Death After Death

The road south was untroubled, and Simon made good time, arriving five days later. He'd been looking forward to seeing the Corwin's, and especially getting reacquainted with young Gregor again, but instead he arrived just in time for a hanging in the square of Slany.

He didn’t remember any of this, and as he moved among the crowd and listened to the charges being read out to try to figure out what was happening, he understood immediately what this was. Endangering the Baron's heir. Attempted flight. Cowardice on the field of battle.

This was the man that the Baron had attempted to replace him with. Simon took a long look at the broken-down mercenary on the platform that had been erected and wondered how close he’d come to such a fate himself. Not that the Baron’s men would have been able to take Simon so easily, of course, but as a lesson, it was still very easy to see himself ending up in that place. Especially given how much less magic he’d known back then.

Simon was tempted to save him because the way that Baron Corwin was handling this struck him as unjust. He didn’t, though. The first reason was that he would have definitely alienated the Corwin family in the attempt, but the second was more important. This had all apparently only happened a couple of days ago, which meant that there was probably still time to save young Gregor’s arm and, if he was lucky, the man attached to it.

So, he said nothing as the pathetic man begged for his life and was left to choke and dangle at the end of a rope. It was an ugly sight made uglier as Simon couldn’t help but see his own face there.

As soon as it was done and the Baron was walking back to the house, Simon approached him. The reception was much chillier than it had been the last time Simon had come to town in this timeline, but the reason was fairly straightforward. He’d sought to avert a war, and in doing so, he’d come here too late.

“Apologies, my Lord,” Simon said, bowing slightly as he saluted the man with his fist to his chest. “My name is Simon, and I’ve heard from your people that your son’s injuries are severe and that your doctors are preparing to remove the boy’s arm. I’d like to help if I may before that happens.”

“I doubt you know any more about Medicine than that buffoon Karls’s knew about hunting goblins,” Baron Corwin said jadedly, “but as thanks for your compassion, I will let you walk away now instead of letting my men beat you for your insolence.”

There was a coldness in the man’s eyes that showed just how much this event had already cost him, and it saddened Simon but not enough for him to give up.