Leese's Funeral: A Short Story
The following afternoon, the day of Leese’s funeral, Taran found himself standing beside her funeral boat, but could not recall anything that happened prior to that moment, not the discussions he must have had with people the previous day, not getting bathed and dressed in dark furs for the funeral… nothing. All he knew was that he stood at the edge of the lock with a burning torch in his hand in the warm winter sun. Leese would have loved the weather today.
He glanced down at her body, wrapped in a thin yet beautifully embroidered linen shroud, positioned atop kindling in the boat. Wen insisted that Leese had always wanted to travel to the Other World in a funeral boat. One had the right to choose the pyre or the boat for their funeral, and …show more content…
“Taran, these men need no trial. They’ve confessed! Let’s take them out and kill them.”
That’s when the fine thread of sanity inside of Taran snapped.
“No.” Taran turned to face his warriors. “Summon everyone, as many people as you can shove into the center room.” He turned back to the captives. “And someone get me the chopping block and the largest axe he can find.”
Dazed with near madness, Taran marched from the corridor and for the first time, sat upon his throne on the dais. He waited for the people to congregate, and for the accused to be presented to him for trial. As he sat and waited, Cadha turned up behind him and settled the crown upon his head.
“You need this today,” she whispered before falling back into the crowd.
The crowd of villagers – standing shoulder to shoulder in the center room – buzzed with worry until Bili, Drest, and Angus brought the accused before Taran. The three accused were bound with rope at their hands and feet. Bili shoved them down onto their knees before Taran. The crowd fell silent.
“People of Maetae, these men on their knees before me have confessed to the rape and torture of Leese, my deceased betrothed. This, their trial, shall be brief.” He stood up and loomed over the men. “Do you have anything to say in your
He glanced down at her body, wrapped in a thin yet beautifully embroidered linen shroud, positioned atop kindling in the boat. Wen insisted that Leese had always wanted to travel to the Other World in a funeral boat. One had the right to choose the pyre or the boat for their funeral, and …show more content…
“Taran, these men need no trial. They’ve confessed! Let’s take them out and kill them.”
That’s when the fine thread of sanity inside of Taran snapped.
“No.” Taran turned to face his warriors. “Summon everyone, as many people as you can shove into the center room.” He turned back to the captives. “And someone get me the chopping block and the largest axe he can find.”
Dazed with near madness, Taran marched from the corridor and for the first time, sat upon his throne on the dais. He waited for the people to congregate, and for the accused to be presented to him for trial. As he sat and waited, Cadha turned up behind him and settled the crown upon his head.
“You need this today,” she whispered before falling back into the crowd.
The crowd of villagers – standing shoulder to shoulder in the center room – buzzed with worry until Bili, Drest, and Angus brought the accused before Taran. The three accused were bound with rope at their hands and feet. Bili shoved them down onto their knees before Taran. The crowd fell silent.
“People of Maetae, these men on their knees before me have confessed to the rape and torture of Leese, my deceased betrothed. This, their trial, shall be brief.” He stood up and loomed over the men. “Do you have anything to say in your