Chapter 43
Blake, Puff and Tudor were standing on the plinth. Baylan and Alex were with them.
The two Generals and Dr Palmer were standing to one side, with Jason, Nick and Ashton. General Delinga was holding a whip.
A fire was already burning near the top of the wooden table for the surgeries.
Standing on both sides were gargoyles and dragon guards. The pack stood in front of them. Dane was wearing his crown in honour of the fallen.
Frederick and Jaxton dragged a yelling shaman into the middle and pushed him down onto his knees. They both took a step back.
The shaman looked around, his face going pale as he saw the post, gallows, table and fire.
A hush fell around the area. Not a sound could be heard except the crackling of the fire.
Blake looked at Ares and nodded before he stepped forward.
“Albion Warren, former shaman of the Hayes Pack. You are being charged with multiple murders and associating and helping the demon known as Barnabus. Because of your actions, people have died. Clara and Phil, Corporal Jackal Knight, Corporal Tommy Globe, Sergeant Earla Palmer, Sergeant Laural Cartwright, Corporal Travis Wainscot and Corporal Chance Challoner.”
“I didn’t have a choice, Barnabus made me do everything,” the shaman shouted.
Tudor stepped forward. “We can all smell the lies you are spouting you have brought shame to the paranormal world you have been marked as a traitor and murderer and you now have to face the consequences of your actions.”
Alex moved and placed his hand on Tudor’s back. Tudor took a breath.
Puff stepped forward. “It has been decided that you will be tied to the whipping post and the skin will be flayed off your back. You will then be taken to the gallows and hung by the neck until you are nearly dead.”
“No, you can’t do that,” the shaman shouted.
Puff ignored him and carried on. “You will then be cut down, castrated and disembowelled; your organs will be thrown into the fire.”
The shaman screamed and started crying.
“You will then be taken to the pond, your four limbs strapped to two boats; you will be covered in honey and left to the fish and birds, or indeed any animal to feast on you until you are dead,” Blake said. “This is the agreed-upon sentence for your heinous acts.”
The shaman managed to stand up, trembling. “You think you can kill me? Let me remind you, you pathetic wolf, I am a shaman.” He held his hands up and muttered, looking surprised when nothing happened.
“You didn’t think we would leave you with magic, did you?” Blake asked.
“What have you done? Did you, dragon child, do this to me?” he spat out at Puff.
Puff felt anger race through him.
Calm yourself, Puff. He wants to anger you so you will kill him quickly.
Got it, thanks Bob. Puff laughed, surprising more than one person. “Did you think that insulting me would make me kill you quicker?”
“Now who is the pathetic one?” Baylan asked him.
“Your magic was taken from you once you were in front of us,” Blake told him.
“No one is strong enough to take my magic,” he shouted.
Laughter was heard from those watching. "I think you’ll find that my brother is much more powerful than you could ever be,” Baylan said matter-of-factly.
Ares grinned at him. He walked forward and stood in front of the shaman. He was wearing a black suit with his godly armour over it and exuded power.
“Who are you?” the shaman asked fearfully.
Ares smirked. “I am Ares, God of War, and yes, I have much more magic and power than you. Indeed, so do my father, brothers, my son and uncles.” He waved his hand at his godly family who had arrived to watch the proceedings.
The shaman fell to the ground, tears running down his face. “I’m finished,” he said softly, but everyone still heard.
Ares patted his head. “Yes, you really are.” He nodded to Frederick and walked back to join his family.
“Gods, you were hot,” Jason said, looking back at his mate.
Ares laughed.
Ashton poked him in the side, making him jump. “Behave.”
Frederick and Jaxton grabbed an arm each and pulled him over to the whipping post.
The post was an ‘x’ shape, so each wrist was tied to a different post. His back faced everyone.
Once secure, Frederick and Jaxton moved out of the way.
Baylan clicked his fingers, and the shaman’s shirt vanished.
“Your sentence begins now,” Blake said, taking his crown off and handing it to Baylan. He rolled up his shirt sleeves and walked off the plinth.
General Delinga stepped forward and gave him the whip.
Blake nodded his thanks and stood behind the crying shaman. “You will be whipped seventy times,” Blake said. “Now brace yourself, as this is really going to hurt.”
