Masks of our forefathers (closed for La Reina)

In the country of Rehabab is the city of Zahul, ruled by the magister Darius Black. This city is always in the grip of cold, wet weather with only a few days of sunshine. Mist is not uncommon in any of the season, all the people living in the city wears masks, from the oldest to the youngest, the rich and the poor, these masks are by now so much part of Zahul, that any outsider is hunted down and enslaved when not wearing a mask.

The masks is by now seen as pride in your family name and some of the masks even have the family history etched into them. No Zahulian will ever be seen without his mask, the only time that the mask is not worn is when a meal is eaten in the privacy of the home or if cleaning your face is part of your morning ritual.

Zahul is patrolled by guards dressed in complete black, even by now the colors have been washed from the houses, streets and minds of the people. Strict rules governed the people and crime was almost non-existent. The person who adhered the strongest to these rules is Zahl, who also have been entrusted with the sacred task of being the Magister's Executioner.

It is a cold and clammy evening and Zahl is in his study, reading by candle light from the Tomes of Past. The history of Rehabab, was a long and winding tale, better than any fiction ever produced. This was how Zahl spent his evenings as there was no wife, no fiancee, nobody special to spend time with. At times some rich lord tried to introduce their daughter to him, but he did not long for timid little rabbits, he wanted a feisty tiger, whom each time would fight him, but give in to his will in the end. He smiled behind his mask at the thought, such a woman would not be from Zahul.

Shaundi sat huddled in the corner on the street with her legs pulled up and her hands wrapped around her knees. Her head was buried in the warmth her body provided and she was sleeping softly. She was easy to overlook and twice now a patrolling guard had walked past her unaware the 'murdering bitch' he was after was right in front of him.

It was the running of steps that woke her. She immediately thought they had found her. She lifted her head slightly so that she could roll her eyes skywards and see who was coming to her. The steps came, faster, louder, and her heart mimicked the steps getting faster and louder in her chest. They went past her and Shaundi almost laughed in relief. It was time to go.

Shaundi raised herself to her full 5'10 inches. She was taller than most men from her town of Azure. If it wasn't her standoffish demeanor than it was her height that had them double checking her. Once they got past her height, if they did than they were looking her over a 3rd time for her beauty. She had long red tresses that were so dark a red they instantly reminded people of blood. Her eyes were a dark brown almost black. She was also curse with the hour glass figure. She wasn't big on top a nice plump C cup, with a narrow waist that spanned out in wide hips and a nice tight ass.

So why was she running from the wall instead of living the rich life as some lucky bastard's wife. Because she was born low class. Still she could have married up. She didn't want to be some man's reward. She didn't want to just be seen and not heard. And that was exactly what Mikali wanted. He wanted her whether she wanted him was irrelevant.

It was their 8th or 10th date, she doesn't remember. During their 'courtship' Shaundi's mother, who was her chaperone, and agreed that Shaundi and Mikali didn't need a chaperone and could go out alone. Shaundi was baffle as she did not recall stating she didn't want a chaperone. Her mother tagging along had been one of the few bearable things when she was forced to go out on dates. That night Mikali forced himself on her. They must have struggled for what seemed like hours before Mikali was able to stun her with a punch and slide inside her. He got 3 glorious thrusts, breaking her hymen, before she grabbed the glass on the floor and slammed it into his chest.

She went to the guards the next day, but all they heard was that some low class bitch killed a high class citizen. They went to arrest and Shaundi was gone. To them she had disappeared. So why 3 weeks later was she still here. Revenge is a bitch. And she was one bitch. Nightly she threw beer bottles with inflamed rags at the high class section of town. She vandalized until the high class section of town looked no different than the low class. And she had fun doing it. Now it was time to go. She had heard rumors of a city that was thought to long since not exist. They were barbarians, killers, thieves, rapists, and murderers; the best part she could hide there. No one knew anyone else's face and she could live her life.

Shaundi scaled the small wall that surrounded Azule and started her walk to Zahul. She was dehydrated and tired when a family of four came upon her. They offered to take her as far as they could and she eagerly accepted. Shaundi hitch hiked for 2 weeks and only twice did she have someone try to rape her and only once someone tried to rob her. Smarter she had only a blade on her, but that was all she needed. She had little to nothing on her just a bit of jewelry and some coin to barter with until she could find work.

It was 3 hours until she would be at the Mask City. She had stopped to get rest. The last person who had given her a ride had told her that the fame city was about 5 hours west. He told her if she had something for her face. She wasn't sure what he meant, but he cackled and said she would know when she got there. It was odd, but she let it go. Maybe he thought she was ugly. That had bothered her for 2 hours until she stopped had a river to rest and wash her face. She didn't want to stand out.

Zahul the executioner

Back in the old times, the only person who ever wore a mask was the executioner and the only time this mask was worn was at an execution, nobody ever knew who the executioner was. It was only in later years that the position became a permanent institute and that the name of the executioner became known to all.

