It’s been a while since I’ve had to play executioner.

I of course had killed Tim not too long ago, basically doing the same act as I was doing now… but this was more proper.

More serious, somehow.

Standing on the wooden platform, overlooking the village center, I studied the large crowd.

Odds are most, if not all, of the village was here. I only recognized a few of the faces, and there were even a fewer I had names to attach to. They were all standing before the wooden platform, and rather silent. I’d been up here for about an hour now, and I think I’ve only heard a few dozen words shared between all of them as they gathered.

It was a moment of reverence and modesty. Yet I knew once the deed was done they’d grow noisy. Not to celebrate, of course, but instead to pray.

I glanced at the large halberd in my hand. It was longer than I was tall, and the head of the blade was wide and heavy. I had recently sharpened it, since they hadn’t done so. I hadn't needed to, of course. I'd not fail at cutting off a head no matter how dull a blade was... but that was disrespectful. In its own way.

Not far from me was a block stand. It was clean, finely crafted, and smooth. It had a small divot for a person to rest their neck upon, and beneath it was a deep basket full of thick cloths. Akin to a large bucket. It was made to both catch the head, and to stop the blood from leaking out of the basket when it gets carried away.

The basket, the head-block, and this platform had all been recently made. And would be torn down and burnt once used.

Typical of such places and people, really. Humans usually re-used such things, but that was more so because they hated wasting resources and also because of how often they had to use them. In the Society one could go decades without needing anything like this.

Within the Society, decapitation was the form of execution most accepted and expected. Hanging or strangulation was difficult, thanks to a non-human’s basic strength and durability. Burning was seen negatively because of its inhuman aspect, plus the many we’ve lost to the burnings from the wars and church over the years.

Still…

Glancing again at the halberd, I thumped the shaft with my thumb and noted the heavy metal. The whole thing was made of metal, not just the sharp bits. A very uncommon thing. I doubted any normal human could lift this thing, let alone use it properly.

Though I suppose it was more a ceremonial tool than not, I guess…

Sighing a little, I glanced around the crowd for any sign that this would start any time soon.

Not far from the crowd was the prison. The dull building was very solitary, and also other than the few people who had entered it earlier… not a single soul had dared to draw too close to it. Even the villagers who had arrived to watch the event, that had come from that direction of the village, had done so in large berths.

Renn had entered that building, alongside Ollie and a few others… but not Oplar. The bear wasn’t in the crowd either, and I knew she wouldn’t be.

She did not like violence, let alone death. I knew she’d not be found for many hours, not until long after this event was said and done.

I was surprised that Renn had joined Ollie. She had not said much about this Rollo and her meeting with him… only that he was not worth thinking about. Which was likely true. She may not have joined them as to participate but rather instead to simply help people she now viewed as friends. She and Ollie, and that older woman, had become closer it seemed. They had joined us last night during dinner. The large house which usually felt too big had felt cramped. That large kitchen table had nearly been full… for the first time I’d ever seen it, at least.

It was a strange thing. Oplar was a talkative, and friendly, person… but even she didn’t usually bring others with her to dinner while we traveled. She usually joined them instead. Most of the time Oplar traveled with me, I barely saw her since she was busy hanging out with others.

Though that might just be because of Renn’s affection for me. Had she not fallen for me, she may have been like Oplar.

Friendly, but distant. At least to me.

“Is it soon, mommy?” a small child’s voice asked from the crowd. She hushed him, but I wanted to agree with the kid.

Let’s get this over with already.

A few more people arrived, notably more children, and I listened into the small conversations that whispered here and there. It seemed with the kid speaking up, others had found their voices too.

People wondering where the wife was. If Rollo would say anything or not. Why I looked bored…

“She’s nice, but he still looks scary,” another whispered.

I kept myself from smirking at their gossip, and noticed Thrain approaching in the distance. He was walking with a few others, and the crowd went quiet again upon his approach.

