The Echoes of Remembrance story close Options

[DavidFisher]

Arthur Herring sat quietly in his cell, manacled in chains woven with rites to subdue any supernatural power.

Strange feelings swirled around his head - relief that it was over mostly. Deep down Arthur understood the need for mercenaries, for the stability and protection they brought. He also understood his plans had always been flawed and endangered the ordinary population but he had needed to do something... anything to draw attention to the evolving nature of the mercenary income streams and the threat this brought to ordinary hard working people of the land.

He had really liked the group that had stood against him - resolute and clever, they had worked hard as a team to unwind his plans. He was glad they had won and he had not killed any of them personally, although the deaths of 17 mercenaries over the last 3 months was not something he could hide from.

What would become of him, he wondered - not an outlaw, unsure of which laws he had actually broken... his church of the Grull was not on Primus, plans had not manifest to the point where the various departments had taken interest. All the imperials really had was the far-fetched writing of a potential future as scribed by Hive and his unwavering intention to start again if released.

Unseen, in the shadows of his cell, a darkness detached itself and moved to behind Arthur. The blow was sudden and deadly, almost decapitating him. a gem was placed upon the corpse and soul extracted and obliterated, then the body was turned to dust and even that eradicated. The shadow formed from etheric into something of substance, taking a physical form - that of Arthur Herring and slipped on the manacles, replacing Arthur with no one wise to the deed.

Only one person received news of this outcome, the merchant king that had ordered the hit. There would be no rehabilitation for Arthur, no opportunity for him to gain freedom and start again. The man had cost the king grulls, and that was unforgiveable. A king does not keep his crown by letting threats go unanswered. No one would ever know - whether killed by the nobles, left in prison or set free, the fake Arthur would disappear into obscurity, never to be heard of again and the real one was dead forever. A fitting end to one that would threaten the flow of commerce.