40th Ymiden, Arc 718
It had been a week since he was informed that the date of his execution would be the 43rd of Ymiden, seven trials was all he had been given to prepare. After five years of waiting the time had finally come and some how Lucas had slept the night before like a baby. Maybe it was the feeling of closure, realising he didn't have to fight any more. Maybe it was because he would finally be leaving this place, even if it was in a coffin. Still he slept now, into the early hours of the morning until he was roused by the sound of a lock being opened.
Snapping awake Lucas turned his head up and looked towards the somewhat bewildered looking guard at the door to his cell. He looked then to the small window, the sun wasn't even up yet, they must have been early. It didn't even cross his mind to protest, he had come to terms with his fate and as he began to dress he looked at the guard who seemed to be struggling to speak.
"It is okay, I know what I did, my time has come." Lucas toyed with the old rag of a shirt in his hands and let out a half smile. Reaching under his bed he took out his alcohol, he supposed there was no need to hide it now. He took a long swig and offered it to the guard. "I wish I was going out with better drinks and nicer clothes though." The guard shook his head and looked between the jug and Lucas. He was clearly thinking something but he wasn't sure how to say it and so he just held out the letter to the inmate. Shrugging he took it and began to read his eyes widening slightly in surprise.
Dear Warden Archibald Stormlight,
The Prisoner Lucas Nardovino is here by free and able to depart the Prison following the arrival of this letter. He is exempt of all charges against him and his bail has been posted, no more punishment is to be inflicted upon this free man and any that is will be met with consequences. I thank you for your service as Warden of the Prison and all your guards for their service out there in the Stormwastes.
Yours Sincerely
Lite Ninngnite
Lucas looked at the guard with shock in his features. "Is this real, this is not a trick?" The guard nodded in confirmation of its authenticity and the inmate shook his head unsure what to say. He had been preparing mentally for days to lose his life and now he was free, released by a stranger. Tucking the letter into his trousers Lucas pulled his shirt on over his body with haste took another gulp of alcohol in celebration and stood ready to go. Everything he owned was on his back body, he supposed it made life easier that way.
He followed the guard through the silent sleeping prison amazed at how quiet it was before the prisoners were woken up for the day. It was crazy to be where he was now, leaving the prison that had been his home for five years. It had always been a pipe dream, something he didn't believe in with all his heart but now it was happening and he felt uneasy. Lucas had made daunting promises to himself of what he would do if he ever got out and now they were going to be possible he wasn't sure he could achieve them. Just because his father had been a knight and he'd found faith did not mean he had what it takes.
It was one thing to fight people in prison to protect the weak and innocent, of which judging Lucas had grown quite talented. You knew you were fighting convicted criminals who still sort to cause trouble but out in Rharne it was harder. How could he tell if he was fighting good or bad, how did he know if he was good or not. A silent prayer escaped him as he struggled to fully understand how he had lost belief in himself so quickly.
Now was his chance, his opportunity to right his wrongs and he was afraid. The guard in front of him still seemed amazed at the events unfolding and there was no doubt in Lucas' mind that the guards had been looking forward to his death but now they were going to be sorely disappointed. "Who is Lite Ninngnite?" Even as he said it he frowned it was familiar the movement of his mouth and it sprung out to him the more he thought about it. "I don't know Lucas." The guard admitted.
Lite...lightning Knight. Lucas shook his head and fought not to laugh, was this a joke after all or had they really thought that clever. He supposed they could not be seen advocating the release of a convicted murderer but still it was somewhat obvious. Perhaps they had done so to make sure Lucas understood and he did and it sent more fear into him, maybe Ilaren really had been listening this whole time.
Suddenly the now free man felt an enormous amount of pressure on his shoulders, in here he had no responsibility. Now he was being pulled towards a life of service and while it was what he wanted, it frightened him more than he could explain. His whole life he had run from the Knights, broken the law and caused trouble and in prison he had done that too. The rules in prison he had broken for good yes but still to be lawful and swear himself to an order that would have killed him not long ago was hard to think about. This looked like he was losing his faith but he wasn't he still wanted it he just had to find the courage to do it and whether that would be the first trial he was out or seasons later, one trial he would find the strength to overcome his doubt.
