A Challenge

A tear streaked down Afena's cheek.

"You did right," Rudis told her. "There's no need to cry."

"It's just empathy," she replied. "Imagine yourself in its place, executed. Bound, unable to to defend yourself, your capacity to act taken from you. Powerless to do anything as you see the instant of your death approaching…"

"It's called punishment," said Rudsis. "You asked me a while ago if my mother was against me when she denied something to me. She wasn't, and neither was she against me when I had to hold still and accept her beatings. Then I grew up, and it was my father's turn to beat me when she told him to."

"But what if the beating was unfair?"

"Then you fight it, but it's the mark of a real man when he knows he's done wrong, and accepts the punishment. It's a question of honesty, and honor." Rudsis looked down, at the spot where the guardian disappeared. "It knew it did wrong, but didn't want to accept the punishment. Good riddance."