The execution itself was nothing unusual. A small, hastily constructed scaffold was set up right in front of the castle gates. All the villagers, even the prisoners, were gathered. Krapivin, weakened by hunger and loss of blood, was literally carried out by hand; he tried to resist, but even his personal magic was ineffective. The brief list of charges — treason, theft, murder, attempted murder, and as the cherry on top, the death sentence.
Everything was conducted in Elurian to avoid repeating the process. The executioner, who volunteered to be Olga, severed the renegade's head, and the blood flowing down the channels was collected in a receptacle; no one wanted to waste the precious liquid. By a strange coincidence, the severed head rolled right under Sofia's feet.
The castle where the king had set up his temporary residence could not even be considered a baron's home, but in wartime, one had no choice. The royal army, maneuvering along the border with Orod, rarely stayed in one place for long, so the king did not complain. A servant, having received an envelope and a box from a messenger, quickly delivered them to the chamberlain. They reached the king with some pomp.
— A message from Zalona, from Archmage Elos, — the king was solemnly informed.
The young man took the proffered envelope and looked at the box, which the servant held out with outstretched arms, standing a few meters behind the chamberlain.
— Is this also from him?
— Yes, Your Majesty!
King Elur easily rose from his campaign throne and approached the box. His hand betrayed a slight tremor as he reached for the lid, but the young man quickly composed himself; those around him did not notice this weakness. Opening the box, the king looked inside. It was completely empty. In his anger, the king knocked the box from the servant's hands and returned to his seat.
— I will not tolerate such behavior any longer.
End 1 Volume.
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