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Jun. 6th, 2015 03:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
athelstanthescribeThey lower the cross as gently as they can, but there's still a jolt when it hits the ground. And then they start to pull the nails out of his hands and feet, and that hurts almost more than when they went in, and Athelstan screams, and they stop.
He feels a small bottle held to his lips, a bitter taste in his mouth, and he swallows. A few minutes later, they try again with the nails, but he no longer cares.
They load him onto a low cart and the bumpy ride from the field to King Ecbert's villa begins. When it's over, two or three pairs of hands lift him smoothly and carry him inside, laying him on a bed. Another dose of poppy juice is poured into his mouth, and he drinks it. And then he's left alone.
He lies there for some time, gathering his strength, the only thought in his mind of home. Surely, he thinks vaguely, they won't have posted guards on the door for a man on the edge of death, and who couldn't be expected to walk besides.
He forces himself up, gritting his teeth against the flares of pain even through the dulling effect of the juice, and step by agonising step, Athelstan makes it to the door.
He feels a small bottle held to his lips, a bitter taste in his mouth, and he swallows. A few minutes later, they try again with the nails, but he no longer cares.
They load him onto a low cart and the bumpy ride from the field to King Ecbert's villa begins. When it's over, two or three pairs of hands lift him smoothly and carry him inside, laying him on a bed. Another dose of poppy juice is poured into his mouth, and he drinks it. And then he's left alone.
He lies there for some time, gathering his strength, the only thought in his mind of home. Surely, he thinks vaguely, they won't have posted guards on the door for a man on the edge of death, and who couldn't be expected to walk besides.
He forces himself up, gritting his teeth against the flares of pain even through the dulling effect of the juice, and step by agonising step, Athelstan makes it to the door.
