The Marshal's eyes snapped open before first light, he was always awake before the sun. If he had been asked a week prior how he felt about going to sentence a man to death he would have felt apprehensive about it, not that morning. Sitting up in the bed and rolling his legs to the side, the marshal realized that he was happy to be carrying out an execution. When he execution was seen with, Marshal would be awarded beyond his wildest dreams.
Walking over to water basin in front of the window Marshal looked out over the night draped town. His town. Splashing the water on his face, the tepid droplets rolling down his neck, he began to feel refreshed. In his chest he began to feel the gentle coolness of His presence. It was a comforting cold, a soothing cold, it was His love.
Walking into the kitchen, his house staff had not come in yet for the day. The entirety of the house still and quiet, Marshal did enjoy mornings like that. Grabbing an apple from the dry cabinet he walked outside, still with the first rays of light were barely making an appearance on the horizon.
“The Wanderer will die today?” The voice of the Cold Man froze in the air as he approached from the shadows. The apple that Marshal had just sank his teeth into was immediately forgotten and dropped to the ground, an army of ants swarming its crisp flesh.
“My Lord, you bless me with your presence.” Marshal's eye were cast firmly to the ground, wishing to look upon the face of her Savior but knowing it was not his place.
“I ask you again, does the Wanderer die today?” The Cold Man's tone mildly irritated in having to repeat himself.
“At noon today his neck will be rung and life was be extinguished from his eyes.”
“I can not stress enough how important his death is. His kind do not believe in progress and innovation, if he is left alive he will continue to be a thorn in our side.” A grim darkness overcame the Cold Man's voice before warming his tone slightly, “But I have nothing to fear. You, Marshal, one of my most faithful acolytes will not fail me. Once this man is executed I will shower you with endless bounty. Money, power, women, or men. Anything that your heart desires will be yours and you will be my Champion.” The darkness washed over his voice again, “Do not fail me.” With a stiff wind the Cold Man was gone just as quick as he had arrived.
Across the town of Hamilton inside his stonewalled cell, Abishai was still awake. At some point in the night he had attempted to close his eyes and get some sleep but it never came to pass. It had taken several hours after his meeting with Light-bringer but he had finally narrowed down what forces were consuming the town and could also be responsible for the kidnapping of the Nun. One of the Six.
He hoped he was wrong.
In all the years Abishai had spent following the orders of the Heavenly Host, never had he contended with a member of the Six. The Six were the first fallen beings, the originally evil in the Cosmos. In several of the books that Abishai had read stated they were God's greatest failure. They harbored a hatred for Humanity and all of creation that existed after them. God had bestowed onto them great powers of creation and heavenly magic in order to aid in his creation of everything. They had taken these powers and corrupted them for their own ideas.
If it was truly the Six that Abishai was facing in the plains of Kansas this would be the hardest task he had ever been given. Before, he could even begin to craft a plan for eliminating the Elder Beings he had a more pressing matter. How was he to survive his scheduled execution? As if to bring back he specter of death that hung over him, the door at the end of the hall and he could hear boots clobbering down the hallway.
“Good morning Mr. Aebi. Traditionally I would offer you a final meal or maybe a prayer to seal your path after death, however this is an expedited execution and as the law Judge of this here town special circumstances must be taken do to the severity of your crimes. You will receive the normal rations of any other prisoner in this jail. A heel of bread and water for breakfast.” Marshal slid the plate of food across the stone floor, the metal plate scrapping. “Enjoy your last meal.”
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'Bastard.' thought Abishai as he heard the clacking of Marshal's boots out into the distance. Even just those meager rations would have given him some strength, however he was still strapped to the bed and unable to reach the crusty heel of bread. Inside the cell it was impossible to know what time it was, he assumed it had to be morning if Marshal was there. One hour closer to the gallows, one hour closer to do or die. With that thought Abishai Aebi, Hospitaller for the Holy See, finally fell asleep.