He rounded the platform to the back, to where the stairs were, and stepped up onto the platform alongside me.

The platform didn’t even creak as the larger man walked up to the ledge, and gestured lightly at the crowd before him. “Everyone…!” he greeted them somberly, and nodded. “We’ve gathered today for justice. To put an end to the dark stain upon our community. Vim has graciously accepted our request, and as such will perform the deed. I ask any of you here now if there is any discontent, or challenge to our decisions,” Thrain asked the community.

No one said a thing.

Thrain nodded and then turned to me. “We shall then bring Rollo out, Vim. May Vita forgive you, and all of us,” Thrain said loudly, more so to the crowd than me, and then he turned and stepped off the stage.

He left the area alone and headed the distant dull building. Not even the children in the crowd made a noise as we all watched him enter the building.

Finally. I didn’t mind playing along, and it wasn’t like I was actually upset or anything but… well…

Glancing at the crowd, and the worried expressions all over the place… I felt a little uncomfortable.

I got it. I did. In a community like this, trust was paramount. And trust could only be truly had when those who broke that trust were punished firmly, without any kind of favoritism or mercy. And the act of executing someone publicly like this was a part of that process. It was why they had all brought their children to witness it, even though gruesome and would likely traumatize a few of them.

It taught them that breaking the tenant core rules of their society was a terrible crime. One that would bring forth a punishment most foul.

A punishment delivered, possibly, by yours truly. The man who had killed their god.

Renn firmly believed that their asking of me to be the one to do the deed was because they weren’t capable of doing it. That they were too weak to do the act.

Although it was… partly true… it also wasn’t.

I glanced down to one of the younger boys. His eyes went wide at my look, and his whole face went pale. He held my gaze for a few long moments, and then looked away as to grab his mother’s dress. She didn’t even notice his actions, or the slight tremors that followed.

Gently sighing, I looked away from the crowd as Thrain finally left the building… and was followed shortly by a line of people. About half a dozen individuals left the prison, with a man clad entirely in pristine white robes. They had a white rope tied around his wrists, and he was being pulled by most of the group. As if it took that many to pull him along, and to equally share in the burden of leading a man to his doom.

They had wrapped his head in white cloth, to block his sight… but it looked almost as if they had also firmly wrapped his ears. Maybe he had requested such treatment.

Renn was with Ollie, following the group from behind. I was a little glad that she herself wasn’t the one pulling his rope.

She noticed me, and her ears fluttered a tad as she studied me. I did my best to not smile at her as the group slowly approached the crowd… who quickly parted to form an open path for the man clad in white.

His arms were outstretched a bit, telling me he really was being pulled along… but he wasn’t stumbling or trying to fight back. He followed dutifully, without a word as he was pulled through the crowd.

In a human settlement… This was when he’d be pelted by rocks or words. Scorned and shamed.

Here there was only silence. Judgmental silence.

Once they reached the platform, everyone but Thrain released the rope and stepped aside. They remained with the crowd as Thrain pulled the man around the platform, to the stairs, and brought him onto the stage.

Upon stepping onto the platform, the man noticed the strange wood beneath his bare feet. He paused a moment, causing the rope to go taught.

Thrain turned, and I kept a close eye on the man. Thrain was strong, probably the strongest here in this village, but he was a gentle man. He’d hesitate, and thus could get hurt. So I made sure to be ready to intervene if needed.

However the man didn’t do anything. He simply stood there, fidgeting a tad. Maybe in fear.

Thrain looked at me, and I nodded. Thrain stepped forward, undid the man’s ropes around his wrist… and then grabbed him gently by the arm and shoulder. The man looked strangely thin and small, especially when standing before Thrain as he was led to the head-block.

“Kneel down,” Thrain whispered.

The man obeyed, and knelt right in front of the block. Upon doing so, I noted the size and shape. It fit perfectly, which told me that they had either measured him or checked already.

Thrain grabbed the man’s head, and with a firm yet slow push he forced the man to lower his head.

