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+ | < | ||
+ | turn: | ||
+ | title: | ||
+ | note: | ||
+ | start: | ||
+ | end: | ||
+ | posted_date: | ||
+ | played_date: | ||
+ | weather: | ||
+ | location: | ||
+ | xp_brinn: | ||
+ | xp_ziedon: | ||
+ | xp_kay:35 | ||
+ | xp_sahlman: | ||
+ | xp_ardith: | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | //This is a rewrite of [[zioth: | ||
+ | |||
+ | With Brinn strapped securely to his back, Sahlman climbed the rope. | ||
+ | Occasionally Brinn would startle the warrior by jerking his head | ||
+ | suddenly and mumbling, as if waking from a dream. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kay pulled up the rope when Sahl reached the top. "No one saw you," | ||
+ | she told him. " | ||
+ | do." She started to coil the rope, but Sahlman stopped her. "I am not | ||
+ | to be climbing on a tree with this on my ride." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "' | ||
+ | heard her. Kay uncoiled the rope and lowered it down the other side. | ||
+ | Once Sahl had reached the bottom with Brinn, she wrapped the rope | ||
+ | around her hand and elbow, and rapidly made her way down the tree. | ||
+ | Halfway down, she heard a sound behind her, so she climbed back up onto | ||
+ | the wall and peeked over. Members of the town guard, in groups of five, | ||
+ | were approaching various points along the wall. Kay quickly dropped | ||
+ | from their sight. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Ardith and Ziedon were waiting at the camp when they arrived. Ziedon | ||
+ | looked up briefly from his book, and the flame from the dying fire | ||
+ | flickered powerful contrasts across his pale face. Ardith rose | ||
+ | immediately. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What happened, Kay? When you rushed away with Sahl I didn't know | ||
+ | what to think." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | fainted." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Put him down here. Let me take a look." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kay untied Brinn from Sahlman' | ||
+ | ground. Ardith examined Brinn, quickly noticing his foot. "Why, he's | ||
+ | been bleeding. I'll have this fixed up before morning." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The next hour, Ardith spent cleaning and treating the wound. | ||
+ | Occasionally, | ||
+ | made him drink water. By the time Ardith had removed the shard of | ||
+ | pottery from his foot and healed him in the name of Andritha, Brinn was | ||
+ | fully awake, his eyes open wide with awe. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You did that?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "My foot --" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You should be able to walk again now. You might be dizzy for a | ||
+ | while from loss of blood." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But you used," and he raised his eyes to the sky. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ardith laughed. "And you were acting like it was nothing when | ||
+ | Andritha healed the others. She would not have let me heal you if you | ||
+ | weren' | ||
+ | youthful face. "Tell us what happened in Grenzig." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Brinn, a little nervously at first, told her the whole story. In the | ||
+ | middle of it, Ardith blurted out, "what courage and loyalty!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon mumbled, "If he's this loyal to people he just met, I would | ||
+ | dread to be one of his friends." | ||
+ | |||
+ | When Brinn had told everything, up to the point where he'd seen the | ||
+ | rope dangling just out of his reach, Ardith again admired Brinn' | ||
+ | bravery, and commented on the usefulness of the information he'd | ||
+ | gathered. Now, even if they couldn' | ||
+ | was evidence that the people of Grenzig did. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What interests me more," said Ziedon from the fire, his book now | ||
+ | closed on his lap, "is that he managed to alert the town guard. They | ||
+ | will be watching for him." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Come on," Ardith replied. "No one saw him. They just heard him." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "All the worse. They will be watching for everything." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No one can watch for everything." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But they think they can, and that is just as dangerous. They will | ||
+ | suspect anyone they don't recognize." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "There are thousands of people in Grenzig." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "And only one armed band of such unlikely mercenaries as ourselves." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon smirked, almost laughing out of one side of his mouth. He | ||
+ | stood up to his full height, towering over Brinn, and looked straight | ||
+ | into the man's eyes. " | ||
+ | _you_. And him," he continued, pointing at Sahlman. "No one will | ||
+ | suspect anything of someone who fits in as well as that. Did we bring | ||
