Beheading

"Is there anything to look forward in a beheading?" A voice asked.

"Of course there is, the atmosphere, the state, the look on everyone's faces, not to forget the crows." Another voice answered.

Hearing that the girl panted and coughed. There were beads of sweat all over her forehead saying "all of that makes me sick." 

She patted her friend's back supporting her quivering frame, "don't worry nothing will happen to us."

"What will become of us after we are dead?" She asked holding her friend's hand the look on her face Haunting similar to someone dying of thirst in a desert.

"I have heard your eyes pop out of your skull after your head has been cut off" her companion responded.

"I'll be fine as long as I don't feel it" Mary asked again "tell me we won't feel it right? It would be quick.. Right?"

"Some beheading takes more than half an hour and it takes more time to completely die, in some cases.." she was cut off by another much reasonable, but aggressive voice.

"Enough Natalia!" Jenna glared Natalia only shrugged not at all concerned about her upcoming death.

Jenna walked away from the makeshift mirror they've been provided with and towards the girl with the auburn hair whose skin was paper white against the black marble of the prison cell and taking her hand in hers she said "Mary, calm down, don't you trust me?" She asked to which Mary finally sported a tiny smile "Ofcourse I do.. even if I do die I know you'll be beside me.. that's my only relief right now" 

"Then there is nothing to worry, look we're wearing wedding dresses, didn't you always said you wanted to be a bride here is your chance" she smiled to her friend before skipping towards the small mirror one more time to check her reflection for any imperfections. At her words Mary also started patting her dress to rid of any wrinkles that may have been caused from her earlier anxiety episode. Natalia still unconcerned whistled a tune that made the prison guard standing outside frown in disgust which in turn delighted Natalia very much, she started humming the tune, it was their national anthem. 

Jenna just cracked a smile at her friend's antiques readjusting her hair she wanted to look her best today, which was puzzling for both of her companions. They knew that today was the day that they were going to be beheaded for their serious crimes which were trespassing, spying, gathering Intel and encouraging riots all true but a beheading just for that would've looked silly no there real crime was to be an Amarat girl in Yavat.

For them if you are seen on this side of the border you are dead and then it doesn't matter that they were only sixteen. Their death would be a tragedy a fact Natalia liked, Mary dreaded and Jenna it can't be said what exactly went through her mind but she looked almost excited.

Although their execution in itself crossed all lines of cruelty, but they were not so cruel to not allow these girls their last wishes according to their religion the souls who passed without having their last wish fullfilled can never cross over, and remains in the living world to haunt the humans that's why they specially arrange for these for almost everyone. 

In previous years the kingdom of Yavat have heard alot of weird and unique last wishes but these girls have transcended even the most weird ones. All three of them have been given a single wish Natalia asked for three horses to accompany them when they are taken from the cells and not any other horses but the ones native to their homeland for in their religion the dead must have their vehicle to travel with in the afterlife. 

Mary asked for secrecy the less people see them during their death is the better cause watching young and unmarried women's death can put curses on the person. Jenna asked that because they'll be taken so soon from life leaving so much to learn and experience like marriage and such occasions thus at the time of their death they shall be dressed in red dresses from head to toe and bejeweled as any other bride so they won't become ghosts with unfulfilled desires.

The officers were scared of such concequences, so all of it was arranged, some were even inclined to do so because they felt pity for the poor girls with such bad luck. At last it was time and they were called all of them quickly pulled down their veils and walked out from the cells with the soldiers Natalia did so grudgingly, Mary was shivering the whole time from fear and Jenna smiling beneath her mask horse's hoofs could be heard behind them walking in a steadypace soon they were led to a stone stage where the beheading was to take place. They were to be beheaded at the same time the stage was big and one by one they were all lead down to the stone of doom just as Mary requested there were only three people there the executioner, the reporting officer and the jailer.

It was all silent for a moment, a priest was assigned to pray for their safe passage into the afterlife for a moment everything was silent the only thing that could be heard were the chanting from the priest, Mary's quiet sobbing and metal clanking but it ended soon there were several thumps on the ground likely to be created when a body hits the ground, the priest looked up after making a cross and that scene was the last thing he saw.

No one thought that getting beheaded in a bejeweled costume can have any unfortunate side effects, nobody thought that it was weird that they were covered head to toe, none of their body parts visible.. they believed it was the custom in the east. Not even for a moment any of the officers thought that perhaps they can free their hands under those garments, perhaps those dresses were concealing more than gold ornaments like bloodthirsty swords or that it was weird to ask for three horses.. they didn't thought any of that because they believed the girls to be innocent afterall sixteen is no age to be a mass murderer. But that's exactly what they were..

Several hoofs colliding on the ground on a fast speed and then Natalia shoves away her veil laughing in a manner that could hardly be called sane.. 

