The Following Day
Golgotha, outside of the city of Jerusalem
As the final spike was driven through the tender flesh of his trembling wrist, the melancholic wails of women pierced the dust-laden air. Their haunting cries echoed amidst the shallow breaths and muffled groans of the man enduring the punishment, while the crowd watched with widened eyes as the crucifixion continued.
CHAPTER 03
In the eight years since Kelan Armstrong and his soldiers returned to Mangerton, life had settled into a comfortable rhythm. With battle behind them, the soldiers embraced civilian life, and the village thrived. Improvements continued, fields were cultivated, and new children were born. While Scotland had never known true peace, the soldiers found solace in this period of calm, savoring everyday activities. Their weapons, though stashed away, remained at the ready for the next inevitable conflict.