The whole crowd held their breath as the man rested his head and neck against the block. Thrain held his head there for a moment, and then released him and stepped away. He gave me a small bow and then turned to leave. He hurried off the platform with a little more speed than necessary, almost ungracefully, but no one had noticed. Their eyes were all on the man about to die.

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Studying the white robed man, I noticed the way only his toes were fidgeting. He was remaining rather still, other than his curling toes. From the angle I bet no one else could see it. Either brave… or what was about to happen had simply not registered yet.

It was hard to tell. And not just because his face was covered in cloth. I knew those here, like Ollie, had explained all of this to him. They had rules about it. They had likely tried to save his soul, in their own way through their religion. I wonder if he had accepted.

Stepping forward, I moved for the first time since taking a stance. I lifted the halberd, but not to strike. I hefted it outward, at an angle, away from his body.

Taking a few steps up over to the man, I wondered how old he was. Ollie’s report had been detailed but had only mentioned that he had married that young woman half a dozen years ago, not much more. She had written more about Ivan than the man who killed him.

He looked young. Too young to be kneeling here.

But no matter.

“If you have any last words, young man, say them now,” I said.

The man, and the crowd, froze upon my voice.

For a long heartbeat… nothing and no one moved. Then the man began to tremble, and not just in his toes.

I waited for a bit… knowing full well it sometimes took time for a mind to comprehend and sort their thoughts under such stress. Yet as the moments came and went… and his silence only followed, I realized he had no plans to say a thing.

I’d think he had been gagged, if not for the fact I could his clenched mouth. He had bitten some of the cloth hanging over his face as he shook. Some of it was moving with his heavy breaths. He was not gagged, but he was clenching his teeth very tightly.

Thrain had not asked him to say anything… He had not asked for any final words, or prayers, and I knew it was likely because he had already been asked to give them. In his prison.

But to me that was rude. One’s last moments were always precious. Things changed in one’s heart and mind during them. What he had said in that prison could be completely different than what he’d say now. People changed that much, that quickly, during their end.

Still he said nothing.

“At least say something to your wife,” I said softly.

Ignoring the crowd that shuffled and murmured, I gripped the metal halberd tighter as his silence continued.

Even as his trembling increased and sweat began to stain his robes… he still remained silent.

Taking a small breath, I simply nodded. So be it.

Lifting the halberd, I aimed it at the man’s neck. He had clenched up in his trembling, as if gripping the block with his chin and chest. It gave his neck an odd angle, and if I wasn’t precise my strike would not just cleave his neck but parts of his sunken chin.

He’d not feel it, since he’d be dead instantly, but that didn’t mean I wanted to cause issues. They expected me to not cause too much damage to him. In their religion, after his death, he’d be free of sin. He’d once again be a member of their village. They’ll perform last rites and a proper burial.

Don’t cause so much damage that they’d have to cover his face.

Lifting the weapon, I focused and ignored the gasps and cries. From children and adults alike.

Then brought the weapon down.

I cut his head off, and his body immediately went limp. The head fell into the large basket below, and I kept the large halberd’s axe-head upon the block. To block the sight of his decapitated corpse. The blood squirted onto the blade, and I turned to stare out at the crowd.

Ignoring Renn’s look, I took a small breath.

“The man’s punishment has been dealt. His crimes a part of the past. Your grief is over. It is time for healing,” I told them.

Not a single person nodded, but the crowd did seem to relax a little. I turned to face Thrain who quickly nodded and hurried to join me up on the platform.

Others went to follow him, albeit not as hurried. As they stepped up onto the platform, one of them began to unfold a large blanket like cloth. A deep gray one, which they went to cover the body with.

I moved the halberd out of their way as they covered the body, and Thrain stepped up to the edge of the platform. He did so at a small distance from the body, and the people working to deal with it. “Everyone…! Please… let us all join each other in prayer to Vita and…” he raised his voice, to draw their attention and join them in prayer.