"I can not believe we just did that" Mary spoke slowly clutching her reigns tightly and riding her horse as fast as it can go. 

Jenna uncovers her face too there was a wide grin on her face as well "afterall nothing feels better than tricking some naive soldiers" she said.

"What did they thought, we poor little virgins going to die in an adolescent age what can we even do? such a loss" Natalia said laughing. "On a serious note, we need to reach Windflair garden before twilight to be allowed entrance "Jenna reminded them.

"I told her already we need to hurry" Mary fretted.

They reached in Maryldome a quarter in the evening by this time there was already a search warrant circulating for them. They were wanted dead or alive it wasn't just the intensity of their crime but also the humiliation of them getting away unscathed. The officials though were assured that they will be caught before dawn. 

They clearly underestimated them for the girls attended the ball at Windflair garden the biggest event held in the summer. The officers went there to investigate but according to their discription three young girls in red dresses were hard to find out most of the womens were dressed in red as it was the latest fashion.

"Can you stop eating and listen to me for once" Mary whispered aggressively.

"What?" Natalia asked without stopping her eating.

"I think those two by the balcony recognise us they were talking to eachother in hushed whispers but I swear she said something about our gold bangles and how it's exotic and tacky I swear they will recognise us why we are still wearing this jewelry, we should discard it at once" she ranted.

"Mary calm down that's not gonna happen and I'm sure she was gossiping about Mrs. Jean hartz's jewellery that women is wearing more gold jewellery than all of us combined, the ladies in her company also take interest in eastern cultural influences no one can discern between them and us, we are safe" she assured her.

It was at that moment Jenna arrived after taking leave from her dance partner "did you guys packed food, we are leaving in a short while."

"She is just eating but don't worry I did it already." Mary assured.

"Cool, let's go! wait.." she asked "Did both of you danced at least three times?"

"I did." Mary said.

"Is it important?" Natalia asked.

"Yes, very.. now go" 

Finishing the last bit of her pie Natalia moved towards the dance floor when Jen catches her wrist stopping her "Look Lord Benson is free from his partner finally, can you make him have a dance with you" 

"I can sure try" Natalia replied smiling.

The dances went on till midnight and then slowly one after another party left the Windflair garden after bidding farewell to the Duchess of Maryldome. There were alot of carriages on the road from Maryldome to Hansfort in one of these carriages sitting with Miss Jessica Benson were the three girls who were now fast acquaintances with Lord Benson.

Lord Benson insisted the three Carol sisters to travel with them since they were set out for the same place 'Hansfort' his Duchy also a bordering territory between Yavat and Amarat. He insisted because for some reason he couldn't take his eyes off from Miss Nina Carol and learning that their carriage is going to be late he couldn't help insist on them traveling with him. The sisters tried to resist his act of kindness at first but later on much pursuation accepted.

In the early hours of dawn near the central academy woods three hooded figures were seen walking closely together and whispering among themselves.

"Do you think anyone would have missed us?" Mary asked.

"We were gone for a week, it's hard not to notice" Natalia replied.

"Ah it's glad to be back." Mary exclaimed.

"Don't be too happy, do you all remember your excuses" Jenna asked.

"Yes, yes we went to the western monestory.. to learn meditation" Mary replied.

"Do you think it worked, they get our message? We didn't left a big explosion" Natalia asked.

"Oh don't worry about that, this message will definitely be well recieved, there's no doubt that they are preparing for a war against us but the fact that they got tricked by three little girls from the east, they really can't expect to win against the whole nation. This was to scare them, for when the enemy fears you, he can never win against you" Jenna replied gloriously.

"And who taught you this lesson" an elderly voice asked. Natalia stopped on her tracks as if she had seen a ghost, Mary grew pale and Jenna still blissfully oblivious replied smilingly "Ofcourse our master did." Then she looked up and her smile gets frozen on her face.

"Master" 

"Master it's so early in the morning why are you taking a walk at this time." 

"Master you must be feeling tired after your walk, let me make you a cup of tea."

"Shut up the three of you" he yelled "and tell me where were you?"

"Monestry."

"The Monestry."

"The west monestry, for meditation."

"Oh well we have some monks coming from there in the afternoon, I'll be sure to ask them about your progress" he informed them in a voice which spoke volumes about his very insight into their actions.

"Mary"

"Yyes- yes master" she stuttered.

"I would like that tea now." Saying that he moved towards the school gates. Mary followed him obediently.

"She is going to tell him everything." Natalia spoke after a long sigh.

"I have an idea."

"Not again Jenna!" Saying that Natalia started speed walking after them.

"It's a good one!" Jenna yelled back but only the winds seemed to hear her 'that's what you get for being patriotic' she said to herself.