Zahul looked up from his reading and looked at the farthest wall, how would it be to see a town without masks? Horrendous. He chuckled and turned his attention back to reading.

(((I'll let these 5 sentences go. This once.)))

By the time she approached the city it was dark. Not like any city dark, but she almost couldn't see in front of her dark. She knew she was here; she could see cracks of light coming from some of the businesses and residences. There were a few people out, but with their dark (was everyone wearing black?!!!) clothing and the absence of any real light it was hard to tell anyone apart. One thing she was quickly realizing was that her black pants and boots were fine. Her white top made her stand out.

Shaundi hadn't realize how HUGE this town really was. She felt like she had been walking for at least an hour and the city continued on and worse it spread it out. She was only looking for an inn to rest. After another 10 mins she saw a huge sign that had some crude drawing and words, but the letters I-N-N were there.

Shaundi quickly went to the door and opened it. The light spilled out blinding her. She heard chairs scrape as people turned to see who had opened the door this late. Her eyes adjusted and she knew she had died. Her heart stopped. Every single person was wearing a variation of the color black, from cloaks, to just simple shirts and pants. Worse they all had on masks. She could see blond, brown, red, and black hair flowing behind some of the masks and others masks covered their whole heads and hair. That wasn't the truly scary part. The scariest thing was that most of the masks were fierce and threatening. Even the ones that had smiles were somehow disturbing.

"Outsider!" It was low and quiet, but someone else said it, than another, and another until they were chanting. "Outsider, outsider, outsider!"

That was just too freaky. Shaundi turned, closed the door, and ran without thinking. Ran with pure adrenaline coursing through her body, her mind making last minute decisions as she saw or heard someone. With her body begging for a rest she finally stopped and slammed her back against the wall. She crouched down low behind some wooden crates. She had been running and running and it seemed this damn city was more maze than anything. There were a few dead ends as if this city was planned out, but someone was like 'Here, I'll put a house here...Plop!' She was lost and desperately wanted out. Twice she had found the border of the city, but it had huge walls she couldn't scale and at the top iron pokes. She assumed there were maybe 2 ways in the front and back.

Shaundi curled up wit her knees drawn tight against her stomach and her head tucked into her worth. It was de ja vu' all over again. Except this time she wasn't sure how she was going to escape.

Zahl the executioner

His reading was interrupted by a frantic knocking on his outer door, grumbling he sat the book aside and got up. Almost as an after thought his hand picked up the sign of his office: the executioner's axe. He stood out from the other people in the city as he stood at 7'2" and his frame was packed with a solid 420 pounds of muscle and light fat covering. He pulled open the door, the axe ready to swing at an instant's notice. It was one of the Gredlon family members, Daniv.

"Sir, we have an outsider in the city."

Zahl snorted,

"Strangers come and go Daniv, that is no reason to rouse me."

"Yes sir, but this one was a female with no mask and hair the color of blood."

Zahl chuckled,

"And you want to capture her so that I can chop off her head for trespassing into our city with a bare face?"

Daniv didn't reply immediately,

"No sir, we are starting a hunt for her and your...qualities may be of help."

Zahl sighed and stepped out, sending the smaller man scattering out of his way. Pulling the door closed behind him he allowed Daniv to lead the way to where this intruder was spotted. The qualities mentioned was something that ran in the family, he was able to pick up the scent of a person that didn't belong and not quite follow the scent, but get a vague impression of the direction said person took or might be hiding. The came to the Grabnar Inn, he picked up a sweet smell immediately, a smell that did not belong in the city of Zahul at all. She had fled, she seemed fast and nimble, but she got lost, without conscious thought Zahl seemed to follow what seemed like an erratic trail. Soon the people following turned impatient, they wanted to capture the outsider, slave trade with bare faced intruders was still practiced, yet so very few dared to come into their city without a mask. Some drifted off, or started to spread out to see if they can't capture the outsider. Zahl was in no hurry at all, he knew what he was following and was going to retrieve it no matter what the others did. It was with these thoughts that he pulled the wooden pack crates away and looked down at the form huddling against the wall. He did not say a word, just looked at her hair, such a lovely color in the City of Zahul and he knew that he would have to have her, just for the hair if nothing else.

"You found her!"

Zahl turned and brought the axe to bear,

"Yes I have and you have no claim to her."

The statement was flat and very, very cold. The resident quickly drew back and the others didn't hesitate to follow his lead. Zahl turned and faced the outsider again, he stepped closer so that if she decided to bolt she had nowhere to go.

"You have come to the City of Zahul without covering your face. There is two penalties, slavery or death."

He motioned with the axe, allowing her to see the razor sharp edge,

"My name is Zahl the executioner, you can guess which one of those penalties is my livelihood. You now have a chance to beg for mercy or you will be turned over to the authorities and end up as either a slave or I will see you again...soon."

