Chapter Eleven The Executioner
Siren knew she was silently condemned to death, especially in the morning when the king, King Htok, and several of his guards awoke her, stood over her like hawks ready for the kill.
She could see the king better now, better than in the dark last night: he had old wounds, scars all over his face; dark skin, and much older than what she first thought.
Hello, she said in a free voice, one that showed no fear whatsoever. The king looked down upon her as if she was the maid herself, not a queen. An ego trip, thought Siren, to show off in front of his men.
I have heard you have many creatures that follow you, that you are a warrior and even the Manticores fear you?
What do you really want? asked Siren.
Why did you come here? asked the king.
Hoping Id find living beings similar to me, or like you.
The king stared at her, with a puzzled face. It seemed to break some ice between them: a compliment, if t hat is really what it was. He touched her long black hair.
I hear you fight with skill, do things no one thinks will appear?
I can be useful in a war, if that is what you mean? It was like she could read the kings mind, if not motives.
You can be dangerous I see his hand now rubbing his chin, as if to gather up some new thoughts.
Said the kings assistant: She has the devils trick in her eyes.
AH, she said, You know of him too, my mother met him, and so did I, in hell. The king laughed, yes, we have heard of this person called the devil and His horde, or henchman, even on this planet, for I heard you are from another.
It seemed to Sirenfor there was a moment of silence: pity, friendship and a warriors destiny, all were being deliberated within the kings mind.
A moment passed uneventfully, the king turned around and Siren in thought: youre going to lose your chance to have a loyal subject vs. a wild beast lurking behind your shadow. A nd she was all she thought to be, she was confident, she was brave she was willing.
Siren had noticed, the friendly maid, had not returned, and the guards had left her chamber. And the king had left the room, only to return within a few minutes, unannounced.
As he came back into her room, he unchained her; she knew he would decide her fate soon. But she gave no inclination to her knowledge, or foresight. Thus, the shackles were off her ankles and wrist.
She was now taken by the king to an underground vault; she carried his torch for him. As he pulled open a door on the floor, there being no furniture thereabouts (in the underground chamber room), no ornamentation, just a box. They both jumped into this cramped chamber that had a big stone for a overhead door, which was laid over the top of the hole to his chamber below. IT was a gloomy place indeed, thought Siren. He opened the wooden box in the underground chamber; there was a scroll in there,--in English, he asked her to read it and so they both sat down, torch and all, now the king held the torch, as Siren examined the document.
See Dennis' web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com
Author:: Dennis Siluk
Keywords:: Chapter Story
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