In Germany they used a wheel for this rather nasty way of executing people, but I added a relief beheading - as that is more noblemanish. It says, " ... just before Torundel's head was cut off, he saw ... " and I think the little verse (which I took from episode 3) is also before the beheading :)
He is a hero for sure - I hadn't thought of him as that before @nyarlathotep mentioned that he expected Torundel to take revenge - but I think that the moment he changes from self-pitying whiner to hero is when Uranumsia takes the pen and writes. Sex seems to be a commodity in this world (even though Torundel has been cheated also on that account), while someone to share your love of old literature with is more scarce.
Glad you liked it.