Dirge for a Necromancer - By Ash Stinson Page 0,125

give them a proper burning.”

“A proper burning? Well, that’s nice of them,” said Brecan.

“Oh, yeah, real stand-up guys, all of them,” mumbled Raettonus. He caught sight of Dohrleht standing across the yard with a couple of the soldiers who were chuckling at something he was telling them. Raettonus motioned for Brecan to stay put. “Give me a second. I’ll be right back.”

The unicorn sat back on his haunches. “Oh, okay, Raet.”

The soldiers were leaving Dohrleht just as Raettonus reached him. Dohrleht watched Raettonus approach wearily. “Good afternoon,” he said in a small voice as Raettonus reached him.

“So, I guess you played a big role in Daeblau’s plan to get Kaebha back into Zylekkhan hands,” Raettonus said, hooking his thumbs through his belt. “Good job, or whatever.”

“Thanks,” said Dohrleht. “I…I really didn’t do all that much. I played lookout, mostly, and sent messages off with the hippogryphs that would come around. I…really, most everything that happened here happened because of Daeblau. He’s…he’s the hero. I just…I just helped a tiny bit.”

They lapsed into an uncomfortable silence. “So,” Raettonus said at last. “I’m leaving. Maybe next week or the week after that. Soon, anyway.”

“You’re leaving?” asked Dohrleht, furrowing his brow. “Why? We haven’t finished learning.”

“Your brother’s far too sick to do any more magic,” said Raettonus. “As for you… Well, if you want to keep learning, you’ll have to do it under someone else. I’m done with this place.”

Dohrleht frowned. “Oh,” he said. “Well…I’ll be sad to see you go, Raettonus. And, uh…I’m sorry. About telling Slade, I’m…I’m really sorry.”

“Don’t be,” responded Raettonus. He looked away. “I was being an idiot. If you hadn’t told Slade, I would’ve let everyone in this whole damn fortress die. I was perfectly fine with murdering every one of you for his sake. Honestly? I still am. You slighted me by telling Slade, but it was unquestionably the right thing for you to do.”

He turned and started back toward Brecan. Behind him, Dohrleht made a hesitant move to follow, but was intercepted by a couple of soldiers congratulating him on helping take back the citadel. With one last glance at Raettonus’ back, Dohrleht cheerfully greeted them, and they began a boisterous conversation.

* * *

They hanged Diahsis at sunset.

He stood up on the gallows with his hands tied behind him, stripped naked but for his wolfskin cape, which hung limply off his broad, fit shoulders. His expression was blank as he stared out at the crowd.

“General Diahsis of Fybuk, son of Vaeminn Vohrtahl, One Hundred and Ninth Councilor of Shadows to the King of Tahlehsohr, serving King Saemohr,” said the executioner, reading from a slip of parchment. “On this day, the twenty-fifth day in the season of Kaeriaht, in the five thousandth and ninety-fifth year of the Creator, you have been brought forward to answer for your crimes against the Royal Zylekkhan Crown. Do you know what crimes you are accused of?”

“I do not,” answered Diahsis emotionlessly, still staring forward, his ears drawn back like an angry animal.

“General Diahsis of Fybuk, you have been found guilty of the murder of General Tykkleht of Sae Noklu, you have been found guilty of attempting to overthrow the Royal Zylekkhan Crown, you have been found guilty of blasphemous thoughts and actions against the god Cykkus, you have been found guilty of planning to give aid to goblins, and you have been found guilty of being an elf in possession of a blade which is longer than a knife.”

Diahsis scoffed at that, but said nothing.

“You have been found guilty,” continued the executioner, “of planning the murder of King Shalrish of Bribarrah, you have been found guilty of engaging in combat against the Royal Zylekkhan Army, you have been found guilty of the murders of four hundred and fifteen soldiers of the Royal Zylekkhan army through actions both direct and indirect. For these crimes, you have been sentenced, by General Ahkuriin of Bribarrah and by King Shalrish of Bribarrah whom he represents, to hang.”

Raettonus couldn’t help but note as the noose was placed around Diahsis’ neck that his murder of Deggho dek’Kariss was not amongst the charges brought against him.

“Do you have any final words?” asked the executioner.

Diahsis took a deep breath and let it out as a sigh. “What good will words do me now?” he asked. “Just kill me.”

The executioner obliged and pushed him off the platform.

For a moment, Diahsis fell through the air. Then the rope went taut and jerked tight about his throat. Someone hadn’t done the knot