33 Risen#re - Chapter 355

“By the decree, set forth by the Heavenly Empress fifty years ago, all those found to be a member of Unity, are to be executed without remorse, and all those who harbour and grant safe haven to the members of Unity are to be met with the same fate,” Stanley recited the words of a doctrine placed forward by the Heavenly Empress herself.

“As is my duty as a law abiding Lord and noble of Mithland, I hereby cast my judgement upon the refuges, they have harboured and fed the terrorists of Unity and joined them in arms as they brought terror and destruction upon our noble city,”

“Their crime’s will be met with the appropriate punishment,” Stanley stood proudly presenting his noble justification for everyone to hear.

Lirian realised his mistake, unfortunately no matter how much he knew and understood about politics, the one thing he couldn’t know were the unique laws brought about by circumstances of the world.

It seemed that Unity had done enough terrorising in this world to earn a death warrant for all it’s members, issued by the person Lirian believed was the highest power if not one of the highest powers in the world.

“FIRE!” Stanley shouted and the soldiers on the wall, loaded in the bolts, each ballista had three slots, and so they loaded up the bolts and cranked the ballista, before releasing a second shot and a third.

By the time the third bolt was launched, the first sling was reloaded and cranked, allowing them to continuedly fire without stopping.

The bolts were shot with deadly momentum, they streaked across the sky and came crashing down with deadly precision.

They ripped through people like they were paper, even those it passed were smashed by the wind shield created around the bolt, and ended up feinting under the pressure, they were the lucky ones.

The people outside the city were caught unaware, by the time they realised the danger they faced, the bolts were already falling on them like rain.

They watched as the people around them were smashed into bits, and those were the fortunate ones, for the ones who didn’t witness the sight were the first to die.

The torrential rain of bolts seemed endless to the refugees, they had come to this place for a sanctuary, for some respite, from the battles that threatened to take their lives, but in the end it was all for naught, they were forced to witness their sanctuary turn into a hellscape.

The cries of and screams came from every angle, no matter where one ran the voices of grief and horror echoed, it sent chills throughout the city, the peoples face’s went ashen, all the blood in their bodies ran cold, as they looked at Stanley still standing atop the walls of the keep.

“Where is your self-declared god now?!” Stanley asked and looked over the people of the city with gleeful eyes.

“Again!” Stanley ordered and another round of bolts where shot, killing thousands more.

“Do you see?” he asked, “Your god is merely a coward, he watches as you are slaughtered without so much as lifting a finger,” he said in an overbearing manner as he looked down, it was almost as if he was waiting for something.

Minutes passed in silence, yet nothing seemed like it was going to change, eventually Stanley sighed and returned to his speech.

“To my understanding, many terrorists from Unity, snuck into the city last night under cover the darkness,”

“My father Rupid Kurt, the first of his name, the Lord and leader of House Kurt has issued a decree, all the terrorist are to be killed without care of their age or gender, House Kurt will not provide sanctuary for terrorist’s,” when he issued the decree he looked to the minor nobles.

They all understood that this was a test from House Kurt to test their loyalties, if any of them faulted in this task, they would be dealt with by House Kurt.

“Those who have harboured the terrorists are to be treated the same,” Stanley said casting a cold gaze at the people.

A commotion suddenly broke out in the crowds, and the people split apart and gave way to a man who was dragging a woman and a young boy, who was no more than 5 years old.

“…Please,” the woman cried, “You can take me, just leave my boy,” she begged with wet eyes and tried to hit the man’s hand away from her son who was being dragged through the street.

Everyone instantly understood what was happening, the woman and her son were refuges that snuck in during the attack.

The man went forward with determination and pulled the woman and her son with him, “My lord, please forgive me,” the man said falling to his knees, “They came in the night, and my wife felt sorry for them, please forgive me,” he cried and pushed the mother and son pair forward.

Stanley jumped down from the top of the wall he landed with a powerful thud on the ground, that cracked the road, he looked at the mother and son pair and walked close to them.

The mother grabbed her son and pushed him behind her body, “M-m-my lord, please, we aren’t terrorist,” she pleaded, “My husband is a soldier, he fights in my lord armies, I beg my lord for your magnanimity,” she said and brought her head down to kiss his feet.

“Oh, your husband is a soldier, what’s his name?” Stanley asked as the woman continued to grovel at his feet.

“Darren my lord,” she answered eagerly seeing that Stanley seemed interested, “Darren of Zeal, his been in my lords armies for three years now,” she said nodding her head.

Stanley nodded, “Good,” he said loudly, he looked into the crowd and he found Lord Thoman Maxim watching closely.

“Lord Thoman, would you please come forward,” he requested.

Lord Thoman stepped up without hesitation and eagerly approached Stanley, “Is there anything I can do for you young lord?” he asked Stanley.

Stanley nodded, “Yes actually, it seems that my army has been tainted with Unity filth, find this Darren of Zeal and execute him,” he said.

“NOOOO….” the woman cried but before she could make another sound Stanley slashed his sword and her throat was slit open.

“Mama,” the boy cried behind her with worry, he didn’t quite understand what was happening, but he knew that the red coming from her throat wasn’t anything good.

The boys cries didn’t last long because, Stanley’s sword ripped through his head in the next second, he swung his sword and the blood splattered onto the ground.

Stanley quickly sheathed the sword and walked to the man, who was still bowing to him on his knees, with a good natured smile, “You are to be commended for setting an example for our people, and for your deeds I ought to reward you and your family, go and bring them here,” Stanley said with a warm smile.

The man welled up with tears in his and bowed profusely to Stanley, “Thank you, my lord, thank you,” he cried out and ran back into the ground to fetch his family.

He returned with his wife and his 15-year-old daughter.

Stanley’s eye’s lit up as he saw them approach, and he motioned for some guards to join him.

“Greet the lord,” the man was saying eagerly to his wife and daughter as they reached Stanley, they saw the guards, but they thought nothing of it.

“As much as I wish to reward you, my father’s decree states that all those who helped the terrorists must die,” Stanley sighed as if he felt regretful.

The entire family went still as they heard Stanley, “My lord please, I beg your forgiveness,” the man started to cry and fell to his knees.

Stanley sighed, “I suppose that since you are the first to come forward you can be forgiven, but you must first be punished,” Stanley said sternly.

The family all fell to their knees and thanked Stanley, even a hundred lashes was better than death.

“Take them away,” Stanley said loudly and motion to the guards.

As the guards tied up the family, Stanley placed a hand on the guards shoulder and spoke softly so only the guards and the family could hear, “Take the girl to my chambers… take her mother there as well… you know what bring the father as well he can watch,” Stanley laughed and walked back through the gates.

He turned around and cast one last look at the nobles, “By dawn tomorrow they all better be dead,” he left those words behind before disappearing through the gates.