Stepping back, I glanced one last time into the basket. The head within was at an angle that I couldn’t see much, other than the stains from the blood.

Rollo, was it?

Looking away and heading for the stairs as the crowd went to offer their prayer to the man I had just killed, I wondered if the man’s wife was in the crowd or not. Usually they cried out during the moment of death, yet although I had heard gasps of shock… I’d not heard the familiar sound of a woman’s heart breaking.

Stepping off the platform, I shifted the halberd in my hand as I stepped away. To head for the house I was confined to during my visit here.

Turning the halberd around, I studied the blood dripping from its sharp axe-head. The blood was of course not from the deed itself, but the splatter of blood from the neck and body after the cut. From after the fact, since I had held it there as to cover the sight from the crowd. It dripped rather thickly, leaving a small trail on the bricks I walked upon.

I should have wiped it off, but that would have been seen as rude to them.

I was already seen as something wrong here, so... I didn’t want to make it worse, if I could.

“Well done, Vim.”

Slowing a little, I turned to Renn who gave me a sad smile. “Think so?” I asked.

She nodded as she took her place to my side, though I noted she did so on the side I wasn’t carrying the weapon with. Even though she had approached from that side, from the crowd.

“Did you… not know Sillti wasn’t there?” Renn asked me softly.

“Hm…? Oh. His wife wasn’t?” I asked as I glanced behind us, to the crowd we were leaving behind. They were all bowed in their heads, praying.

The man’s body was already off the platform. Being carried away by several people, with Ollie carrying the basket.

“No. She wasn’t,” Renn said gently.

Hm…

I turned back around and huffed. “So he must have apologized to her before, then. I had asked him something cruel,” I said. I should have said something else to him in his final moments.

For a few moments there was an odd lack of Renn and her sounds, so I frowned and turned… and found her behind me. She had stopped walking.

“Renn…?” I asked worriedly. Why did she suddenly look distraught? She looked like she was on the verge of tears.

She was an emotional woman… but would she actually cry over what just happened? Over the just death of a man punished and guilty? Had she not said herself he wasn’t worth a thought?

Renn stepped forward, and gulped and sniffed. “I’m okay. I was just… well…” Renn went quiet for a moment, and then reached out to grab my hand.

I accepted her hand, of course, but didn’t like the way she was looking at me. She looked as if she were pitying me. I mean… sure. I was pitiful sometimes. But why now?

“Did I do something wrong?” I asked her gently.

“No. You just proved once again why I love you and no one else,” she said with a shake of her head.

I sighed at the strange woman, and decided to let it be.

We returned to walking, albeit a tad slower than before.

Glancing at her, I smiled gently at her troubled face. She looked sad, yet happy. It was obvious she didn’t know which to be at the moment.

She really was adorable. Why couldn’t all of my people be like her? I’d not be so disgusted and upset with them all if they were…

Renn squeezed my hand, reminding me we were holding hands.

A weapon in one. Her in another.

How quaint. It made me feel at home, somehow.

“I figured you’d chop that block in half too, by the way,” Renn then said.

“Hm…? Oh?” I smirked at her as she nodded, rather seriously.

“It didn’t even get stuck did it? How are you so accurate even though so strong, Vim? How do you know how to so precisely do something like that?” Renn asked as she pointed at the weapon I carried.

Amused that of all things to take from witnessing me chop someone’s head off, it was how precisely I’d done it, I went ahead and smirked at my companion. “Lots of experience,” I said. Her happy demeanor quickly subdued, and I realized I shouldn’t have teased her in such a way. I tugged on her hand a tiny bit, to make her get a little closer. “Even a human can do it, so why is it surprising I can too?” I asked her.

“Huh…?” Renn perked up at that, her frowning face disappearing as she went into thought. “I mean… you’re just so strong, Vim. But I guess you do a lot of things gently, too. I wonder why it surprised me, then?” she wondered.