+ | chalk, heifin, to smear over his face?" With that he sat back down, | ||
+ | lifting his book into his lap. Brinn was at a loss for words, and | ||
+ | Sahlman, although he looked for a moment as if he would react to the | ||
+ | insult, calmed himself and sat down peacefully. There was wisdom behind | ||
+ | Ziedon' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ardith responded in an even tone, although her agitation made itself | ||
+ | heard. "All right, then you think of something. You can't just throw | ||
+ | out the ideas of others and think you're being helpful." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Where did you get the notion I was trying to help?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sahlman interrupted. "They were knowing spies before Brinn was their | ||
+ | spies. We are not going by the front gate, even with disguise. They | ||
+ | are knowing us yesterday, and they are knowing we are here." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | argument with Ziedon. "They suspected spies before Brinn snuck in. Now | ||
+ | they' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sahlman smiled at the girl. "Yes, by the tree... We are going in | ||
+ | two. Then we not being seen." With some difficulty, Sahlman got out an | ||
+ | entire plan for entry into Grenzig. Two by two, they would enter the | ||
+ | town, at different points along the wall if possible. Hopefully, they | ||
+ | would be harder to notice in small groups, and the detection of one | ||
+ | pair would not compromise any of the others. Sahlman volunteered to | ||
+ | escort the townsman personally. "I am using to deal with such peoples | ||
+ | in the desert. Amazing, it is, that peoples from different lands can be | ||
+ | so same." It was left unclear as to just what sort of person Sahl | ||
+ | referred. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "This talk is beyond me," said Kay. " | ||
+ | can." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ardith said, " | ||
+ | stay up. No, not you, Brinn. You should sleep." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "If he's going to sleep, so am I. I've been up all night, and who | ||
+ | knows how long it'll be before the townsman decides to do anything?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kay laid down to sleep on the ground, paying only half a mind to | ||
+ | what was being discussed around her. The next person to speak was | ||
+ | Ardith. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "In general, I agree with Sahlman' | ||
+ | Sahl to be alone with the townsman. If he is what he appears to be, | ||
+ | that's no problem. On the other hand, if there _is_ something more | ||
+ | insidious going on here, then I would be concerned for Sahl's safety. I | ||
+ | suggest, therefore, that we go in two groups of three. Sahlman and I | ||
+ | will go with the burgher. Brinn, Kay and Ziedon will go in ahead of us | ||
+ | and scout the town. In half an hour, return to the wall by the tree. | ||
+ | Three low whistles means it's okay to go in. Two short whistles will | ||
+ | mean 'Get us out!' Brinn has been in the town, albeit in the dark, but | ||
+ | he has at least some idea of the layout. Brinn and Ziedon, do your best | ||
+ | to look like merchants, while Kay can pose as your hired protectress." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sahlman was hesitant to contradict the girl, so assured of herself | ||
+ | as she was. Indeed, he considered her wise beyond her years. Although | ||
+ | her sense of strategy and leadership would be the death of her in the | ||
+ | desert, she was very clever for a girl of eighteen. He decided he would | ||
+ | wait it out and see what happened. If Ardith' | ||
+ | wisest when it was time to carry it out, he would speak up then. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ardith continued. "So let's review what we've learned so far. The | ||
+ | commoners of Grenzig want our townsman, but commoners have been known | ||
+ | to pick poor leaders, so that's nothing in his favor. There are thieves | ||
+ | and brigands against him, though, so I would want to stay on his side | ||
+ | until we know better, but we can't trust him until we know his motives. | ||
+ | The thieves who attacked us and escaped know our strengths, and the | ||
+ | camp of thieves and probably the townsmen too are looking out for | ||
+ | magic, or at least something out of the ordinary." | ||
+ | that. "Where I come from, the powers of Andritha are hardly unusual, | ||
+ | but out here... Anyway, the townsmen are worried, so they' | ||
+ | their guard, but if we do the right thing, Andritha will protect us." | ||
+ | Ziedon grunted quietly at that last, but did not look up from his | ||
+ | book. " | ||
+ | hired mercenaries will only help while there' | ||
+ | are eager for revolt. Oh! If only I had something to write all this | ||
+ | down!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ardith squeaked with surprise when Ziedon' | ||
+ | Sahlman was up in a second, weapon in hand, and Kay, waking suddenly, | ||
+ | raised herself on her elbows and reached for her knife. All Ziedon did, | ||
+ | however, was drop a sheet of parchment in Ardith' | ||