They reached the gate he had not seen for over five years, the main entrance he had come into all those arcs ago. Lucas barely recognised it but he could feel the breeze coming under it. He was almost out and free, almost in the real world once again and he pinched himself sure he must have been dreaming. Alas there he stood, watching the gate open and reveal the carriage there awaiting him.
Lucas headed out and climbed onto the back looking up at a window he could see the warden watching him, he didn't look too happy. Although with all the trouble Lucas had caused he would haver thought the man glad to see him going but maybe he had wanted him dead more than anything else. Still Lucas raised a hand to him and not even so much in a way of tease but with a sort of sincerity. This place had changed him, made him a new man and he was probably one of the rare truly rehabilitated criminals. He was also one of the few survivors but that wasn't as surprising as his true change.
He felt the carriage start to move, it was an unfamiliar feeling. It must have been over a decade since he last felt the motion, he really was out and whether he was really ready or not did not matter because he was out and he would have to be. The time had arrived and he needed to prove himself, he needed to show his release was for something more than to drown away his sorrows alone on a stool somewhere.
It was a long journey through the desolate landscape and there wasn't much to see for the most part, just dead and dying land tortured by the past that had forsaken it. At times he imagined the wars that had raged on the soil, the memories that must have been locked in the ground forever and the dead future it held. The war with Faldrun had devastated the land much as the gangs had destroyed Lucas' life, he had undergone his own war and lost. However, like this land he was still there and he could change, maybe one day that would hold true for the stormwastes too.
Fire and lightning had met here and he could see how it had changed the land, lightning had effected him in the way of Ilaren and now he was changing. The fire, now that came from the burn of the booze he consumed in worship and to ignore his personal pains. Change could be seen all around and he was ready to complete his transition.
He could have thought about it for hours more but alas the fort at the edge of the stormwastes came into sight and the driver told him this was where he would be getting dropped off. From there he would have to make his way to Rharne by himself, which seemed a little harsh but the man was a prison guard. It would have been unrealistic for him to go all the way to the main city so Lucas allowed himself to be dropped off there. He was getting close, he could almost smell the Rharne air soon he would be home.
It had been a week since he was informed that the date of his execution would be the 43rd of Ymiden, seven trials was all he had been given to prepare. After five years of waiting the time had finally come and some how Lucas had slept the night before like a baby. Maybe it was the feeling of closure, realising he didn't have to fight any more. Maybe it was because he would finally be leaving this place, even if it was in a coffin. Still he slept now, into the early hours of the morning until he was roused by the sound of a lock being opened.
Snapping awake Lucas turned his head up and looked towards the somewhat bewildered looking guard at the door to his cell. He looked then to the small window, the sun wasn't even up yet, they must have been early. It didn't even cross his mind to protest, he had come to terms with his fate and as he began to dress he looked at the guard who seemed to be struggling to speak.
"It is okay, I know what I did, my time has come." Lucas toyed with the old rag of a shirt in his hands and let out a half smile. Reaching under his bed he took out his alcohol, he supposed there was no need to hide it now. He took a long swig and offered it to the guard. "I wish I was going out with better drinks and nicer clothes though." The guard shook his head and looked between the jug and Lucas. He was clearly thinking something but he wasn't sure how to say it and so he just held out the letter to the inmate. Shrugging he took it and began to read his eyes widening slightly in surprise.
Dear Warden Archibald Stormlight,
The Prisoner Lucas Nardovino is here by free and able to depart the Prison following the arrival of this letter. He is exempt of all charges against him and his bail has been posted, no more punishment is to be inflicted upon this free man and any that is will be met with consequences. I thank you for your service as Warden of the Prison and all your guards for their service out there in the Stormwastes.
Yours Sincerely
Lite Ninngnite
Lucas looked at the guard with shock in his features. "Is this real, this is not a trick?" The guard nodded in confirmation of its authenticity and the inmate shook his head unsure what to say. He had been preparing mentally for days to lose his life and now he was free, released by a stranger. Tucking the letter into his trousers Lucas pulled his shirt on over his body with haste took another gulp of alcohol in celebration and stood ready to go. Everything he owned was on his back body, he supposed it made life easier that way.
