Nitsuke sat alone in the cell. Her past two days were spent much in anxiety. What if Marcus didn't get the weapons? What if Alec didn't save her in time? What if they were all captured? And tortured by Skorch somewhere? Or worse, what if they were transferred to the Nether?
"Clang!" A Netheran opened her door. "It is time, little kitten." Skorch stood at the door with a coil of rope, and an apple in the other hand. Beside him were two wither skeletons, brandishing their swords. Nitsuke had to obey, or her execution may not even be public.
"You haven't given me to eat in three days, Skorch, and you expect me to walk?" Nitsuke staggered up, her stomach had long stopped grumbling from the hunger.
"It would just be a waste of food." Skorch took a bite out of the apple and threw it on the ground.
"Alright, I managed to sneak out about a hundred arrows." Marcus dropped a huge bundle on the table. "Along with enough swords for everyone here and a dozen bows."
"I'll take some of those." Nikka drew a handful of arrows into her quiver.
"I'll take the rest." Alec reached forward and split the bundle among the Legionnaire archers he had brought.
"Alright, let's go to the city plaza." Yujuki announced. "We have a friend to save and a Netherani to kill."
A huge platform had been set up in the middle of the plaza. In the center was an iron frame, wider and taller than any man. On the sides were four holes, probably to pass rope through. The wither skeletons pushed every person, human and Felina alike, around the platform. Over their heads, the Wither hovered, its heads swiveling about, scanning for threats.
Skorch arrived. The skeletons pushed the crowd apart and made a path for him. Nitsuke had her hands behind her back and the end of the rope was in Skorch's grasp. The archers settled in the trees. Alec, Lucan, and Nikka mixed in with the unwilling audience.
Four wither skeletons approached Nitsuke, and tied a piece of tough rope on each of her hands and feet. Skorch unbound her and they threaded the cables through the holes on the iron frame. Nitsuke yelled slightly as the ropes tightened on four drums controlled by the skeletons.
"In the name of the Nether king Pythus, overseen by the Governor of Felora Skorch, I hereby announce Nitsuke, Chronicler of Northwind, charged with treason, shall be executed by lynching." The Netheran announced. "Ready executioners?" Nitsuke's terror appeared on her face. She closed her eyes, waiting for the pain. "Wait!" Skorch ordered the skeletons to stand down.
"No Felina woman should die with their clothes on." Skorch cackled. He took out a pair of shears and walked toward Nitsuke.
"Alright, I've seen enough." Nikka pushed to the front of the crowd. Taking out her bow from under her cloak, she drew an arrow and shot it straight into Skorch's hand. He stumbled back, the shears dropping on the ground.
"Execute her! NOW!" Skorch roared. The four skeletons began winding the the drums. The ropes became tighter. Nitsuke shrieked as her limbs were pulled apart. Alec leapt up from the crowd and with his sword, he cut the ropes on one side completely off.
"It's okay, I got you." He quickly cut off the ropes on the other side and took Nitsuke off the platform.
"Alec! Use the Necromancer tunnels! Get her out of here!" Lucan yelled. He leapt onto the platform between the pair and the Netheran. Nikka pushed through the crowd with Eddy, who was holding a full bottle of that green liquid, taking occasional swigs.
"Pathetic sneak attacks." Skorch ripped the arrow from his hand and took out a pair of axes. "But they won't kill me."
"How about this?" Lucan thrust his sword forward, aiming for Skorch's chest. He ducked and Lucan threw out a left punch. It hit Skorch right on the arm. He staggered a bit, and Lucan flew a kick right in his stomach. Rolling backwards, he stood up with his hands in a boxing position, still holding the sword.
"Not bad, but not enough." Skorch lunged and cut down with both his axes upon Lucan's head, forcing him to block with his sword. He then pulled them back and, extending his arms out, he spun his weapons in a wide circle around him. Lucan leaned into his hips, his face barely clearing below Skorch's swing. The Netheran smiled, and rapidly hit his knee into Lucan's stomach. He toppled backwards, very winded.
"You have possibly the worst fighting style I have ever seen." Skorch snickered. "And believe me, I've seen a lot."
"It… It wasn't meant for monsters like you." Lucan stood up and returned to his ready pose. Suddenly, he ducked down low and thrust his sword toward Skorch's crotch. He leapt into the air over Lucan. As he passed head down, Skorch struck out at Lucan's head, forcing him to roll forward. The two stood up, now having exchanged positions.
"You must have been fighting weaklings and idiots then." Skorch said. "Pathetic."
"Well, I seem to be fighting one right now!" Lucan lunged forward and jabbed at Skorch's waist. He sidestepped and came to Lucan's left. With a strike of his axe, he cut off Lucan's foot.
"Look at you." Skorch kicked him over. "Absolutely pathetic. You can't even stand."
"Lucan!" Nikka flew from the crowd. Jumping over him, she stood between Lucan and Skorch, both katanas drawn.
"Ha!" Skorch twirled his axes in hand. "I should've known his little pet will come to the rescue."
"I am no one's pet." Nikka retorted. Her ears pointed forward. "I am a Felina woman capable of killing you!" She lunged. Slashing one katana from her right, she met Skorch's axe near her hilt and with her left blade, she thrust it straight into Skorch's chest.
Skorch looked down at the blade through him, then at its holder. "You will never…" His orange markings went dark and he collapsed on the ground, dead.
"Lucan!" Nikka rushed to his side. "Are you alright?" She took out a roll of bandages and wrapped it around the stump of his leg. It became instantly red with his blood.
"Yeah, I'm alive, it's just, my left foot is gone." Lucan tried to sit up. "But on the bright side, I only need one shoe from now on, and I can always make myself a new foot." He managed a grin.
"Sometimes, I want to smack that smile off your face." Nikka said. She took Lucan's left arm over her shoulder and helped him off the platform, into the scampering crowds.
Alec rushed down the tunnel, Nitsuke in his arms.
"You haven't eaten in three days?" Alec was appauled. "Alright, as soon as we reach a safe place, I'm going to find you something." Daylight broke out ahead of them. They burst out into the morning sun, and…
"Ah!" A Netheran, clearly waiting for them, cut down Alec on the back. He tumbled forward and Nitsuke flew out of his arms. Alec's sleeve tore on a shrub as he fell. The Netheran pulled his axe out and stomped towards her.
"Where Skorch failed, I will succeed." He growled. "King Pythus will reward me handsomely."
"Nitsuke! Catch!" Alec took out his sword and slid it across the ground. Nitsuke took it and drove the blade through the Netheran's chest from her vantage point on the street. He fell to the ground, stunned and dead.
"Alec…" She crawled beside him. When the tattoo became visible, she gasped,
"You are a Legionnaire?"
"I'm sorry, Nitsuke. I did what needed to keep us alive." Alec panted.
"When did you join?"
"Right after Kiyoshi died." Alec wheezed. "I love you, Nitsuke."
Nitsuke cried. Her ears sank as she embraced Alec. "Chroniclers cannot have a family."
"I know." Alec combed his fingers through her pink hair. "But that doesn't stop me from…" The strength went out of his eyes and his hand fell limp to the ground.