I'll wait here.

I leaned against a tree and watched at the fires grew ever higher and the roads began to echo with the thumping of shod feet. I held my dagger, flipping it idly, and I considered just ending it.

But, in the end, I wasn't that much of a coward. I may not have been a fighter, but I was a merchant's son; we took risks, and we didn't turn from adversity.

When the neighbors arrived they called out for someone to collect the militia, and when the militia arrived they came at me with long spears. They would have stabbed me if I tried any sort of aggression, but I wasn't interested in offering any. I was resigned for whatever came, and had been since I made my choice.

It felt good, honestly, being led to Barley, the nearest town, and judged by the village head. It felt clean, it felt like the first real decision I'd made in a long time. Rather than being pushed by the power in my blood, I had pushed back and maybe regained a glimmer of my humanity.

If nothing else, I did a good deed; I put an end to the monstrous Thag, and the monstrous Ikarus Vhalnich.

I was sentenced for ****, and ****, and ****, and I was brought to the gallows.

The last thing I heard was the snap, snap, snapping of the rope, the rope and my neck.