Shaundi heard someone approaching. She eased the crates so that they covered her more and hoped they would walk past. Soon she heard not one set of feet, but two, than another, and another: a search party. She hoped they would walk past and she could flee in the other direction. She peeked through the crate grates and saw something she wished she hadn't. It was a monster of a man. She was tall and knew this man towered over her and was as wide as a house. Worse he had some sort of crude weapon and his mask; his mask was something out of a horror tale. Please walk past, please walk past, please walk past...

Shaundi put her head down and closed her eyes as she chanted for the group to walk past. She heard a sound of wood on wood and still didn't look up. She still hoped they would keep walking. She jumped, startled, and looked up into that huge scary mask as she heard she had been found. Her black irises stared up a the man with fright written plainly on her face. Her long eyelashes framing her eyes as her plump red lips opened in a O of surprise and horror.

She wasn't sure what that whole 'you have no claim to her' meant, but she knew that was a signal to move her ass. She stood up, but the man was physic or something as he took a step back and crowded her so she couldn't move. He spoke and his voice was deep, gravelly, and spoke of impending doom. She couldn't believe these people were so ass backwards that not wearing a mask was a crime. Than again it explained alot on her journey here. Shaundi couldn't speak when he brought the axe closer for her to view.

Shaundi tilted her head up trying to decide which fate was worse. She wasn't sure what this slave shit was, but knew it wasn't good. Than again she would be alive. "Death!" She stared at the man her eyes steady with a determination she didn't feel. It was false bravery and when he took another step towards her or maybe he shifted his weight she shook her head. "No, I want to live."

Her eyes alighted with the idea. She saw one of the masked men move around to get a better look at her. He was smaller than the giant in front of her. He was also her height and a bit skinnier. She could give herself to this one and kill him. What was one more murder? Than she could escape this place and never return. Shaundi returned her eyes to the Killer in front of her with a new determination and a hint of challenge in her eyes. "I want to live." Her eyes flicked to the scrawny man she knew she could take down easily. "With him."

Zahl the executioner

He felt that Daniv was still with them, silly little youngster, always where he shouldn't be, one day Zahl might just have the pleasure of chopping him in half or just behead him.

"He is not the proper authorities, you have no choice in this matter...outsider."

With a flick of his wrist he slammed the flat of the axe into the side of her head, sending her sprawling. Sliding the axe into the sheath on his belt he took a pair of heavy manacles and placing her arms behind her back he fastened the manacles to her hands.

"Is she unconscious?"

He looked at Daniv,

"No, she is merely dazed and much more dangerous than you think young man."

Zahl held up the dagger he had found on her person and saw Daniv shrink away,

"Women like this is scarce, feisty ones they are."

Zahl grinned behind his mask and lightly slapped the woman's cheeks to help her gather her wits again. He held the dagger out to her,

"You may just need it in the cells."

She was good looking, a woman of spirit that would rouse desire in many men, but what had Zahl excited was the scheming mind and that defiance she showed when saying that she would rather die and then suddenly changed her mind. He was going to make sure that she would be his, the magistrate would reward his most loyal and of course most trusted asset.

Shaundi didn't acknowledge the Giant's words that she had no choice in the matter. She kept her eyes on the skinny one. Maybe he could find a way to get her. She hoped her bold looks would give him the idea. Maybe that was why she didn't see the axe coming at her. She listened to them talk as she moaned softly to herself; trying to rouse herself. Fucking bastard!

She felt herself being searched and almost as if she was drugged she couldn't stop the hands from taking her weapon. She moaned again at the loss and almost froze when she found the big one could read her so easily. She wasn't a murderer, but dire situations called for dire action. She felt a sharp pain across her cheeks and almost too fast she was very aware of her situation. Her arms were behind her and she was helpless. Not a position she wanted to be in.

She was surprised he was giving her back her weapon. She turned around so she could take it in her hands and managed to push it just inside the waist band of her jeans. She was led to the said cells and as expected she wasn't alone. There were 3 others, all wearing masks, and all looking at her like she was scum. Her hands were untied and she was shoved inside. She glared back, but a muffled voice had her turning back to her situation.

"Outsider."

Shaundi shrugged. "If I was as ugly as you I would hide my face too." The masked one didn't move. She wasn't sure if he was angry, embarrassed, or anything. She figured he was sizing her up and was pissed at her comment.

"I think I'm gonna rape you."

Shaundi widened her stance. "Many have tried. All have failed."

The man took a step towards her. Shaundi didn't move. He suddenly rushed her, but she was expecting this. She side stepped and slammed his mask into the bars. She heard his head hit the mask with a sickening crunch and when she looked down the mask was split down the middle. She laughed with malice before turning to the others. One swung at her and she stepped into the punch and held her arm up blocking the blow. She wasn't expecting his arm to latch onto her and slam her back into the wall. He pulled back and smacked her; hard.

