Last goodbyes

All the councilor members continue to chant in the ancient language, making it too irritable in my ears, and unexpectedly, out of nowhere, all of them at once shout at me in a language I understand.

With voices that sound like thunder in my ears. “YOU WHO REJECTED US AND DEFIED THE ANCIENT LAW TO RULE OVER US. WE ARE OFFERING YOU, LUCIANO... TO BELONG TO THE NATURAL ORDER TO RULE OVER YOU.

“AND WE ARE ASKING FOR THE NATURAL ORDER TO CONTINUE TO GUIDE AND RULE OVER US. YOU WHO SOUGHT TO EVADE THE CYCLES AND BREAK THE LAW. NOW YOU SHALL FIND YOUR ETERNAL REST IN THE EARTH'S EMBRACE.”

In a split second, the very ground beneath me trembles, cracks forming in the soil like wells running into the main river.

Roots out of nowhere slice the earth beneath me, reaching out to replace the chains and enslave my limbs.

It is as if I am in the forest and the forest itself conspired with the council members to help them get me in place and make sure I do not move.