This was not how a story should end, Jigano thought grimly. He was a bard - he knew stories, and this was unacceptable. And if it wasn't a story, well, their problems couldn't exactly get any worse, now could they? He snorted, trembling with rage and momentarily standing still, watching Samuel be dragged and pushed towards the cauldron. His captors were wary after his earlier fight, not relaxing their grips. But others were caught by the spectacle...
The King and Vizier leaned closer, obscenely eager for Samuel to be pushed into the pot. Indeed, only the heat kept them at bay, and then only barely. Behind them the firebird wept, the silver strands of the net beginning to glow red again in her agitation.
And the feather in Jigano's mane burned with her.
Startled, he shook frantically, dancing on all four hooves as he sought to dislodge the feather. It slid down white tresses, brushing over the ropes around his neck before dropping to the ground.
And the seared ropes-- snapped.
As the tension released and the guards fell back in two piles Jigano reared and snorted ferociously, hooves pawing the air in warning to keep any other enterprising soldiers away. Courtiers ringed the edges of the room, but the way to the cauldron was clear and, hooves slipping a bit on the stone, the horse lunged for it with wicked purpose.
The humans in the room had only just begun to react, cries and screams of alarm ringing out. The King and Vizier had looked up, startled and confused as their fun was interrupted but not yet afraid.
By the time they realized what Jigano intended it was far too late.
The stallion skidded into a turn, hindquarters dropping as they swing around. His feet scrabbled to find purchase, but the moment he had his balance he kicked with those powerful back hooves up and out, catching the rim of the cauldron. Heavy iron it was, and filled with water. It shouldn't have done more than splash a little over the side--
But one of the chains holding it to the tripod snapped, rusted through after so many years of wrongful executions. The cauldron teetered for one eternal second, and then Jigano neighed with the strain and gave a final push. Hot water cascaded over the side as the cauldron tipped over, catching the King and the Vizier as they tried too late to run. The King yanked on the Vizier's coat, and as he fell the Vizier snatched at the King's leg, tripping him as well. Both screamed in agony as the boiling water inundated them - and then were silenced as the hot iron cauldron rolled on top of them.
Samuel was left standing alone on the platform, the guards rushing to find something to tip the cauldron off their (almost certainly former) King. And as for the firebird...
She, too, had been doused by the water and trapped beneath scorching iron.
For a moment all was still and silent except for the sounds of a horse breathing heavily, a fire hissing its dismay at being doused, and the trickle of water over the flagstones.
The King and Vizier leaned closer, obscenely eager for Samuel to be pushed into the pot. Indeed, only the heat kept them at bay, and then only barely. Behind them the firebird wept, the silver strands of the net beginning to glow red again in her agitation.
And the feather in Jigano's mane burned with her.
Startled, he shook frantically, dancing on all four hooves as he sought to dislodge the feather. It slid down white tresses, brushing over the ropes around his neck before dropping to the ground.
And the seared ropes-- snapped.
As the tension released and the guards fell back in two piles Jigano reared and snorted ferociously, hooves pawing the air in warning to keep any other enterprising soldiers away. Courtiers ringed the edges of the room, but the way to the cauldron was clear and, hooves slipping a bit on the stone, the horse lunged for it with wicked purpose.
The humans in the room had only just begun to react, cries and screams of alarm ringing out. The King and Vizier had looked up, startled and confused as their fun was interrupted but not yet afraid.
By the time they realized what Jigano intended it was far too late.
The stallion skidded into a turn, hindquarters dropping as they swing around. His feet scrabbled to find purchase, but the moment he had his balance he kicked with those powerful back hooves up and out, catching the rim of the cauldron. Heavy iron it was, and filled with water. It shouldn't have done more than splash a little over the side--
But one of the chains holding it to the tripod snapped, rusted through after so many years of wrongful executions. The cauldron teetered for one eternal second, and then Jigano neighed with the strain and gave a final push. Hot water cascaded over the side as the cauldron tipped over, catching the King and the Vizier as they tried too late to run. The King yanked on the Vizier's coat, and as he fell the Vizier snatched at the King's leg, tripping him as well. Both screamed in agony as the boiling water inundated them - and then were silenced as the hot iron cauldron rolled on top of them.
Samuel was left standing alone on the platform, the guards rushing to find something to tip the cauldron off their (almost certainly former) King. And as for the firebird...
She, too, had been doused by the water and trapped beneath scorching iron.
For a moment all was still and silent except for the sounds of a horse breathing heavily, a fire hissing its dismay at being doused, and the trickle of water over the flagstones.