Shaundi growled low and fierce before grabbing that hand pushing off the wall and twisting the arm up and back. The man went to his knees trying to alleviate the pressure. "What's my name?" The mask one turned to her. Even without seeing his eyes she knew he was confused. How could he know her name. Through a slit in his mask he spit out at her. The glob landing on her chin.

"Hmmm, Cock flavored spit." Shaundi wiped her chin. "Ehhhh, that's not it." She pulled up and heard a loud crack then his yells through the mask. She dropped his arm and he fell with his head on the floor and his other arm wrapped around his broken one. She put her foot on his neck and whispered, but knew everyone could hear her. "What's my name."

The man whimpered. Shaundi narrowed her eyes. Was he bitching up? "Hmmm, Bitch. Survey says ... Ehhhhhh!" Shaundi slammed her foot down on his neck and she heard a crack. She hadn't killed him or paralyzed him, but his screams let everyone know he wasn't happy about the temporary loss of feeling throughout his body. "That's two strikes. What's my name." The man turned his face to her kneeling on his knees and growled low before yelling "Rosa!" Shaundi stopped surprise. "A legitimate answer. Survey says. ... Ehhhhh!" Shaundi kicked him in the throat. She heard him gasping for air and unless he calmed down he would die of asphyxiation.

Shaundi turned towards the 3rd who was shivering and shaking. "Cold?" The 3rd didn't answer her as she slowly approached.

Zahl the executioner

He watched as she held her own against the three rapists, it was easy to rape when your prey didn't fight back. Oh how he enjoyed seeing her in action, a mix of power and grace, her attitude to dominate just proved to him that she came from a rough upbringing, most probably a poor family. From what he knew of the world outside of the city, she could have married into a richer state, yet she didn't. He watched her body as she moved, wondering how it would feel to have such a will and body submitted to his pleasures. He grinned at the thought and reached through the bars to push the man; Gradimer Lenzilar, from the bars and onto the ground.

"Having fun with her yet Dezilof?"

His green eyes sparkled with his mirth as he watched the last man backing away from her,

"Hope you four have a good evening together, let me tell you outsider, all three of these men is in here for rape, their victim was a girl of sixteen. If I find them dead tomorrow, you will take their place as I enjoy my work and I hate for it to be taken from me."

He started to turn away and then shot back over his shoulder,

"Dezilof, you can tell Gradimer and Dohan, that if I find the outsider molested in the morning, you will not be beheaded, but pulled apart...by me."

He flexed one hand and then walked away, surely the magistrate had been roused by now about the capture of the outsider and he had a request for the magistrate.

All the anger, pain, and resentment for her class that she was born into. All the hate and anger that she had for the crime that was committed against her and that she was going to be punished for turned her cold. She wasn't a skilled fighter, but she had watched and knew how to take care of herself to a point. But anger, adrenaline, and a need to hurt something would always win out over a pettier emotion.

She turned at the voice realizing she had missed the fact that He was there. She turned slowly back to the man, (Dezilof was it?) and cracked her neck. She felt a surge of anger course through her when she heard these men were rapists and of children! She took a step forward and the warning was the only thing that stopped her dead in her tracks. "I won't kill them," came her soft reply even as her eyes told a different story.

She took another step, but his comment made her turn to stare at the Giant's retreating back. Was this his way of protecting her? What had that meant? She found that Dezilof grew a backbone and had wrapped his arms around hers forcing her arms down around her side. He licked her neck and she grimaced in disgust. She found his balls in her hands and squeezed. He squealed like a girl instantly releasing her. "How much pressure do you think it takes to make a man's sac explode?" Dezilof shook his head. "You don't know? Me neither. I'm sure it's not as much pressure as..." Shaundi squeezed causing Dezilof to scream again. "...shooting your seed ..." she squeezed tighter and Dezilof's pitch got higher. His hands were digging into her wrist, but she wasn't letting go. "...into a little ..." she dug her nails through his thin cloth and his hands went slack. "... girl ..." she squeezed even tighter grinding her teeth to get extra force. Dezilof fell to his knees, then back as he started to spam. "ah ah ah no dying." She didn't release her grip, but kept the pressure and even managed to add a bit more. She found her hand getting slick and she pulled back. Dezilof immediately cupped himself and she stared at the red on her hand. She wiped her hand off on his clothes and sat down on the bench waiting patiently.

Zahl the executioner

By the time he had made it to magister Black's audience room he found Daniv there simpering about how much he would pay to get the outsider. Of course thinking he could handle a little killer like that, Zahl smiled behind his mask and bowed to the magister.

"Magistrate, the outsider is secured."

"Good work as usual Zahl,"

the magister turned to face Daniv,

"You are certain that your father would fund this generous donation to the city coffers that you are talking about?"

Daniv nodded,

"He will Magistrate, I know that he will also make a tidy profit out of one such as her."

The magister chuckled and faced Zahl,

"A slave as a whore, how to make your investment work for you."

He leaned back, carefully pondering the situation,

"Magister, if I may request a boon?"