“I’m going to die while you whip me just to spite you,” he spat out.
Han stepped forward and moved to stand in front of the shaman. “I can guarantee that will never happen.”
Blake nodded his thanks, waited for Han to rejoin the family, moved his arm back and started whipping him, the man screaming each time the whip connected, which was every time.
Puff stepped closer to Tudor and took his hand. Alex took his other hand, both of them offering Tudor strength.
Blake finished and passed the whip to Ashton, who, when finished, passed it to Jason; then Nick took the whip.
“This is for Clara and Phil, you piece of shit.” Each strike split more of his back, blood running from each slash.
By this time, the only thing holding him up was the bindings around his wrists.
Once finished, he passed the whip to General Gasgoyne. As he used all his strength to whip him, he spoke. “This is for my guards killed by your dream walkers. For Corporal Jackal Knight, Corporal Tommy Globe and Sergeant Earla Palmer.” He finished and passed the whip to General Delinga.
The General stepped forward and spoke by the shaman's ear, making sure he could be heard over the sobbing. “Now isn’t this better than a quick death?” he said in a deadly calm, cold voice.
He stepped back and started whipping him.
“This is for my guards killed by your dream walkers. For Corporal Travis Winscot, Corporal Chance Challoner and Sergeant Laural Cartwright.”
By the time the General had finished, not an inch of the shaman’s back remained unblemished, slash marks all bleeding. The blood ran down his back.
General Delinga blew out a breath and walked back to join the others.
Frederick and Jaxton cut him down and dragged the barely conscious man over to the gallows.
They passed him to Plog and Stanley, who dragged him up the steps of the gallows. Winnel tied the short noose around his neck. This noose was designed for a slow death, not a quick broken neck one.
Plog and Stanley let him go and moved out of the way. Winnel walked to the lever and pulled it.
The bottom fell open, and the shaman fell, his legs moving backwards and forward. His hands moved to the noose, but he couldn’t loosen it. His face slowly turning purple.
A few moments later, Plog used a sword to cut the rope, and Albion fell to the ground under the gallows, gasping for breath.
Frederick and Jaxton pulled the noose off his neck and dragged the still gasping man to the bench. They threw him on the bench on his back, making him scream in pain and tied his hands under the bench, then ripped his trousers off.
Dr Palmer walked forward and stood by his feet. “This is for all the pain you caused our fallen families, especially my daughter, Earla Palmer. You won’t be surprised to learn that no anaesthetic will be used.”
When Blake had asked Dr Palmer to carry out this part of the sentence, his first instinct was to say no; he was, after all, a doctor. But then, remembering the part the man played in his daughter’s and the other guards’ deaths, he agreed.
Firstly, he castrated him and threw his penis into the fire. He then cut his stomach open and pulled out his intestines, bowels and stomach, again throwing them into the fire. The smell as they burned was terrible.
The shaman screamed, albeit weakly, through the whole process. No one felt any sympathy for him, except Tudor.
Many of those watching crossed their legs or covered their crotch.
Puff squeezed Tudor’s hand. Not long now. He said to him.
Tudor looked pale and sad but nodded.
Alex lifted his hand again and kissed the back of it.
Atticus and Mateo were keeping an eye on Puff.
You holding up okay? Atticus asked him.
Puff looked over at them and gave a small nod. I guess.
We’ll both hug you when this is over. Mateo told him.
Perfect. Puff replied.
Blake was watching the shaman and was amazed the man was still conscious and breathing, although that was getting shallower, due to serious blood loss and the organ removal.
Blake was pretty sure it was thanks to Han that the shaman was still alive.
How long he lasted when he was tied to the boats was anyone’s guess.
Winnel and Plog lifted the table the shaman was still lying on and walked to the lake, a line of pack members and guards following. Blake, Puff and Tudor led the way, the mates following a step behind them.
They reached the edge of the lake and Winnal and Plog put the table down.
Zeus waved his hand, and the shaman was now tied between the two boats.
Alex used magic and covered him in honey and used his magic again to push the boats into the water.
Blake sighed. “Let’s leave him here; he can die alone.” Blake turned and looked at those gathered. “Thank you all for coming to witness this punishment and justice for our fallen.”
People started walking off in different directions.
“Let’s go,” Blake said, leading his pack and family away.