+ | already written every point Ardith had made in an experienced, | ||
+ | hand. "Next you'll forget to bring rations," | ||
+ | flinching at Sahlman' | ||
+ | before." | ||
+ | had happened. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Brinn was the first to break the awkward silence, which had become | ||
+ | all too common in their unusual party. " | ||
+ | dangerous game with thieves. And if they' | ||
+ | town guarded well at night? And where is our friend burgher' | ||
+ | all this? I'd like to hear his side of the story before we get in." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ardith' | ||
+ | entry into town to the burgher, nor of our reason for going in groups | ||
+ | of three. Let him think we are merely doing our best to get him into | ||
+ | town safely. Brinn, if we wait to hear the burgher' | ||
+ | guess at our suspicions. We'd best talk to him as little as possible." | ||
+ | |||
+ | At that moment, the burgher exited his tent and came to the group, | ||
+ | making no indication that he had heard anything. He was fully dressed, | ||
+ | and did not look the slightest bit disheveled from his night' | ||
+ | Fearing the worst, but admitting nothing in the tone of her voice, | ||
+ | Ardith briefly sketched out her plan to the burgher. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "A fine idea. However, I would offer a slight modification to the | ||
+ | plan. I believe it would be more prudent to enter in groups of two." | ||
+ | Ardith glanced at Sahlman, who nodded at her. Still, she feared for | ||
+ | the warrior' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But surely if we go in --" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "We will enter in pairs. He," he said, pointing to Sahlman, "will | ||
+ | act as my personal escort. Once I have reached my destination inside | ||
+ | Grenzig, I will consider your service to me complete." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ardith was unsure whether he had listened to their whole | ||
+ | conversation, | ||
+ | Sahlman himself, though, knew the answer. This townsman, trustworthy or | ||
+ | not, would have done well for himself in the desert. | ||
+ | |||
+ | They had a light breakfast and stamped out the remainder of the | ||
+ | fire, the townsman saying nothing, as usual, and the rest of the party | ||
+ | doing the same. They finished and sat around for a while, even the | ||
+ | townsman hesitant to be the first to rise. "We go now," Sahlman said | ||
+ | to the townsman, and that got the party moving. | ||
+ | |||
+ | They spent a short time considering the gate, which now had six | ||
+ | soldiers posted, and decided the tree was still their best bet. It | ||
+ | looked larger in the day, as did the wall. Kay and Brinn climbed the | ||
+ | tree as they had the night before, Ziedon struggling behind them until | ||
+ | Kay climbed down and helped him find his footing. Then she descended | ||
+ | further to help Ardith. | ||
+ | |||
+ | It was not obvious, from the inside, that the tree was an easy way | ||
+ | in. For accidents like that, the town would have done well to have an | ||
+ | occasional guard posted outside its walls. When all four adventurers | ||
+ | were safely on the ground, and Sahlman had pulled the rope back from | ||
+ | the other side, Ardith addressed the other three. "I don't care what | ||
+ | that townsman says. We're safer in threes. You go together into the | ||
+ | town, like we planned last night. I'll hide here, and trail Sahl when | ||
+ | he brings in the townsman." | ||
+ | strategy over Ardith' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The town, as could be expected, was far busier than it had been the | ||
+ | night before. It was a market day; local and foreign merchants sold | ||
+ | their wares on nearly every street, and a mixture of unwrapped | ||
+ | breakfasts, lost and spoiled goods, and horse droppings lined the | ||
+ | streets in incremental piles, pushed as far away from merchants' | ||
+ | as possible. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As Ziedon had predicted, his presence and that of his diminutive | ||
+ | companion, not to mention a well-armed woman, attracted far too much | ||
+ | attention. They walked like merchants, but were more often than not | ||
+ | mistaken for performers, and crowds would periodically gather around | ||
+ | them, suffer a disappointment and disperse. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Able to accomplish little, but foreseeing no trouble for their | ||
+ | companions, they gradually made their way back to the wall, gave the | ||
+ | signal to enter, and were out of sight before their presence could be | ||
+ | made conspicuous. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Continuing to pose as merchants under Kay's guard, Ziedon and Brinn | ||
+ | returned to the expanded market and walked deliberately from booth to | ||
+ | booth, examining some object or other, and discussing its quality in a | ||
+ | way that sounded reasonable to them, but was so unconvincing to the | ||
+ | tradesmen and merchants that they didn't even bother to attempt a sale. | ||
