dannnex

“Ah, Radezk-son-Jhoun, how goes the search for the infiltrators?”

“Rather poorly. We think that one of our own has turned against us.”

“Really? Do you have any idea who?”

Radesk sighed, “Sadly Dtham, we do.”

Dtham stood, and noticed that the group had surrounded him. Realization dawned on him.

“Dtham-son-Havam,” one of the mob shouted. “We have determined that you are an enemy of the state and a traitor to the order of the Stone Shamans. We sentence you to death by hanging.”

***

Dtham didn’t resist as they forced him towards the gallows. He was taken through the city, the mob growing and growing as people joined, morbidly eager to watch his demise. He was dragged up to the platform and the mob, now a proper crowd, watched from below. As the noose was tightened around his neck, the executioner spoke:

“Dtham-son-Havam, you are hereby given an opportunity to present your final words. Choose wisely, as they will be your legacy.”

Dtham stood, head towards the ground, staring at the trapdoor that would end his life. The crowd fell silent, calmly arrogant in their certainty of Dtham’s guilt. Dtham looked out towards the crowd... and began to laugh. His laughter grew in volume, quickly reaching hysteria. His bellows echoed in the uncomfortable silence that comes from a noiseless crowd. Tears began to stream down his face. 

The crowd began to stir, their earlier certainty dissolving. “What’s so funny?!” a member of the mob shouted. Others took up the cry, the formerly silent crowd becoming a frenzied mob shouting for answers. Dtham stood, unfazed, manically laughing above them all. He spoke, and the crowd fell into a questioning, terrified silenced. 

“You got my name wrong.”

The lever was pulled. The rope pulled taught. And Dtham-son-son-Kwathn, Truthless of Shinovar, finally found freedom.