As Thael traipsed through the village, he saw none of its denizens. No washerwomen, no scruffy old men sneering upon their rocking chairs, puffing their wooden pipes over their porches. No one to be found. It was silent, but for the pine trees rustling in the wind. Ahead Thael saw the cabin, the same as it ever was, except the door was ajar, creaking in the breeze.

He entered the house. The door to the bedroom had been smashed down. Kuhien’s bare pale body hung from a rafter by a noose. There was a certain acceptance in her expression, as if the world had just gone about its natural tendencies and proven Thael right. Her nails were bloodied, some torn. She had fought till the end.

The corpse stench had not set in yet. She had been hanged this day.

His gaze went to the wall, where a crate had been moved away, revealing an alcove just large enough for Hiro to stand inside. The boy stared up at him. He did not shy away, merely blinked as Thael stood before him. His eyes were different now. They were lost and cold. He carried Hiro out of the house saying, “Do you feel that coldness inside you, Hiro? You hold onto that coldness now. You never forget, and never forgive. For that coldness will serve you well, and make sure you never let it go.”

He felt unseen eyes watch them as he left the village and they made their way up to the keep. It was a cool morning, the sky white and peaceful.

When he reached the gate, a guard shook his head. “You know the decrees.”

Thael replied, “He shall be an initiate.”

The guard peered at the boy. Hiro stared back with his blank stare. The man mumbled a prayer and motioned them onwards.

When they reached the Body, the initiates, dressed in white tunics, pants and shoes were already sparring. Mentor Ferald, clad in a grey robe, stood between them as the children grappled, kicked or punched another into submission. He frowned at Thael’s approach, his hands clasped behind him. The children all halted at Thael’s appearance.

“So this is your son, Thael?” his flinty stare focused quizzically onto Hiro. “Ah yes, he has your eyes.”

Thael set his son down. “His name is Hiro. He is to be initiated.”

“Come here, Hiro.” The boy walked to face the mentor. “Hold out your hands.”

Ferald struck his palms with a switch. Hiro cried out. Thael turned away.

Your first lesson is pain. Let it wash away everything else…

Thael made his way to his cadre’s quarters where Verena was waiting for him. She stood as he entered. “Whatever you plan on doing, I will help.”

He donned his cloak, pulling up his hood before he said, “The only aid you can give is to stay out of my way.”

Verena’s grey eyes narrowed. “I know you brought your son to be initiated. I know what happened to his mother.”

Thael grabbed Verena by her throat, pressing her to the wall. "And how would you know of her?"

“Are you going to kill me, or the ones who killed her?”

He relaxed his grip. “We’ll need our weapons. If you try to stop me, I’ll kill you myself.”

The fires hissed in the pattering rain as it ate away at the house, black smoke twisting up into the sky.

They had started with her neighbors. He started with their tongues. Whose it was did not matter. Thael was no judge, he did not need to hear their claims, nor their children’s'. Verena took no part in their freeing, merely watched in silence, eyes betraying her fear. Once unable to utter a word a person was not able to lie, nor lie to themselves. He continued with their eyes. He did not take their children’s', a girl and boy staring and whimpering after their throats had grown hoarse from their tongueless screams. He did not leave them out of mercy. It was so that they would know, as Hiro did, no matter how many moments they had left to know.

He ended with the oil and fire, for when tied to a chair one could hardly escape such a fate. They wailed in the burning house now, shrieking with wordless howls.

More hurried to their aid.

Thael rose, drawing out his two shortswords, Verena in tow, her saber snicking free.

More screams soon followed.