Three Banshees (Part 8)
A slight cold wind begins to scatter the ashes
a howl pierces the dungeon ear lashing
three small orbs of dark green materialize
expanding into shapes of horror
sense of demise
tall and thin the apparitions
present in cloaks with hoods worn
faces like lumps of coal slightly blurred
they chant in unison
"Oh ye who hast chosen to reap men
what right have you to make that decision?
for they had also saved lives
days gone by
A kindness to young children
and gifted tender moments
other situations you did not see
pathways and possibilities
beyond your lack of imagination
your rage was motivation
feeling righteous indignation
which sin did they commit
allows for judgement false or true
is not conscious experience more than 1 or 2?
you think of beings in a moment of hatred
your beliefs decide what's sacred
not your decision too irate
their lives only gods create
you think yourself an instrument
cannot justify this action
ending their sentience
what if your perceptions
caused the same vengeance
another one makes such judgements
this one just or some vile thing?
where will it end from who life brings?
only the gods bring life or free
branching of the sacred oak tree"
I demand the creatures hear now
their oppression speaks for itself
where the protection for their village and lives?
essence of liberty imbibed
to keep one's own produce and mind
the atrocities committed against them
men treated worse than pigs
If the protectors become the actors
cruelties and extraction
only those who can resist
save them from evil trysts
free them from the grips
should none protect the innocent and weak?
Kiara leans against a wall
puts on a smirk but won't speak
seems to not give a dirk or freak
bored of this conversation
she wants to move on
the beings began to shine ever brighter
wretched sounds and shocking emissions
they shout at our presence
"You who can only see your puny way
limited vision
slivers of delusion blame
assume too much within your frame
those actions done to prevent harm
acceptable for the ways of man
create fair systems
where the rules apply
to all humans
enforced equally by protectors
when these systems falter
become corrupted
oil in clear water
it is as you say
the people must resist and blame
power must be retained
to prevent harm now
and in the future
if ones ability to restrain is great
then death re-allocate
any actions done from emotion
are not just or fair to throngs of men
one must prevent harm
and maintain the life of men
recognizing each is unique
darkness a gradient
so too is light
do not act from malice or fear
only toward future well-being
draw near
yet you made this decision
your cursed action of human weakness
brings on you this consequence!"
One of the terrible creatures raises a gauntleted arm
points a finger directly at me
I cast a defensive ward in haste
a bolt of light green chaotic energy ziggs forth
blasts through the shield powerful force
zapping concentrated into my eye
it begins to liquefy
until it no longer remains
a piercing stabbing throbbing pain
I yell out and lean
pressing my hand on a stone block
Kiara dashes over
catches my arm
holds me up and inspects the wound
vision begins to return
"Your eye it's gone!"
Kiara gasps in horror
ghostly orb begins to form
socket where my eye was born
a hovering balanced sphere of plasma
emitting a light like burning sulfur
see now in different hue
vision impaired anew
suddenly gripped by a harsh pain
an intense crippling sadness pervades
worse than any melancholy
drops me to my knees
I cannot hold back the weep
Kiara holds me tenderly
hugs my shoulder
I curl up and whimper
struck dumb
an insight gained transforms
longing for a baseline state
some time long before
innocence and lore
slowly pick myself up
no more distraught contention
arduous emotional feats and lessons
Kiara looks my way
recognizing the pain
the smirk returns
we make our way again.