height , pale features stood up to pour him self a glass of liquor from the station ,the man had on a white cotton shirt with a silky blue vest and a pair of black pants, which tied everything together.
" The man has a low profile however his infamous that our advantage!" Lord Handrin inserted square-built, black headed and mouth in smirk.
" Disposal won't be strenuous , l agree might grant us the cadence we need before the festival" Lord Sadon rubbing his head like he had forgotten something before swallowing his visible Adam's apple in rapid movement.
"Settled then we have preposition for the cadence of now .... he will granted for now"
"He will join the admissions and be accepted"
Lord Merek face was clean shaven and utterly serious. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of round spectacles that mirrored the scene in front.
"Now my Lords let's move to further pressing matters" speaking with a brazen, yet intimidating voice booming without flinch Lord Edna concluded.
" Xenia's house of Grey has been giving us complications again , short supply of workers.."
.............
The Vigils Bureau
The harsh acrid smell of onion-sweat, fungus smells of dirt a reflection of the damp ground constantly clammy and wet from the constant pails of water thrown to clean the platform area.
The criminals were led out into the yard, one by one dressed in a short sleeved stanched shirt in dirt with front string opening with dark breeches ,avoided a puddle of water along the way.
The citizens and executive witnesses to see their demise upon a scaffold erected for that purpose, to bewere hanged at one blow, with a wooden trench under the hanging spot of about two feet long.
The gloom of the tower Hill where Capital punishments, clear for the people to witness criminals guilty of high penalties of crime and treason.
Tied hands behind their backs among the gathering of five man blameworthy and indicted for wrongdoing opposing the ties as the Vigil authorities put sacks over the heads covering their personalities in planning of the technique.
The authorities read out the assertion of their indicted wrongdoings and afterwards with consent began as the first man was brought forward on the steps on the elevated stoop. The deep solemn chanting of his wails was now heard, as from a distance the procession approached the silent square. Not a word was uttered, a low murmuring sound and the wriggling of the man began as he struggled against the rope for breath before his body gave out the fight.
Women's the faces creased,sounds that almost stopped hearts in the space for the spectators sobbing , hands grasping their companion's shoulders shaking and the wheezing wails sounds of struggling to breathe against the crying.
After affirmation of death the man was taken down from the strains the nuke ropes around his name released taken away and the next procedure for the other two more man were seen advancing, forward as they faced their deaths.
As the two remaining men of the five criminals were to go forward,he who was a fair haired,well built mid-height length walked to the front along side the other ,benevolence of the crowd was the display weeping, some cheering others downcast eyes in sorrow.
Bates chest constantly felt heavy, as the weight of the beautiful memories now becoming these haunting nightmares in the painful and bitter realization that.
He will never get to experience that ever again.
Bates tied up his linen jacket with an audible grunt after he fell in thud " aaaah" dusting off the dirt as he stood up glancing down avoiding the sun blaring heat in the sky. Rowan threw his head back and laughing teasing him for being too clumsy as they always played in the ricefield and caught some dragonflies in the forest with Rowan when they were of young.
Gasping in astonishment at the clarity of the aquarium blue waterfall. It was spurting over the basalt rock, spilling eel-like over the ledges. Its clamorous passage at the foot of the mountain threw up bubbles of spray. They sparkled uneasily in the dying light and shimmered like the ghostly, blood drops of a phantom.
There was a whooshing vortex at the bottom. It was caused by the plummeting funnel of water that spiralled from on high. It looked like a drape of blue aluminium, such was its lushness. The cascade was sieved with silver at its fringes, lending a hallucinatory quality to it.
Wagtails were bobbing and dipping on a rock, foraging for juicy flies. The tip of the rock pierced the rhapsody-pool like the upturned nose of a dwarf. Run off water tingled the rock as it seeped away, distilled as pure and clear as an angel's tears.
There appeared to be a cave under the arch of waterfall. Quickly shedding their over coats off and shoes, the bravest Rowan plunged into it first following Bates.The watery slide we passed through was so cold that our bodies were quaking when entering the cave.
Swimming in the waterfall pool in the south direction to their home the boys burst through the wall of water and now on the green grass land beside the waterfall,they stared up to see a hopeful, polestar-blue sky as they lay backwards facing upwards.
" What man do you desire ,to become when we grow up? Father was asking me so l have to think about it ....? They will be soon selections...."
"You mean beside being stronger than you! "
"Rowan !"
" I know exactly who l want to be ! A man of honor of service to my home!"
" A Knight/ Vigil ? Rowan.... profound.. l still have not found a aim"
"Everyone has a reason to exist .... you will find... yours ? We can look for it together....?"
" Together .... "
" Yes together "
Rowan ...... R- Rowan .....Rowan !
Each new wave of pain a hot trail of agony on his slim, bare shoulders shook in each rake of emotion through his frame.
Fire of injustice and anger burned just under his skin and a deep emptiness filled his heart as the sentiments brewed over and boiled past the seams he could no longer hold together.
Bates pushing amongst the shoulders of the people in his way of men and women of each class, towards him.
The Vigil guards who standing by execution stood immediately advanced forward restraining back the man who outcried a disruptor roughly seizing his hands behind his
back,Resisting further in violation even though the capital punishment were not to be interrupted except by the decree by the King.
He couldn't look away to scrunch his eyes, as he tried to look away..... he heard ....
" B-b -bates ! Is that you .... why did you come!"
"Rowan.....Rowan!"
" Silence ! You stop causing commotion !" The officials restrained the man.
" l-l am innocent..... B-bates ... l didn't do ... anything wrong.... ....believe me .....you didn't have to come .. to this dreadful place "
" Silence ! Move forward, with no haste !" The executioner grabbed the man pushing on the platform with the officials assistance.
" Excutioner proceed now ! " the Vigil official ordered the region excutioner who moved forward pulling the men forward through the ropes securing it under the men's neck.
" Yes sir"
The time became an existence of blinking moments to the man was holstered upwards sack in place and ropes under his neck.
" Rowan! .....aaaaah ...R-Rowan!..... No...!"
" I -ll-lam sorry .....! "
"Aaaah ......Rowan ....." He couldn't look away wide-eyed, mouth agape, face frozen in expectant fear, to the wriggling of the man on platform as his body struggled against the ropes and until he stilled ,in a silent whisper Bates voice gave out, as his body jerked backwards and stilled of no resistance to the men restraining him.
Bates noticed how time is like water; that it can pass slowly, a drop at a time, even freeze, or rush by in a blink.