In the moment of death, Marcus would be a Listener again.
That thought made him smile, dampened his eyes, even, as he pulled the little cart. It was cider again, just like last time. They had argued for many days to change it, but when they saw the people of the city rolling around their own kegs of cider even in the aftermath....well, why waste time inventing a less effective ruse"
Marcus had been caught by his brethren, unlacing his lips to make love to a woman, and paid her with coin bound for the Cause, too. He was surprised they had not killed him. He had been whipped and locked in the cellar, and at first they spoke as if he were bound for execution....but his brethren were merciful. They would allow him to repent in the last moment of his life.
A blessing he would not forget in the eternity that awaited him.
Chilling thoughts had passed through his mind the night before. Was this any amnesty' Had the other Listeners truly spoken for the Spirits, that Marcus was to be forgiven....or had they such need of a martyr that they would tell a lie" ...But no, he had decided. They did not need to lie. Many others would have volunteered for such a death even if they had not sinned as he had.
Chance - no, the Spirits - had given him a way back into the light. The cart neared the eastern edge of the Marketplace, coming into the thick of holiday shoppers. He halted and dug into his pocket, dug out a long black scarf. The Listeners had indicated he not draw attention to himself....but these were his last moments. He would die a Listener. He set it between his teeth as a gag and tied it behind his head.
As he started again, the cart situated between two shops, he looked over his shoulder. There was a man - a guard - with head downcast, hand on the hilt of his broadsword, tugging on it. It was stuck. The guard looked up, and his jaw set when he saw Marcus was smiling at him. It was too late.
The gunpowder hissed for a fraction of a second, and Marcus could feel the tears rolling off his cheeks before pain as he'd never known before ripped through his body and drew him into blackness.
That thought made him smile, dampened his eyes, even, as he pulled the little cart. It was cider again, just like last time. They had argued for many days to change it, but when they saw the people of the city rolling around their own kegs of cider even in the aftermath....well, why waste time inventing a less effective ruse"
Marcus had been caught by his brethren, unlacing his lips to make love to a woman, and paid her with coin bound for the Cause, too. He was surprised they had not killed him. He had been whipped and locked in the cellar, and at first they spoke as if he were bound for execution....but his brethren were merciful. They would allow him to repent in the last moment of his life.
A blessing he would not forget in the eternity that awaited him.
Chilling thoughts had passed through his mind the night before. Was this any amnesty' Had the other Listeners truly spoken for the Spirits, that Marcus was to be forgiven....or had they such need of a martyr that they would tell a lie" ...But no, he had decided. They did not need to lie. Many others would have volunteered for such a death even if they had not sinned as he had.
Chance - no, the Spirits - had given him a way back into the light. The cart neared the eastern edge of the Marketplace, coming into the thick of holiday shoppers. He halted and dug into his pocket, dug out a long black scarf. The Listeners had indicated he not draw attention to himself....but these were his last moments. He would die a Listener. He set it between his teeth as a gag and tied it behind his head.
As he started again, the cart situated between two shops, he looked over his shoulder. There was a man - a guard - with head downcast, hand on the hilt of his broadsword, tugging on it. It was stuck. The guard looked up, and his jaw set when he saw Marcus was smiling at him. It was too late.
The gunpowder hissed for a fraction of a second, and Marcus could feel the tears rolling off his cheeks before pain as he'd never known before ripped through his body and drew him into blackness.