Crows circled above the gallows, anticipating a fine lunch. The sun was almost blinding as Achilles' eyes adjusted after having his blindfold removed. His wrists ached from the rope around them and his left ankle was causing him grief as they escorted him up the wooden stairs.
Morbidly he thought: A good day for the crows. It almost made him laugh.
A large crowd was beginning to form in front of the gallows that were temporarily built in the town square of Gregminster. His vision was too blurry to see their faces, for a second he thought he'd seen her vibrant red hair. One last time.
One of the gaolers pushed him towards the noose in the middle of the platform. He stumbled and fell to his bare knees. The giant of a gaoler grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet.
"She is here," Achilles looked at his gargantuan features, confused. "Proclaim the last wish." He whispered and then put the noose around Achilles' neck.
She's here. His eyes were beginning to adjust and he could just about make out faces below him. They frantically took in what they could until he clocked her. There she stood, only twenty feet away. Flaming locks of auburn hair flowed down past her shoulders and she had a golden circlet, a gift from Achilles, around her forehead. Odessa. She manoeuvred through the crowd, her crimson cape flapping in the faces of the people of Gregminster, much to their annoyance.
"Achilles, of House Peleus, you stand here guilty of being a traitor to the empire and our gracious emperor, Barbarossa." Called the nasally voice of the rat featured Kraze Miles, the man who had ordered the arrest of Achilles. "Do you have any last words, traitor?"
His mind raced. Should he request the last wish? He knew deep down Odessa would have some sort of plan to escape with him. But she would be putting herself at risk. He found her at the front of the crowd and fell into her emerald eyes, and found his answer.
"I invoke the right of the last wish." The crowd erupted in shock. Odessa smiled, as did he. In his peripheral vision he could see Kraze's face burn bright red, which pleased him. "I invoke the right to marry that woman, there, before my death."
Kraze signalled to the gaolers to clear a path for Odessa, pushing them in frustration as they passed him. No one could deny the last wish. Not even the Emperor himself. He turned to Achilles: "Very well," He said grudgingly. "It would not do well to defy the gods and this div—"
An arrow flew past Kraze, an inch from his right ear. Achilles seen his face pale. Terrible shot. He saw Odessa somehow barge two of unsuspecting gaolers off of the stairs to the gallows. I knew she'd try something. He couldn't help but admire her more, even though he knew it was a long shot for both of them.
Odessa hacked at the rope around Achilles' neck. More arrows came singing through the air. Achilles noticed they were blunt as they hit their targets. They weren't meant to kill. Not today anyway.
The crowd were in a frenzy and began scattering. Soldiers were trying to reach the gallows but the crowds pushed them further back.
"Shield your eyes, Achilles!" Odessa ordered, and he obeyed. Through his closed lids a bright light shone. "Come on!" Both of them leaped from the gallows and ran south, were the city gates were. He held her hand tight. Admiring her again. How could he not?
A sharp pain burst into his right foot and he fell, releasing her hand. He thought he heard her scream, but he wasn't sure. The pain was intense. Looking down he seen an arrow protruding from his heel. Another arrow took him on the right side of his back.
Time sped by. One moment Odessa was crying and trying to pull him up. The next he was softly telling her to run. With his last breath he spoke. But he could not hear his own voice.
The last thing Achilles Peleus saw was the beautiful face of Odessa Silverberg and her tears. They fell on him and sent him onwards with a smile on his face.
