Art by \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
| \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t | \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tArennya\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t | \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Words and characters by \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
| \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t | \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKintoMythostian\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t | \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
--
My life is mine to use and give as I Choose. My death is mine to summon and welcome as I Choose. I have borne myself to the gallows of my own free well. I have dressed and groomed myself immaculately in preparation for this holy ceremony. I carry myself with the bearing befitting this occasion, the sacrifice of my own life.
I have surrendered myself to the custody of Danielle, the chief priestess. My hands have been bound, only as tightly as necessary to render me helpless to defend myself, not tight enough to cause pain.
Danielle places the noose around my neck as carefully as though it were a fragile garland of spun glass flowers. She draws the knot snug as gently as a mother tucking her fawn into bed.
Death’s touch will not be so delicate as hers. The knot upright and rigid against the back of my skull carries the weight of a slow death. The time is not far off.
My lips part, my breaths trembling with the battle between excited anticipation and instinctual fear. I control my fear; it does not control me. My presence at this gibbet is solemn testament to this Noble truth.
I have denied myself my future. Everything is the last for me now. The Formal dress closely hugging my hide, the last clothes I will wear. The steps that carried me here unescorted, the last steps I will walk. The acquiescence I have condemned myself with, the last words I will speak. The scaffold under my hooves, the last surface I will rest upon. The coarse rope embracing my throat, the last thing I will feel. The cloud-streaked blue sky above, the last thing I will see as Danielle guides the blindfold into place across my tearless eyes.
A soft tug as the blindfold is knotted. A soft touch on my shoulder, a silent fleeting gesture that conveys Danielle’s pride in me.
I stand tall in the velvet darkness, patient. I will be strong. I will be courageous. I will be Noble. I will die well.
My heart pounds, fear chasing excitement right to the very end, the last beats it will beat. My lungs exhale and inhale, the last breaths I will breathe. Is this one the last? Is this the breath that will be sealed within when the noose closes? My ears swivel and strain, listening for the throwing of the lever and the opening of the trap, the last sounds I will hear…
--
Art by Lady Heather.
Erica (the doe) and Danielle (the wolfess) are students at the Bulconian Academy of Gonerra, a location that has been the setting for several of my stories. Danielle also serves as chief priestess.
Despite the fact I’ve been visiting this setting in my head for years, this is the first time I’ve ever actually had a formal Academy sacrifice illustrated. Yay! Heather did a spectacular, beautiful job. The expressions, the poses, the clothes, all of it gorgeous.
Go, give Heather faves, watches, and commissions!
I commissioned this piece from LadyHeather a few months ago, and realized I’d never shared it on InkBunny. In fact, I’ve not posted anything at all to Inkbunny in almost a year. I feel bad about that, but I just have not had time to properly devote to writing.