Clemency of Man

• Posted by DovahSquid July 31, 2013 - 1,231 views

  Gabanre awoke to the sound of the chanting, every day to the same chanting, looking over to where the hagraven performed her daily rituals. He shuddered inwardly at her appearance, never understanding how his kin could stand such a beast, but at the same time understanding the hierarchy associated with her, for she was his God.

  He was a Forsworn, born into this society when his great-grandmother accepted her role as a shaman. While he understood his duty to his fellow kin, he could never quite get over his lack of... well, enthusiasm. When the others were more than happy to kill the "nord scum", Gabanre always felt a bit of clemency towards them, always making sure he made a clean kill instead of taking prisoners. His attention was drawn away as the hagraven's chanting increased in volume, watching as she ripped the heart out of the high-ranking male. It always made him sick thinking about those monsters, knowing one day he'll be on that table with the hagraven standing over him. Deciding it was wasteful to think of that day, he left his tent, going to take his post at the side of a road.

  ***

  Gabanre watched, crouched in a large bush, as a small caravan was approaching from the south. Briefly he wondered why any caravans dared travel the length of roads guarded by his fellow kin, but shrugged it away as he counted the soon to be victims. Letting out a shallow bird cry, two males and a shaman, whom he recognized as his clans highest ranking member, joined him. While he wasn't unaccustomed to fellow kinsmen raiding a caravan, he always preferred to do it himself, but he sighed, knowing that wasn't possible this time.

  He had waited until the caravan passed, moving out of the bushes silently to thrust his sword through the rear patrols chest, letting him drop roughly to the ground. He turned his head to see the shaman launch a blistering fireball towards the horses, covering his face as the front of the carriage exploded into flames. As Gabanre rushed forward towards the remaining guard untouched by flame, he knew that even though he was Forsworn, this was still his clemency towards man.

  -----------------------

  I've had this idea in my head for a few days now, of a Forsworn that wasn't exactly the picturesque wild man that lore portrays them as. I also am very fond of the word "clemency", it's my third favorite word.

  I'm not usually a fan of third-person point of view, as such I usually find it hard to actually write in that way and stick with it. As with anything, please comment and critique and share squidhugs with me.