Warm welcoming Jaws (kasmir crisis finale part 1)
Meridia walked down the long hallway towards her inevitable fate; her failure was made evident with her report the queen had escaped and had likely already succeeded and gathered allies to her cause, making things much worse for the Dawi zarr position in Kasmirstan. It was certainly another problem for The ashen Lords especially when they are already dealing with the trouble in the south.
So she makes no protest in her punishment, no attempt to beg, no attempt to flee from her upcoming humiliation. She had failed in her duties and hashut does not tolerate failure.
“Meridia ironburn” They were using her old name.
“For your failure and capturing the queen and damaging the hammer of geas. You have been arrayed here today” a rancorous bloodthirsty cheer erupts from the assembled crowd of Dawi zarr all gathered here today to see an upstart suffer. In fact the amphitheater is so full that the dwarves are forced to stand.
“You have failed in your essential duty and defied the council of sorcerer Kings with your inability to fulfill the task they have given you despite your prestigious position you have recently demonstrated that perhaps the uplifting of your status was a mistake. That you do not belong here, but your ambition in crippling the dwarven Colossus and bringing us valuable information about our foes allows for you to not be made to be put in a more fitting position. No You still have use. But You must be reminded that being useful requires being effective therefore you will be flogged and branded.”
Meridia said nothing This wasn't a trial but a ritual and humiliation There was no point in speaking instead she stared straight ahead at the faces of those who wished her to suffer even as a powerful blow to the back of her knee brought her to the ground even as the guards grabbed her hair and dragged her towards a post slamming her head against it with enough force that it drew blood before grabbing her arms and tying them to the post. She said nothing as the back of her shirt was ripped away. Instead just pressing herself against the post to maintain her decency.
She was silent as the branding iron was heated, not even screaming as it was pressed into her back between her shoulder blades though she did squirm but she would not dignify them with a scream. So She was silent, staring forward, enduring the whip biting into her back. With each lash. 1 2 3
She endures like she always has silent in her defiance. 15 16 17
Always staring forward looking down on her the tractors biting her lip even as she felt the blood trickle down her back 78 79 80 finally after the 130th lash. Meridia's cut down as the crowd waits for her to pathetically crawl away but instead she surprises them despite her punishment she wills herself to stand and limp away from public view. She was not broken that easily
The heelers eyes fluttered open allowing her to take in the site of the rather posh room She found herself in as well as the figure in front of her a young woman with long black hair and brown eyes wearing a bull horn like crown and Dawi zarr garb. Immediately she goes on offensive against her captor bearing her claws and charging forward only to be shocked down to the ground by the collar fitted around her neck.
“Careful now That thing is linked to me if You try to hurt me it'll hurt you to If you succeed…well. Also means you can't leave this section of the ship without triggering an alarm…normally that would also kill you but” Meridia begins
“Oh how kind my captor is” The healer says folding her arms.
“Look I don't need you to like me you can loathe me like everyone else but I do need you to listen…My name is Meridia Care to tell me yours.”
The healer does not reply.
“The silent treatment fair people only listen to me until after i surpassed my ex..”
Meridia winces and she sits down interrupting her words.
“You're hurt” the healer says with a surprising amount of concern.
“Yeah what off it why do you care”
“Because being worried when others are hurt is what you're supposed to do…it's nice”
Meridia laughs
“Nice! What a lovely single worded lie people are only nice because it benefits them the only pretend to care so They can advance their own objectives” Meridia replies
“Not everyone” the healer says “... Though I guess you wouldn't get that” The healer retorts
“Oh fuck you, You people are all so deluded by your delusions of pleasantness.”
“And you aren't under a delusion of pain” with that Meridia false silent.
“Can you turn around? I want to heal your back?”The healer asks
“Absolutely not You're just trying to get me vulnerable so you can attack me while my back is turned". Meridia growls
“No it's to heal your wounds besides I couldn't hurt you even if I wanted to. You have seen to that”. Meridia says nothing and replies simply rolling over and lifting the back of her shirt up. Which causes the healer to cover her mouth and surprise.
“Who did this to you.” They ask
“Who do you think The Ash council does not take failure lightly” Meridia answers.
“... Your own people did this to you…I don't understand why don't you”
“Leave is what you were going to say. This is what they do to me to failure. Imagine what they do for things like actual betrayal besides…Even if I was successful where would I go…even if I wanted to change No one would let me" Meridia's voice trails off with a hint of sadness. Before her train of thought is interrupted by an iron kin bringing her a message The resupply convoy was on the move.
Which meant that the time to put her plan into action and end the siege upon her ship was approaching. She wasn't going to rush though best to be healed and fully armored before taking to the field of battle. When she is Meridia strides to the bridge The imposing form of her steam armor dwarfing all of the other staff there. Helmet hiding her face says nothing about what transpired. Though she is sure that they know about the punishment that was doled out to her She waits lingering on the silence exhibiting some control that was denied to her before finally ordering.
“Proceed to our rendezvous point and keep our surprise charged. Tonight we shatter the delusions of our prey that they are The hunters”
Art:https://www.indiedb.com/members/timmon26/images/vimana