An Adventure Through A Desolate Land

Chapter 3 - Day of Death

Gretel, praying to herself that the reason for the guard's visit wasn't because of her active role in spreading the influence of the rebellion. Soon felt herself sweating profusely, Gretel took a deep breath, knowing that ot may very well be her last. As the guard was 'escorting' Gretel to where she would be executed, she looked around her surroundings, and was amazed at the beauty of nature. Looking around, she noticed that there was a plethora of flora and fauna. There were lilacs and daises and roses and sunflowers, birch and spruce and cedar and pine and oak, foxes and rabbits and fishes and birds, but what astonished her the most was the majesty of the great, old oak tree that seemed to stretch for miles and miles, reaching out towards the sky. The path subtly changing from ancient cobblestone to faint yet distinct dark dirt trails. The mountains rising, up and up, the white tips almost silver in the fading light of dusk. As they were walking along the aged dirt path, it started to rain. ' Strange, it was warm and brilliant only seconds ago, said Gretel, in a voice so low that it could be scarcely heard. The guard, hearing Gretel almost instatntly, quickly turned around and bashed an elbow into her face all in one swift motion. The impact breaking her nose and causing a minor depression, also caused a rythmic flow of crimson and knocking her down to her knees. 'Get off your ass you lazy criminal scum', shouted the guard, with such ferocity that the great Yngvircythylanali mountain, which was the largest mountain on Coronosynthesis, seemed to wither until t'was but a hill. Gretel, fearing for getting bashed agaib, immediately did what she was told and rose to her feet, her frail old limbs cracking as she did so, and continued walking. The rain, like earlier, was once again pouring hard. And as it poured, the trail became muddy and slippery, and a harsh wind was carrying the distant echoes of a sea of Nightingales. The branches rustling violently in cacophonous harmony. Trudging up a steep hill, Gretel struggled to keep up with the guard, who secretly had sentries in the trees. Far off in the mountains, an ancient fire was slowly rekindling. What this fire was, is for another tale. Eventually the path flattened out and the hollowed out log rose out of the twilight horizon. 'Quicken your pace, we are already late', said the guard. Quickening her pace instantly, Gretel silently groaned and cried in unfathomable agony. 10 minutes later they arrived at the log. 'Stop, we are here', said the guard in a tone that seemed to have little meaning, yet gave a slight inflection thay it was the words to spring a trap. The assassins, whom were hidden amongst the dense, evergreen foliage, leaped out and, forcing Gretel to the ground, held a chloroform rag firmly to her facr until she stopped moving. While she was unconscious, the assassins slowly pulled off all of her fingernails and toenails, and stabbed her 37 times in the stomach and tied the rope around her neck and kept her under close watch. 'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH', screamed Gretel in a shrill voice. 'Scream all you want, no one can hear you, now doth thou have any last words before we put thee to the blade? Speak now, for it will be your last chance', said the guard smugly. 'Yes I do, I know that you'll never succeed in complete domination, someone will rise against your queen. Mark me as a traitor if you will, let the people decide what to call me, but in my heart I know this will make me a martyr and a saint, and you, you're just igniting the flames of war', said Gretel, in a firm, defiant voice. Wrapping thr other end of the rope to the tree, the guard prepared to execute her. 'Read her the Last Rites, priest', ordered the guard. 'Gretel Liechtenstein, from the time you reached your coming of age to the time you reached the tender age of 60, you have blessed the world with your kindness and wisdom. Helping others in their time of need, even when they showed you no kindness. However your recent transgressions and stance of political and social equality has offended a great deal of your superiors. We are astounded that someone of such a reputable nature such as yourself could be capable of commiting such atrocities and we hope that in the afterlife you are happy and rest in death peacefully. However, unfortunately for you, traitors don't go to Nainogra, but instead suffer endlessly in Kylichmilkgno, and with these final binding words, I curse ye spirit'!, said the priest. After the Last Rites had been said, the guard forced Gretel's head onto the block and raised an enormous silver engraved sword and brought it down on her neck, the blade, so sharp, which could cut through her like a knife through butter, was crimson after the deed had been commited. With blood spurting from her neck like a fountain, the guard began to speak. 'Cut off her finger that bears the ring of king Symphoricarpos Occidentalis', ordered the guard. 'Yes Ms. Illitori Sorei', said one of the assassins. Seconds after the assassin had uttered these words, an arrow flew into his heart, sending him flying to a great gnarled oak tree. 'If any of you repeat his mistake, your fate will be worse than Gretel's, starting with curved sword sodomy', said Illitori, in a hushed but aggravated tone. 'Now send her finger in a box to the orphanage. Hide her corpse near the bullwark in the most creative way you can think of', said Illitori, as she started for Froschimicthilalu. The assassins looking at each other, then at Illitori, then at the town,before finally deciding to send a sapphire encrusted silver box and send it to the orphanage. 'Pick up her body, we shall make it look like she commited suicide with a note next to her body', said one of the assassins. 'And how will we make it look like she killed herself? She's missing her head and has stab wounds', replied the other assassin. 'You can still commit suicide by decapitation, you deconsolate dolt', replied the other assassin. 'Either way, we had better make haste. Come, come. Pick up her head and body and carry her. I'll write the note', said the first assassin, who's name was Bubau Chinn. The second assassin, who's name was Lieulinenlifen Leotordorius, picked up Gretel's lifeless body and head. Walking towards Kynsorth on one of the backroads leading to the southwest gate, Bubau and Lieulinenlifen made haste for the rain was picking up, and did not show any signs of stopping. As they walked at a rapid rate, they caught sight of a mysterious stranger on horseback far off at the edge of the forest where the Griezemenetti River meets the great Yngvircythylanali mountain. 