The emperor stumbles along in the procession, his feet scared by the burning tortures of his conquerors, hardly able to keep pace with the relentless march. They’re traipsing through his old lands, on the way to the lands of former enemies, who he now feels a deep fear for. He knows what these pale men with red beards can do. They defeated his warriors, sacked his city, butchered his people, and they did not even do him the dignity of killing him. Now, on the road, they have all but forgotten him. He’s an awkward appendage. They can’t just make him a slave, but they also can’t give him any kind of recognition. Then, when it suits, the leader of the expedition is told the emperor is planning to kill him in retribution. The emperor doesn’t know about this. They hang him at the side of the road and leave him there.
Paddy Dobson
7th May 2024