***
"Surely you must be in terrible pain," the Lawkeeper said to Galvia. "And trust me--it can get much worse. Do you have anything to say?"
Galvia didn't answer. She was aware that the pressure had increased considerably, but still her body held. The Thallite Giant gazed down at her and frowned, his hand pausing on the crank.
"Leave her be, you coward!" Garaloth shouted.
"Silence, or I will gag you," the Lawkeeper said. He motioned to the giant. "Double your efforts. Whatever happens, happens."
The giant licked his lips, eager to cause damage. He turned the crank some more--until it seemed the chains might rip apart--and still Galvia's body held. His eyes wide, the giant looked to the Lawkeeper.
"She is like iron," said the Thallite, in a booming voice that was louder than the storm. "This torture won't work on her. If I apply greater pressure, she will likely be ripped apart. And so I await your orders."
"Last chance to talk," the Lawkeeper said to Galvia.
The others bowed their heads, their faces pale.
Galvia heard his words, but she had no intention of responding. Her focus was extreme--beyond anything she had ever accomplished before. Her skill of Fire warmed her body, flooding her limbs with massive strength and endurance, as she prepared for the next phase of the torment.
The Lawkeeper nodded. "Very well. Kill her."
"It will be my pleasure," boomed the Thallite. With a grunt, he threw all of his strength into turning the crank, determined to tear the young Knight apart. But the crank snapped off in his hand.
The giant held up the broken crank. "Whoops."
The Lawkeeper's face contorted with rage. "So she has defeated The Golden Truth. That has never been done before. We'll see how she fares with the gallows! Build me a platform at once. We will hang the three Knights."
Ethella entered the tent, the blue glow from her staff falling upon them. "We don't have time for that. We can execute them with sword or bow." Her eyes sparkled with evil. "Or I could just do it myself."
"No," said the Lawkeeper. "I want them hung--a traditional execution. I don't care about being in a hurry, and I don't care about the storm. She escaped The Golden Truth, but she will not escape a stout rope!"
It took them less than an hour to construct a platform, during which time the storm only grew worse. The platform stood out in the open, with three ropes hanging down--one for each Knight.
Galvia, Wreld, and Garaloth were taken atop the platform, their wrists shackled behind their backs. A rope was placed around each neck.
"This is the end for all of you," said the Lawkeeper. "Stand there for a moment and contemplate that. Your precious god won't save you. He leaves you to hang from the neck." Lightning struck close by, and the Lawkeeper shrank back. He gazed warily at the sky.
"Don't kill them!" Taith begged.
"Silence, boy," said the Lawkeeper, his hand on Taith's shoulder. "You will be better off without them. Their kingdom is doomed."
Garaloth turned to Galvia, his eyes full of despair. "How can this happen? The Divine Essence spoke through me--as if I have a great destiny as a Knight. Why would our god do that and then abandon me?"
"I don't know," said Galvia, which was the truth.
"It's not over yet," said Wreld, but his expression showed the doubt he was feeling. "Maybe Lannon and Prince Vannas will save us."
Galvia bowed her head and didn't reply.
"It can't end this way," said Garaloth. "It's not fair! I'm not ready to die. I...I haven't done anything yet. I haven't made a name for myself. If I die now, I will be forgotten."
"You won't be forgotten," said Galvia. "The words the Divine Essence spoke to Lothrin will always be remembered--words that came from your lips, Garaloth." It was the only comfort she had to offer. She too desperately wanted to live on. There was so much more she wanted to accomplish. She had done so well in her brief time at Dremlock and Ollanhar, rising quickly through the ranks to become a respected Knight and member of the Council. The thought of it ending on this night was nearly unbearable, but she saw no way out. Her parents would be devastated, and she hated the thought of them suffering over her death.
"If this is the end," said Wreld, "I want to say I have truly enjoyed serving with the two of you. You are both great Knights."
"As are you, Wreld," said Galvia. "Yes, this could very well be the end for us. Try to find peace in your hearts. Take comfort in knowing we did all we could to serve our god and kingdom."
Wreld sighed. "Soon we will rest forever."
"But we can't give up!" said Garaloth, panic in his eyes. "Lannon!" he called out. "Prince Vannas! Come and help us!"
The soldier gagged him with a strip of cloth.
"They won't make it in time," said Ethella, with a laugh. "In fact, they might never return at all--considering what they're facing."
"It is time to get this over with," said the Lawkeeper. "Galvia shall be first." He signaled to one of his warriors who stood atop the platform. "Proceed with her execution."
The time for hesitation was over. Galvia was a Grey Dwarf, and seldom did one of her kind die without struggling to the last breath. Summoning her skill of Fire, she melted through her irons and then plunged her burning hands through the soldier's chest, killing him instantly. She shoved his dead body from the platform, and with a cry of rage, she leapt straight toward the Lawkeeper.
The Lawkeeper took a step back, his eyes wide in shock. But Ethella was there to meet Galvia--blue lightning from her staff freezing the Dwarf. Galvia fell to her knees in the mud, energy rippling over her body.
"I've had enough!" the Lawkeeper bellowed. "Shoot them now!" He motioned to his soldiers, and they raised their crossbows.
Galvia made peace with her soul and waited. She had done all she could, and there was simply nothing left.
The bowstrings released their deadly bolts.