The magistrate looked up at Zahl,

"Finally calling in one of those favors I owe you Zahl? What is this boon?"

"Sell the outsider to me."

There was a shocked silence, never before had Zahl ask for any favor, he always just gave and served, now he finally requested something and the request was to have a slave sold to him. Daniv made a sound that sounded almost like a sob and the magistrate spared him a glance, before turning his eyes back to Zahl.

"The favor you ask is to buy a slave? Zahl that is really a waste of a favor."

Zahl gave the magistrate a small bow,

"I am merely sparing the life of one of your subjects magistrate. That little hell cat will kill Daniv and escape, at least I am much harder to kill and I don't need gloves to tame wild cats."

The magistrate chuckled,

"Fine then Zahl, you can have her for six thousand gold coins then."

Zahl nodded his consent and turned to leave and return with the gold that would basically make the outsider his responsibility. Even so she would only be released to him the next morning, he spent the rest of the evening sharpening his axe and preparing an extra room after handing the gold over to courtiers of the magistrate. It was a big house and living in it by himself he barely used it, but maintained it as best he could. It was sunrise when he appeared at the gate of the holding cell, curious to see what the evening had brought.

Shaundi slept soundly curled up on the bench. She heard the men waking one by one and to her amusement they were on the other side of the cell discussing how to attack her. After they made that plan they wasted precious time discussing who should go first. Through all this she let the words glide around her cushion her in her sleep. She hadn't been on the run for what had to be over a month without learning a few tricks of her own. Plus, she was still a woman spurned and angry.

Just as it seemed they got up the courage to attack her all at once, something she was actually worried about. She snapped open her eyes and the 3 men froze like deer in headlights. They didn't move almost as if she couldn't see them if they didn't move. She slowly smile knowing it lit up her face before slowly sitting up. "Yes?"

They shook their heads and one, name she couldn't remember, cupped his balls and followed the others to the other bench. Shaundi watched them then stretched her long limbs hearing a few cracks, the bench wasn't the comfiest. Suddenly she swung her head to the cell door and saw him standing there; like a statue of death. She slowly looked him up and down, there wasn't much for her to gaze upon as he was hiding himself behind that cloak and mask. She kept stating at where his eyes were in the mask, not quite challenging, not yet.

She wasn't sure if he was here for her or these simpering men. Was she to be sold now? How? Was it decided she was too much work and was to be killed? She didn't know if they heard word of what she did in Azure and they were sending her back. She hated not knowing her future and not having much say. It was almost as if she was in Azure again and had no choice in anything she did. Except this time she wasn't mellow and going to just let anyone decide her life. She had fire, spirit, a need and dammit if she wasn't going to do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted, however she wanted. The challenge was there in her eyes. They practically yelled at the giant You here for me? Well come and get me.

Zahl the executioner

"Oh I will be back for you little wild cat. For now I have work to do."

He opened the door and three guards entered, shackling the three rapists and leading them out. Zahl turned to look at her,

"Would you like to see them get their punishment? Or would you rather sit here and wait for me to return?"

Before she could answer he went on,

"And between you and me, Daniv wanted to buy you so that his father could use you as a whore in one of his establishments."

He chuckled,

"Think the magister was going to allow that to happen, from what I heard you would have fetched quite a nice price that would be added to the coffers of the city, a full twenty thousand gold."

He didn't read her face as he told her all of this, he rather read her body language. In his society the body told much more than the face as the face is always hidden. He wondered how she would react to the next bit of news.

"But I persuaded the magister not to do that as you would kill Daniv and escape. And believe me having the Gredlon family after your blood as well as their allied houses would end up much worse for you than death. So I bought you, at least I am not that easy to kill and if you do succeed, you will not be hunted by hordes, just the government of the city."

He smirked at her behind his mask as he took in her reaction,

"So are you coming to see the three get their punishment, or do you wish to stay here?"

Shaundi smirked at his comment of wild cat. He hadn't seen 'wild' yet. Her eyes narrowed and she pulled one leg up on the bench and let her arm hang off it. It was a relaxed pose and one she didn't change from as he told her she was to be a whore. She merely quirked and eyebrow at that and thought the little prick wouldn't have gotten the chance to get that far. Again she wondered if the Giant was psychic as he stated he already knew she would have kill the weak one.

She visibly sighed when he said he persuaded the Magistrate (what the fuck was that?) not to let the weak one buy her. Now she would have to come up with another plan. His next words shocked her. Her head swung up and her eyes widen with surprise. He bought her?! She let her eyes rove up and down his frame and had to agree she couldn't overpower him. She probably couldn't even surprise him.

She had only one chance at escape. Shaundi stood up. "I would like to see those bastards die." Actually, she didn't. She was sure he would have to kill them himself. Which meant he would be on stage or wherever, but sure to be away from her. She was sure she could create some sort of distraction and get away. It was a weak plan, but a weak one was better than none.

