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eBook Category: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy
eBook Description: Queen Lyksandias made her sister Faelittal her High Executioner. But there were several things about the way these executions were carried out that the queen didn't know.

eBook Publisher: Marion Zimmer Bradley Literary Works Trust, Published: Sword & Sorceress 7, 1990
Fictionwise Release Date: August 2009

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Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: eReader (PDB) [31 KB] , ePub (EPUB) [37 KB] , Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [14 KB] , Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [182 KB] , Palm Doc (PDB) [14 KB] , Microsoft Reader (LIT) [66 KB] , Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [84 KB] , hiebook (KML) [65 KB] , Sony Reader (LRF) [49 KB] , iSilo (PDB) [12 KB] , Mobipocket (PRC) [15 KB] , Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [48 KB] , OEBFF Format (IMP) [25 KB]
Words: 4185
Reading time: 11-16 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

"highly colored, really original and with a true sense of wonder."--Marion Zimmer Bradley

It was said that Faelittal the Executioner had neither a soul nor a living human heart. A soul had never been given to her, it was rumored, by the will of gods. And a heart--that fragile organ thought to be the seat of emotion--her heart, or any semblance of it, Faelittal had long since cracked in twain, splintered, and then ground the fragments to dust, ever since her sword had first cleaved, with exquisite precision, a human neck.

She would do this, cleave human flesh, without a single twitch of her pale sublime face, without a blink. They who witnessed executions, had the chance to observe this, for unlike any other executioner, the queen's sister looked into her victims' eyes and wore no mask.

Lyksandias, the queen, called for executions frequently. To her they were "things of love," the means by which people were taught the letter of the law, unhealthy displeasure was subjugated, and the vile canker-sores of different thinking were uprooted. The queen's rule was absolute, and those not yet aware of this fact were forced to taste the chilling mercy of her judgment. Lyksandias was stonelike thus, in her "love."

All manner of men and women were executed. Ordinary villains, freemen, those involved in trade were normally hung. The warrior class were shot by marksmen, or strangled with a silk cord. That same cord was offered to the more affluent women and upper class ladies--the latter also had the choice of poison.

The priesthood was allowed by the queen to burn heretics at the stake. There were, of course, numerous other means.

And then, there was the High Execution, either by great sword or ax, to be performed as the highest form of chastisement of traitors to the queen. Faelittal was the greatest practitioner of this very art.

Originally, the somber sister of the queen merely bore arms as a warrior in the service of the God of Defense, one of an elite honor guard, first instituted in deep antiquity. Once it had merely been ceremonial in nature, but at present, things were turbulent, and threats real enough to warrant the presence of a genuinely skilled guard elite.

But Faelittal rose above her already exalted rank. She was an ascending meteor, and a warrior's status was beneath her potential. Icily composed, placid in demeanor, and brilliant, Faelittal became the original High Executioner.

"My little loyal tigress-cub," the queen would say, with a fond yet secretly awed look, to her not so little younger sister. She, in turn, would look down at Lyksandias, columnlike, from her man's height and stature and reply: "I am yours to command, my Bright Sister, O Queen." And there would be a certain look in her eyes that was not there at other times.

Lyksandias had many lovers. In fact, this was one of the original reasons that the High Executioner's position came into being. It was some years ago that Faelittal had to slit the throat of a maddened young aristocrat who personally threatened the life of Lyksandias. He had achieved the fleeting rank of consort, but beneath it was planning treachery and the queen's overthrow. And Lyksandias decided to turn this into an example. The dead but still warm body was carried to a public scaffold where Faelittal, with flashing uncovered eyes, threw down her warrior's emblem, and instead, donned the ebony cloak of night and death. There was one difference to this cloak, however--a fine silver starburst graced its back, a symbol never previously seen.

The High Executioner's symbol it became. And on that day, with a long Shining blade, Faelittal executed the body of the traitor.

With time, other such occasions arose, and the queen's sister gained fame for her weird elegance and impassivity while dealing out death. Some went before her pleasing and crying, up to the very final stoke that cut their life. Others stood in dignity, and there were yet others that had to be carried up senseless, not able to fathom the horror and hopelessness of their positions. To all of these Faelittal showed only a blank oddly receptive face, not cruel, but never sympathetic--simply aware. It was at such times that a superstitious fear of her first occurred to the onlookers, for they could understand most other kinds of effect--pity, guilt, fear, even sadistic glee--but not this. And so, they concluded certain things, one of which was that she had no heart, was not really human

A female demon in human form.