Here's the next chapter! Poor Zidane…

Three days later

Kalika traveled out back to Alexandria on horseback. Riding at a full gallop, she reached the tree Zidane was bound to within a couple of hours.

She could see Zidane, hanging limply. Perhaps he's dead…she thought, perhaps he died mercifully.

As she came closer, however, to her dismay she could see his chest heaving slightly. Just to be sure, she came over to him and touched her fingers to his pulse. Though weak, it was there. She drew a deep breath, for she knew that at dawn the guards had gone to tell Kylima.

Zidane was obviously tired. The soft, labored nature of his breath gave that he was still in agony. She touched his face, gently. His long eyelashes parted. He stared at her for a moment. She gently pulled back some of the hair that fell before his eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry, Zidane."

The thought sunk in. She had condemned him to die a death meant for a criminal! She looked back at Zidane, who was too weak to even raise his head on his own. She lifted his head to peer into his eyes. He looked hurt, and at the same time, untrusting. She didn't blame him. While she still had the time, she slipped in behind him and lifted his limp tail. He moaned softly, but said nothing.

Pulling some of the salve from her cloak, she rubbed it in her hands for a moment, before rubbing his tail down with it. He gave a soft whimper, which turned into a soft purr. Kalika smiled.

The sound of pounding hooves and shouts filled the air. Kalika gently let go of Zidane. Kylima galloped straight to the tree, before skidding to a stop and sliding off her horse. She stared at Zidane for a minute before smiling in a most cruel manner.

"Guards?" she asked the horsemen that had ridden in with her, "Take him to the stone table and have him prepared for death. I'll be there in a few hours' time."

Kalika looked at Kylima for a moment. A few hours' time would put the execution sometime in the evening, past dark.

The guards cut Zidane down from the tree. He fell limply to the ground; they picked him up and began to drag him off. Kalika watched quietly, saying nothing and holding her cool expressionless façade.

I0I0I0I0I

As Zidane was dragged off to the stone table, someone saw him. Blank noticed the procession, and (as curiosity was one of his weaknesses) went to see what the commotion was about. Upon closer investigation, he saw Zidane.

Zidane's alive! As he stared out towards the procession, Zidane didn't look very lively. He ran towards them, running solely on impulse until he reached the guards holding Zidane. He drew his sword.

"Stop!" He screamed, getting a good look at Zidane. He did not look good. He was limp in the guards' grasp and was bruised and bleeding all over. Zidane's tail was limp and covered in dried blood. Blank couldn't image what had happened to him.

"What the hell are you doing with him!" he screamed, looking on as they continued on their way. Blank ran in front of him, sword drawn. He repeated his question.

"What the hell are you doing with him!" The guards stopped, finally. Blank drew a deep breath to calm himself. "We're taking him to the stone table to be executed."

"What! What's the charge?" Blank demanded, staring at Zidane who was just barely breathing.

"There is no charge. It's an order." Blank growled.

"From who!" Surely not Garnet. She thinks he's dead, too.

"Empress KalmeKalika," the guard said. Blank shook his head.

"What authority does she have over Zidane?" he asked, wondering how on earth Zidane had gotten himself into this mess. Oh, Zidane… Blank thought in dismay, Tell me you didn't…I know you love women, but an empress? Like Garnet isn't enough for you.

"He belongs to her." Blank blinked in confusion. "What do you mean 'he belongs to her.'? Zidane Tribal belongs to no one!" There was a cough from Zidane, and then, "Can I talk to him, please?" The guards dropped him on the ground. Blank walked over to him. "Zidane?" he asked, "Who are these people and why do they want to take your life?" He heard Zidane take in a deep breath and then release it.

"I'm not entirely sure why they want my life, but I do belong to the empress." Zidane noticed the look of shock on Blank's face. "Listen," he said softly, "I was born a slave into her family and I was inherited to her."

"What!" Blank stared blankly at Zidane for a moment. "What about Tantalus? How do you explain how you got there?" Zidane coughed for a moment; Blank gently helped him to sit up so that he wouldn't choke.

"My mistress," Blank flinched at the word, "let me go with a promise that she would be back for me on my 18th birthday. She came back and killed me. Long story short: I was brought back and then my mistress was killed. Unfortunately, I've been handed down the line to the next in line. She owns me now. She's the one taking me to be killed. I don't know why; all I know is that they are cruel people, Blank. Don't get mixed up with them."

Blank looked genuinely shocked by the entire story. He stared at the whiplashes on Zidane's back for a minute before saying, "So you are to die tonight on the stone table?" Zidane nodded. "There will be a lot of people there." Zidane whispered.

Blank arched an eyebrow. "I'll come tonight," he promised. He stood up and began to run off towards Alexandria.

Zidane watched him leave, before being hauled up by his broken arms and dragged off to the stone table.

AN/ Awwwww…poor Zidane. GL's are really really really gonna love the next chapter…because it is indeed Zidane's execution. ;;