i’m a filthy liar, malcolm howe has killed exactly two people and it shows.
while malcolm primarily relies on frank and quinn to do the dirty work, malcolm himself is considered the overseer. the prophet and leader chased by the Crone herself to lead the lambs to slaughter. that doesn’t mean he likes it, it’s a punishment in itself to watch your people die. it’s why purification is so rare. malcolm hates to slaughter the lambs. he protects them from harm. he promised.
but some rules cannot be broken without consequences. malcolm of all people knows this. the punishment wasn’t thought up by human minds, but whisperings from Her. instructions carefully carried out to every specification. quinn was thrilled, and that terrified him.
the first purification was the second time malcolm had ever killed someone, and the first time he really counted it as murder. he had shown hesitation, and anyone who witnessed it could see that in his eyes, how his heart wept for the man who had sold them out and had the guts to come back. how pale the prophet was when he set the flower petal into his skull, or how he hid for two days in the woods, speaking to god.
it was the first time his faith had faltered.
so the Crone whispered back, he did not have to do the act, but he had to bear witness to it, he had to order it, and oversee it every step of the way. he had to watch as they set up the stand, and as the traitor laid upon it. even as they shaved their head.
he’s hesitant because he’s done it. it still makes his stomach turn, twist in knots and flip expectedly. but it was rare, it’s bearable.
jacobvanloon
gummygunk
baratheonpilled
jbbartram-illu
janainaart
titsay
stormborns
izzy806
turnnoffyourmind