Zahl the executioner

There is was, the little twitch in the neck and he smiled behind his mask, he stepped inside and pulled out the shackles, this time just fitting one shackle to her arm, the other he held tightly in his hand as he lead her outside. If she resisted, he didn't feel it, nor did he care. He did however keep a close watch on her free arm, if her dagger would appear in it, she would end up with a broken jaw. Taking a different route than the one they took when he brought her into the dungeons. They emerged into a large, open courtyard, there was a huge crowd gathered as an execution was the only real entertainment to be found in Zahul.

Walking up to the stage, he selected a post with a metal ring hanging from it and locked the other hoop of the shackle to the ring. He leaned in close to her, his green eyes sparkling like that of some big, wild cat about to pounce on it's prey.

"Don't you even think of trying to escape me while I'm breathing, how do you think I found you in the first place?"

He stood up and took a whiff of the wet, moldy air and announced in a loud voice,

"Seems like rain later today."

This silly remark drew a chuckle from the crowd, he pulled the axe from it's sheath on his belt and grabbed Dezilof by the scruff of his neck and practically lifted him from the ground, presenting him to the crowd.

"The Magister have found him guilty of rape, does anybody have proof otherwise?"

As usual there was none, Zahl thrust the man's head onto the executioner's block. Cold, damp and clean.

"Then let the law be fulfilled,"

He raised the axe with one hand and with one fluid swing, Dezilof's body slumped to the ground, blood pouring in copious amounts from the stump where his head used to be. Zahl turned his head towards the outside, making sure that she understood that it did not pay to make him angry or break the laws. He waited as two guards pulled the dead body away, then he grabbed Gradimer and lifted him as well, repeating the process. The sick grin under his mask would have scared any sane person, but in the city of Zahul sanity was a loose concept when you are not in view. Oh Zahl knew why so many noble born came to watch the executions, he knew why the magister had one of his bedroom windows looking out onto the courtyard. The people of Zahul got turned on by the show of domination and the blood. Another fountain of blood and the head rolled a few feet, making the people cheer.

Shaundi didn't move when he put a shackle on her. She was curious as to why he did not put the other on her. Briefly she thought about her weapon and plunging it into his, but he was too tall for her to reach the right point and she was afraid. He was very muscular and she might just enrage him more than actually have him drop the other end. Actually, she had a really good mental image of him stopping with the blade half in his body, turning slowly with that scary ass mask, and just staring at her before pulling the weapon out of him. Besides she didn't want to give away her only weapon just yet.

Shaundi blinked at the crowd. Had these men caused that much hostility that these people were finally ready to see their end? Damn! Shaundi was bidding her time waiting for the right moment when she heard a snap and saw her arm was cuffed to another ring. Had she truly lost the right moment? Was it when she had him to herself and the blade would have worked? She doubt it, but wasn't sure. She also had the uncanny feeling that the others were staring at her, though she couldn't be certain with their faces behind those freaky ass masks.

She wasn't sure what the fuck he was talking about? The finding her and how he knew or some shit. Her brow wrinkled in confusion as she watched him walk off. His joke wasn't funny and she rolled her eyes at the crowd. She began pulling her hand through the cuff. Her wrists were big and her hand wasn't small. It was just that she was slightly double jointed. She could pull her thumb almost in front of her hand which would make her wrist and hand the same size....almost. It would hurt and a little rubbing, but she should be able to get the shackle off. She just needed time.

Shaundi wasn't focused on the beheadings or the yells from the crowd. She was almost there. with one last hurtful tug she pulled and the shackle was at her knuckles. Now she just had to think. The smart thing would be to jump into crowd, but they would cage her in. The element of surprise was her friend. Shaundi took in a deep breath and moved.

She kicked the closest head to her sending it into the crowd. The crowd backed up but more than a few people actually writhed around the arch of blood. She thought she saw a few people touching intimate places on themselves and others, but didn't have time to think of that. She was going to follow the head assuming people were going to move out of her way. She took two steps, jumped, and felt something hard slam into her stomach and press her against something equally hard. She looked down to see an arm and looked up to see herself pressed against Him! "Noooooooooooooooooooo!" Shaundi reached up to pull the mask off his face. Hopefully, he'll release her or risk being an outsider like her.

Zahl the executioner

He was right about her, fast, slippery and treacherous. He caught her around the middle as she jumped and pulled her against him, fingers sought to pull the mask from his face, but her nails only grinded against the metal as she did not have the reach nor the technique to remove the mask from his head. He slammed her onto the executioner's block, the people cheered and he realized that she was at just the right height to be taken. A sudden hush fell over the crowd as he lifted his axe, he brought the axe down, the blade bit into the block with a crack, the wood was hard as it had to withstand axe chops and clammy weather. He pushed her face against the cold blade, leaning close he whispered venomously in her ear, the mask distorting the sound so that only she could hear him.