'So how many countries are there on Earlth? I've always wondered', said Bubau. 'Between 85 and 95 countries, if the Old Stories are to be believed', said Lieulinenlifen. 'And how long until we are back at Kynsorth? Because I for one do not wish to see Illitori angry. And when she gets angry, people lose their heads, and then someone makes a joke about let's not lose our heads, and then even more heads fall on the floor. And she is often angry', said Bubau. 'At this rate, about 2 hours, though the backroad we are taking meets up with the main road 2 miles ahead. We could use that to our advantage, also don't speak ill of her', said Lieulinenlifen. 'Damn right we are', said Bubau, grinning. 'Do you kiss your mother with that mouth? Honestly kids these day', jested Lieulinenlifen. 'No, but I kissed your mother with it', shouted Bubau, laughing heartily. 'You've never met my mother, remember? Anyhow, we must cease the idle chatter and finish the job', said Lieulinenlifen, suddenly serious. Grumbling, Bubau shut up and increased his pace. As he did, the rain lightened ever so slightly, and the naked beauty of the virgin moon peeked through the dark rolling clouds. 'Do you want to hear a joke?It's a good one', said Bubau. 'Hah, a good joke from you? Now that is the funniest thing you've ever said for all the 20 years that I've known you. Anywho, what is the joke that you have? Let's see if you can pull another funny joke off, or make people kill themselves', said Lieulinenlifen. 'Don't worry, the joke is to die for. Hehe, anywho. "Two cannibals are eating a clown. One cannibal turns to the other and asks, 'does this taste funny to you?'". Hopefully that joke satisfies you and your difficult sense pf humor', said Bubau. 'Both aren't really as humorous as you'd have us believe. Though at least they're funnier than your other jokes said Lieulinenlifen. 'At least I got something nice out of you', said Bubau. 'Hmmph. Something nice out of me. Give me a contract and then you'll get something nice out of me', said Lieulinenlifen. 'Hohoho, so that's your humor is it? Well now I know what jokes to tell', said Bubau. 'If you ruin the jokes, I'll get you and make it look like an accident', said Lieulinenlifen. 'If you kill me then you'll never have a pink flower', said Bubau. 'A pink flower? Resorting to innuendo I see. And I'll get more flowers than you, you bawdy cow', said Lieulinenlifen. 'If your personality was any less colorful, it would be invisible, said Bubau. 'I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed man', said Lieulinenlifen, the humor in his voice growing. 'You should do some soul searching. Maybe you'll find one', countered Bubau. 'You are the son of a motherless goat', said Lieulinenlifen, not intending to lose in the battle of name calling. 'I've noticed that you never let an idea interrupt the flow of your conversation', said Bubau. 'You look tired. Have you been thinking? Said Lieulinenlifen. Enough jokes. What time do you think it is? It must be at least 9 o' the evening', said Bubau. ' Aye, that is precisely the time. Also, we have arrived', said Lieulinenlifen as he pointed towards the massive iron gates. 'Then let's hide in the bushes', said Bubau. 'There is no need, for the guard is changing, and there is a 20 minute interval', said Lieulinenlifen. Stealthily running towards a tree near the gate, Bubau set down Gretel's body and laid the head in her lap, with the note made to look like she was holding it. Afterwards they snuck up to the orphanage doors. They then set the box down on the steps and knocked on the door, before running out of sight. 'Hold on, I'm on my way', said Zkold. Looking left, then right, Zkold could not see whom had knocked. Just as she was about to shut the door, she saw the box out of the corner of her eye. 'Huh? What's this little bauble? It may be a gift', said Zkold, her curiosity touched. Leaning down and picking up the box, she shut the door and opened it as she was walking into the main hall. Besides the finger, there was a note, which read 'to whom it may concern. Here lies the finger of Gretel Liechtenstein. The reason for her execution was treason. She has betrayed her queen and country and as a result has payed with her life'. Seconds after she opened it, she dropped the box and felt the urge to regurgitate. Yngritor, being the first to hear the loud CLANK of the silver box as it hit the ground, ran over to investigate. 'Zkold. What's wrong? Please answer', said Yngritor, his voice trembling. 'Gretel's dead. She's been killed', moaned Zkold, her face suddenly pale. Slowly getting up, she walked over to the food pantry, and reached for a bottle of wine. Little did she know however, that Ruflaus had poisoned it with a poison that causes instant death. Quickly screwing off the cork with her firm but shaky hands, she took a massive swig of the wine. Seconds later, she hit the floor with a loud thud. Zkold, is that you? Please answer me', said Yngritor, his voice and knees trembling. Slowly and nervously stepping towards the pantry, Yngritor saw Zkold's cold lifeless form. Immediately afterwards, he grew pale and started to cry profusely. 'I will become a man. I will carry the torch. I will avenge your deaths', said Yngritor bitterly. And with this, he ran out the door, as fast as lightning. He ran on and on, until he reached the Black Tail Forest. Hearing the crying, Gretel's other assistant, Scheinateich Liebnerstein, looked for Yngritor in every conceivable place that her remarkable intellect could contrive. But instead only found a note, which read, 'dear Ms. Scheinateich, I have left the orphanage for reasons that I cannot put to light, as they may put you and the others in grave danger. The next time I see you there will be change, but there will also be much bloodshed. Please do not try to find me, for I am fine. P. S. do not let the others know, as we must keep this matter of ours as low as the setting sun, sincerely, Yngritor'. After reading his letter, Scheinateich's first instinct was to find Yngritor, but knowing that it is not what Gretel would've wanted, quickly dismissed the idea of pursuing him. However, she decided that she should try and find him if the situation fell out of hand. What she sensed in Yngritor was the same as what Gretel had sensed. Instead of pursuing him, Scheinateich decided to retire to her chambers early, and set the letter down on a small stone table directly left of the door to the streets of Kynsorth.