“It shouldn’t. I’m always very gentle with you, aren’t I?” I asked.

A giant grin planted itself on her face as she giggled. “Sometimes you are!”

Sometimes…?

Renn continued to giggle as she shook our hands, swaying them as if she was some kid and we on a stroll.

Hmph.

Glancing behind us, at the distant crowd and platform… I noted the people slowly starting to disperse. It was only a few at a time, but I knew soon the village would return to normal. Thrain was still on the platform, giving some kind of speech.

“Vim…?” Renn paused, to turn around as well.

“It’s nothing,” I said as I looked away and back at her.

“You sure…?” Renn asked worriedly, not realizing I had simply just been checking to make sure nothing odd had happened. It rarely ever did amongst the Society, but sometimes during such emotional events people became rowdy.

“I am. Are you hungry?” I asked. We had not eaten breakfast together, since she had ran off to join Ollie earlier, to help prepare.

She laughed at me. “You sure have been feeding me a lot lately!” she said.

Had I been…?

Maybe. I liked to watch her eat. She enjoyed every bite, even if it was simple meal. It made me happy to see her just… enjoy life.

Nearing the house, I smelled a recently lit fire. A few moments later, some dense gray smoke began to emerge from the kitchen chimney.

Oplar had likely noticed our return, and had started lunch. Kind of her.

“She doesn’t like violence at all, does she…?” Renn asked quietly.

“Oplar? No,” I said. So she had noticed too. I wonder who had noticed first, me or her?

“I kind of like that. Maybe I should do that too,” she said softly.

“Do… what…?” I asked carefully.

“Be like her. Avoid it. Not look at it,” she said.

“Hm…” I hesitated a tad, and wondered if maybe all this time I’d been doing a disservice to her. I’d shown her a lot of violence lately… and…

Renn noticed, and giggled at me as she squeezed my hand again. “Jeez Vim… don’t look so sad! It was just a thought,” she said.

“I’ll shield you from it from now on, if you’d like,” I offered. Hopefully she’d accept… otherwise… well…

If she became like Oplar there was no way she’d stick with me for much longer. And the mere thought of losing her just because of who and what I was…

She sighed at me. “I didn’t mean it that way Vim. Really. I was just… considering different ways of life. I like the idea of it. But I know it’s not realistic. Plus it’s not like it really bothers me that deeply,” she said.

“Hm…” I nodded, but didn’t feel much better.

“Though I’ll be honest your way of doing it is nice too,” she then said.

“My… way…?” I asked, wondering what she meant.

She nodded. “You kind of treat it like… well…” she hesitated a moment, to find the words, and then glanced at me. “You treat violence like something normal. Like how I would the weather, I guess,” she said.

Approaching the house’s front door, I frowned at her. “Are you saying I should have treated his death with a little more reverence?” I asked.

“Huh…! No! I just meant… it’s normal for you. I noticed it back in the beginning… that night by the river, when you killed all those men. Those naked men. You just… to you it’s normal. You can fight and kill as calmly and easily as I would make tea,” she explained.

Naked men…? The hell was she…?

Oh. Right. When we had returned to Ruvindale to check on the Sleepy Artist.

The memory brought a smile to my face, which Renn immediately noticed and groaned at me. “Don’t smile while thinking of that night!” she warned me.

“Why not?” I asked. I could remember her shocked expression. The way she had grabbed her tail in worry, and…

Renn groaned as she shook her head at me.

Chuckling at her, I stopped before the door… and heard Oplar’s heavy steps as she hurried to open it. As to greet us.

Before she could though, Renn lifted her hand… which held my own, to her face. I half expected her to bite my hand for some reason, but instead she simply gave it a tiny peck of a kiss. “Well done, Vim,” she praised me again in a strangely lovely voice.

Smiling soft at her, I wondered why I’d not heard such a tone before. It was the type of voice I wanted to hear whispered into my ear.

“If you think so, then that’s all that matters.”