"That was a mistake little one, but I will not kill you for now, you are very resourceful and may be useful in the future."

He threw her onto the ground and motioned for the guard to bring the last captive as he placed his boot on the outsider to keep her pinned to the ground, any squirm he felt, was met with added pressure. He grabbed Dohan by the throat and lifted him up, Dohan thrashed about as he was being choked, the crowd surged forwards, they loved when the wicked suffered.

"Because of her, you will be bled to death Dohan, feel free to thank her,"

he had left the axe in the wooden block and it quickly became clear why, he gripped Dohan's shirt. With a quick adjustment and a yank from his hand he ripped open Dohan's throat, there was a gasp and a cheer as the blood erupted from the sudden removal of skin and the tragea. The blood fell mostly on the outsider and Zahl's boot, but he was unfazed by it, it was an object lesson for her and entertainment to the crowd.

Shaundi couldn't believe she had failed. She stared up at him with utter disbelief in her eyes and a dawning sensation that she would never be free. She was fast, he was quicker, she was strong, he was stronger, she was determined and bitchy, he was determined and cruel. That fact was drilled home when he pushed down on the block and she thought she was going to die. She balked as the crowd cheered wanting her dead too. She heard the quiet, heard the whoosh of the axe, and cringed. The block vibrated as the axe fell into it was enough to rattle her teeth.

She cringed as his scary mask was close enough for her to see the eyes through the holes. It was a scary wicked sight and she felt her heart triple it's beating pattern. She almost missed that he wasn't going to kill her. She realized it wasn't her time when she was thrown on the ground and his foot was placed on her chest right between her breasts. She tried to move up, but he just put more pressure down. She tried to move his foot, but he put more pressure down. It hurt and she stopped moving, feeling that he was going to break through her breastplate.

She shuddered when she realized she was right under the last one to die. She tried to stop it, but she couldn't stop the blood from raining down on her. Her hair was just a tad bit brighter, but soaked in his blood it was hard to see the difference between his blood and her hair. His blood dripped down her face, plastered her clothes to her, stained them. She moaned not in heat, but in horror as she tried to wipe it from her face and body.

She felt herself hauled to her feet and she stared at the crowd. She knew she must have looked like bloody Mary. She didn't realize she looked like a sexy Goddess of Death. The blood trickling down her to mix with her hair. Her body heaving and the hot blood steaming off her body in the chilled air. Standing next to the Giant it looked like they were a team to take down the wicket. The crowd went wild and she saw acts she never would have thought this town would allow.

Zahl the executioner

He had thrown the now limp body from him and pulled her to her feet, the coppery smell of blood wafted from her and he had to admit that she looked good in red. His gaze went to the crowd and found that most of the people wasn't waiting to get to the privacy of their homes. He also noticed that even the guards had joined in the fray what was building up to be one of the very few outside orgies ever allowed at an execution. He wrenched the axe from the block and grabbed her by the hair,

"Walk and if you try anything I will crush your spine."

The threat was real as he knew exactly how to do just that. Marching her down the steps of the stage, they made their way through the crowd, various hands reached out to stroke and grope her as they moved past. Zahl though wasn't touched at all, in this state the executioner was viewed as a god, only to be touched by not touch. He smiled behind that mask as he moved through the crowd and stepped out of the gates. Still keeping that firm grip on her hair, without pulling them,

"Keep walking."

He led her to his home, opening the door and closing it behind them, turning the key he locked the door. The interior was spartanly decorated, only the bare essentials and nothing more, the only thing that looked like it could be some type of decoration, was a collection of beautiful swords and a massive shield mounted on the one wall.

"You come from outside these walls, the bathing room is through there, as you would want to remove the blood from you...and place the dagger where I can see it, you may only carry it when we leave this house."

"What good is a slave with no spine," she hissed at him her hands on his trying to alleviate some of the pressure from him pulling her hair. She ripped a few strands out of her own head and was able to stop wincing at the intense pain as he guided her through the crowd. People grabbed and touched her in places she would never allow. She tried to strike them, but there were too many and he was relentless with his pace. Shaundi finally pulled out her blade and the hands stopped touching her. There was only one person who was allowed to touch her and as soon as she figured out how to get him to stop there would be none.

The walk didn't seem far, but she hated it the same. He kept guiding her by her hair and she kept trying to look back as she heard moans and cries getting louder. She wanted to see what they were doing; if anyone was going to die. She was pushed through a door and she stood there looking around. She thought they were in some sort of holding cell when she slowly realized he lived like this. There was nothing here!

"You don't trust me with the dagger in your house." Shaundi slowly smiled the evil creeping into her eyes. "Afraid I'll stab you in your sleep." Shaundi turned back to the bathing room. She hated that mask he wore. It was fucking creepy; worse she was getting used to it.

"And clothes? Or am I to walk around naked?" Shaundi crossed her arms hearing the drip of blood running down her. Most of it had dried and congealed, but there was a small bit that was dripping down her hair onto the floor.