At ten minutes to noon Abishai was pulled out of the bed and placed in shackles and manacles and walked out of the jail. In the middle of town a makeshift gallows had been erected and a large crowd was already gathered. The crowd looked hungry to witness the hanging, it had been too long since they had had a good hanging. The accused was an outsider that made it easier for them to wish to see him dead. Still despite their thirst for violence they all were silent when he was walked through the crowd to the gallows.
“Citizens of Hamilton! I stand here today as your Sheriff and Marshal, my job is to maintain the order and justice of these United States. There comes a time in every lawman's life when he must make a the difficult choice, the choice to take the life of his fellow man. That is the crossroads I find myself at today. This man, Abishai Aebi, has been found guilty of the crime of murder! I personally witnessed him taking the life of respected Deputy Sheriff, Mathis O'Donnell!” Abishai had to give Marshal credit, he knew how to work a crowd, his voice came out like he was a street preacher delivering a sermon.
The crowed jeered at Abishai as he was vilified in front of them. “He came into our quiet town and brought with him death and destruction. For his crimes and his ruination he must pay, however we are a just society. All those who believe that this man should pay the price for him crimes let your voices be heard.”
A mighty chorus of “Aye” rose from the amassed crowd, to Abishai's quick glance it appeared the crowd grew tenfold in just a few moments. “Does anyone oppose Justice!?” Marshal's voice was on a teeter.
“I oppose.” A female voice rose from the middle of the crowd, a small divide opened around her leaving her standing alone. She was an attractive young woman with a flash of red hair pilled high on her head, her ivory skin reflecting the sunlight. “I oppose the killing of this man.”
Marshal was not expecting this answer, he turned his head slightly to get a better look at this women, “We have an opposition! Tell us dear lady why should this murderer be allowed to live?”
“He saved my life. Yesterday he did. My families farm was attacked. My mother and father were killed right in front of my eyes and I was kidnapped. I was tied up like a piece of livestock and thrown on the back of a horse and taken away. After sometime my kidnapper needed to relieve himself and pulled off the road and into a small glade. I began screaming for help, I was scared and begged God to send anyone to save me. As if by some miracle this stranger approached us, rifle raised. I saw my kidnapper fire his gun time and time again at this stranger, no bullet landed on him. It only took the stranger one shot to kill that monster and rescue me. He left me with supplies and a horse and a new lease on life. That stranger is this man who you accuse of being a fiend. He is the reason I am here today, he is a hero.” The young woman's voice was clear and precise, delicate yet powerful.
In a proper town, with a proper Judge and a proper jury her words would have carried their weight in gold. Hamilton did not have any of those things. “So you mean to tell me that the killing of our fine Deputy was not his first killing? That this man is a serial killer? Miss, I thank you for this new information. It has made this decision easier and has taken much suffering off of my concision. Abishai Aebi, this jury of your peers have found you guilty of the accused crimes. On this day in the sight of the Sun and Man you will be hung by the neck until dead. Does the accused have any last words?”
Taking a deep breath, the fresh air filling his lungs causing little electric pulses to travel from head to toe. “My name is Abishai Aebi, I am a servant of the one true Heavenly Host. I can feel the evil that has taken over this town, I speak to that evil directly. Killing me will not end this war, there are many more like me. I am the first of many, you will not win.” These words caused the towns people to all share a look of confusion, the words meant something to them but they were unsure of what they meant.
Marshal once again took to his invisible pulpit, “Listen to how the caged animal attacks. This mad man speaks of 'Evil' and 'Heaven' but says nothing of his own crimes! Let us remove this blight from society!” Marshal pulled the noose over top of Abishai's head and whispered in his ear, “We have already won, this is just for fun.”
Abishai was walked forward over the unsteady trap door. He began silently praying to the Heavens for their help. Before closing his eyes he looked over as Marshal grabbed the lever, a wicked smile spread across chapped and bleeding lips.