He followed the guard through the silent sleeping prison amazed at how quiet it was before the prisoners were woken up for the day. It was crazy to be where he was now, leaving the prison that had been his home for five years. It had always been a pipe dream, something he didn't believe in with all his heart but now it was happening and he felt uneasy. Lucas had made daunting promises to himself of what he would do if he ever got out and now they were going to be possible he wasn't sure he could achieve them. Just because his father had been a knight and he'd found faith did not mean he had what it takes.
It was one thing to fight people in prison to protect the weak and innocent, of which judging Lucas had grown quite talented. You knew you were fighting convicted criminals who still sort to cause trouble but out in Rharne it was harder. How could he tell if he was fighting good or bad, how did he know if he was good or not. A silent prayer escaped him as he struggled to fully understand how he had lost belief in himself so quickly.
Now was his chance, his opportunity to right his wrongs and he was afraid. The guard in front of him still seemed amazed at the events unfolding and there was no doubt in Lucas' mind that the guards had been looking forward to his death but now they were going to be sorely disappointed. "Who is Lite Ninngnite?" Even as he said it he frowned it was familiar the movement of his mouth and it sprung out to him the more he thought about it. "I don't know Lucas." The guard admitted.
Lite...lightning Knight. Lucas shook his head and fought not to laugh, was this a joke after all or had they really thought that clever. He supposed they could not be seen advocating the release of a convicted murderer but still it was somewhat obvious. Perhaps they had done so to make sure Lucas understood and he did and it sent more fear into him, maybe Ilaren really had been listening this whole time.
Suddenly the now free man felt an enormous amount of pressure on his shoulders, in here he had no responsibility. Now he was being pulled towards a life of service and while it was what he wanted, it frightened him more than he could explain. His whole life he had run from the Knights, broken the law and caused trouble and in prison he had done that too. The rules in prison he had broken for good yes but still to be lawful and swear himself to an order that would have killed him not long ago was hard to think about. This looked like he was losing his faith but he wasn't he still wanted it he just had to find the courage to do it and whether that would be the first trial he was out or seasons later, one trial he would find the strength to overcome his doubt.
They reached the gate he had not seen for over five years, the main entrance he had come into all those arcs ago. Lucas barely recognised it but he could feel the breeze coming under it. He was almost out and free, almost in the real world once again and he pinched himself sure he must have been dreaming. Alas there he stood, watching the gate open and reveal the carriage there awaiting him.
Lucas headed out and climbed onto the back looking up at a window he could see the warden watching him, he didn't look too happy. Although with all the trouble Lucas had caused he would haver thought the man glad to see him going but maybe he had wanted him dead more than anything else. Still Lucas raised a hand to him and not even so much in a way of tease but with a sort of sincerity. This place had changed him, made him a new man and he was probably one of the rare truly rehabilitated criminals. He was also one of the few survivors but that wasn't as surprising as his true change.
He felt the carriage start to move, it was an unfamiliar feeling. It must have been over a decade since he last felt the motion, he really was out and whether he was really ready or not did not matter because he was out and he would have to be. The time had arrived and he needed to prove himself, he needed to show his release was for something more than to drown away his sorrows alone on a stool somewhere.
It was a long journey through the desolate landscape and there wasn't much to see for the most part, just dead and dying land tortured by the past that had forsaken it. At times he imagined the wars that had raged on the soil, the memories that must have been locked in the ground forever and the dead future it held. The war with Faldrun had devastated the land much as the gangs had destroyed Lucas' life, he had undergone his own war and lost. However, like this land he was still there and he could change, maybe one day that would hold true for the stormwastes too.
Fire and lightning had met here and he could see how it had changed the land, lightning had effected him in the way of Ilaren and now he was changing. The fire, now that came from the burn of the booze he consumed in worship and to ignore his personal pains. Change could be seen all around and he was ready to complete his transition.
He could have thought about it for hours more but alas the fort at the edge of the stormwastes came into sight and the driver told him this was where he would be getting dropped off. From there he would have to make his way to Rharne by himself, which seemed a little harsh but the man was a prison guard. It would have been unrealistic for him to go all the way to the main city so Lucas allowed himself to be dropped off there. He was getting close, he could almost smell the Rharne air soon he would be home.