"When are you going to take that freaky piece of shit off? What's wrong with you people? Are you hideous looking? Have scars? One eye? No nose?" Shaundi continued rattling off things that would make him have to wear a mask. "Oh My Gawd. You people are all related. Some sort of incestuous retards with all deformed faces."

Zahl the executioner

"You can wash your clothes, not like you will have to be modest behind locked doors, windows and walls. You can dry them by the fireplace, but if you find yourself bashful..."

He chuckled at his own words,

"Then you can ask nicely to use one of my shirts."

He tapped his mask,

"This comes off when I want it to be removed, what lies underneath you can only guess. Maybe one day you will earn the right to see what I look like, a privilege no-one has had up until now. Now finish, I do not have the whole day to answer silly questions."

He turned away and walked to the kitchen, for tonight he would make food, if she didn't like it, she would have to make the food for the rest of the time she remained with him. He fetched the cooled meat, dicing it up along with some fresh vegetables, he threw everything in a pot to cook and added some of the exotic spices that came to their land through sea-faring merchants. He finally went back into the cooling room, poured himself a cold mug of ale and moved to the fireplace, taking a seat in the only chair big enough to support him. He stared at the flames as he sipped his ale, mindful and alert of her presence, making sure that she could not creep up to him.

Shaundi stared at him her eyes narrowed and in a huff. She wanted to make some smart ass comment about being bashful, but couldn't think of one by the time he left. So instead she stood there fuming at his back before growling and stomping off to the wash room where she peeled her shirt off her body. Her jeans were tight and it felt like they had glued themselves to her thighs and ass before she was able to get them off; inside out. She threw the clothes at the bottom of the showering stall and turned on the water. She glanced behind her making sure he wasn't going to come in and grab her. She had left her weapon like requested, but man did she wish she hadn't and kept it on her.

She gently stepped inside the hot water spray in her panties and bra. She moaned at the feeling of hot water; after being on the wrong side of the law for so long hot water was a leisure she had missed. She washed her hair as best as possible using the soap she found. She scrubbed her body and finally had to take off her bra to clean herself. The panties went down around her thighs before being pulled quickly back up as she washed.

Lastly she washed her clothes and marveled that the water stayed hot the whole entire time she was in there. She reluctantly turned it off and wrung out her hair and clothes as best as she could. She found a towel and was able to dry off and wrap it around herself. She slowly made her way out of the showering room a little pensive since she had not heard or seen the scary one in awhile.

Shaundi had just turned the corner into where she could hear fire crackling when she spotted him in a chair. He still had that freaky mask on. He hadn't moved so she took this time to really get a good look at him. She already knew he was strong, stronger than her. He was much taller than her wide frame. He was also unnaturally quiet; sitting there, taking sips occasionally from that mug and staring into the fire.

Shaundi padded into the room and realized she hadn't startled him. Infact, he hadn't moved which meant he knew she was there already? That was interesting if it was true. She clutched the towel to herself and spread her clothes in front of the fire to dry, but not too close to catch on fire. She saw another chair, but since she was wearing her wet panties didn't want to get anything wet she stayed on the ground looking at a bleak and boring house.

"Does everyone's house look like it was devoid of any life or just yours?" Shaundi was still looking around slightly annoyed at how little there was of any personality in it.

Zahl the executioner

He had noticed that she finished washing and came out to lay her clothing out to dry. She sat on the ground, he of course would have objected, but then again he allowed her some lee way for now. At her question he took another sip of the ale and then replied.

"It's just mine. I only keep what I need, I don't need to decorate as I am mostly in the study."

He turned his head to look at her,

"In the kitchen is ale if you wish for some, other than that, there is water. Find something for you and then return, we have much to discuss you and I."

Shaundi looked around wondering where the study was located and furthermore what was in it that would hold any type of personality in this bleak house. She opened her mouth to ask more, but he cut her off with his order. Shaundi closed her mouth angrily and got up.

"Fine."

She clutched her towel to her and entered the kitchen. She found the ale and some soup and returned with food for herself and something to drink. She returned to the floor near the warm fire and sat down eating and drinking.

She wasn't going to ask him what he wanted or what questions or what to discuss. She'll wait for him to speak to her; arrogant bastard ordering her about.

Zahl the executioner

He sniffed when she entered, he hadn't thought the soup would be done by now. Well it was on a slow fire, so there was no need to worry, he had made enough food for him to know when to start worrying. He watched the fire, then his gaze drifted to her hair as it reflected the light from the fire. It was beautiful, a color of contrast in this dull, dark city. He tore his gaze from her and focused on the fire again, in silence they sat for a long while.

He got up, opened the wooden box next to the fireplace and placed two logs on the fire, before taking his seat again. He finally looked directly at her, his voice a strange sound in the silence between them,

"You are running from the law."

It was a statement, not a question. No outsider came to Zahul if they were not trading or running.

"Why are you running?"