+ | Before long, a pair of town guards approached the group. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Do you suppose you could explain yourselves," | ||
+ | friend here fetches a constable?" | ||
+ | just that, hopping from foot to foot and glaring suspiciously at the | ||
+ | group of misfits. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Brinn answered, and the guardsman had to hold back a chuckle. " | ||
+ | just a pair of traveling merchants, inspecting the wares." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The antsy guard blurted out "Who do you think you're fooling? | ||
+ | Everyone here knows you don't know anything about no wares. You're | ||
+ | just --" | ||
+ | |||
+ | The calmer guard put out a hand to hold his friend back. " | ||
+ | charged to keep an eye out for anything unusual, and you have to admit, | ||
+ | you fit the mould. Now I suggest you tell me what you're really after." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | take over!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | The conversation, | ||
+ | called out their wares all the more loudly to try and bring back their | ||
+ | customers. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon looked at the two guards, opened his mouth as if to answer, | ||
+ | and forced out a coughing fit. While doubled over, he chanted the | ||
+ | complex language of a spell which would convince the higher-ranking | ||
+ | guard that he was Ziedon' | ||
+ | rose and apologized. " | ||
+ | spices in that merchant' | ||
+ | We have no idea what you are talking about with this business of taking | ||
+ | over the town. We are merely here to <cough, cough> make purchases like | ||
+ | everyone else. Granted we look a bit strange, but that does not make us | ||
+ | traitors." | ||
+ | a prison cell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The higher-ranking guard answered immediately. "Of course you're not | ||
+ | traitors. We only ask because someone is on his way right now to try | ||
+ | and start a popular uprising, and there were spies about last night. | ||
+ | I'm sorry if we sounded like --" | ||
+ | |||
+ | The other guard raised his eyebrows and shifted his head back and | ||
+ | forth, looking at the crowd around them. "Are you crazy? In front of | ||
+ | all these people? What's wrong with you?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | Perhaps we should give them a tour of Grenzig, to make up for it." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "A tour? What's wrong with you? We have traitors to catch, and | ||
+ | them's the ones!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Look, they' | ||
+ | like everyone else." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You don't know nothing about em. They are, and I'll take em in for | ||
+ | it." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I won't have you accuse this man of treason right in front of my | ||
+ | face," the ensorcelled guard said, and laid a hand on the hilt of his | ||
+ | sword. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The other guard took two steps back. " | ||
+ | him!" He pointed to Ziedon. " | ||
+ | to use his evil magic against us and put Grenzig under his power, | ||
+ | starting with you! The black robes shoulda given him away! And there, | ||
+ | his impish companion and a woman temptress, distracting us while the | ||
+ | bewitching happens, just like all the stories!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Now look," the ensorcelled guard said, drawing his sword and | ||
+ | sending the crowd back several yards. "I said I won't stand for these | ||
+ | kinds of false accusations, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The other guard looked rapidly back and forth, looking for other | ||
+ | members of the town guard, while drawing his own sword. " | ||
+ | called, and a few of the town residents, as well as all the guards | ||
+ | within range, turned their heads. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Brinn looked at Ziedon, then at the guards. This was not going at | ||
+ | all as planned. He motioned to Kay, who nodded an acknowledgment, | ||
+ | waited for Brinn to act. This was one use of being small, Brinn | ||
+ | thought. You could always catch people by surprise. He yelled out, and | ||
+ | rushed at the legs of the angry guard, knocking him over. Until that | ||
+ | moment, many members of the crowd had not even noticed Brinn, so it | ||
+ | seemed from their vantage that the guard had simply toppled over on his | ||
+ | own. Brinn ran as fast as he could through the most populated road he | ||
+ | could find. Kay gave a short, apologetic look at Ziedon, and then ran | ||
+ | after Brinn. | ||
+ | |||
+ | There were seven guards in the area by now, and four of them chased | ||
+ | after Brinn and Kay. That would give Ziedon a chance to escape, they | ||
+ | thought. Soon, Brinn got far ahead of Kay, able as he was to maneuver | ||
+ | between, around and sometimes even under other people in the crowded | ||
+ | marketplace. Kay's slim and agile figure kept her from getting too far | ||
+ | behind. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Soon, they found themselves at a bathhouse, and they were able to | ||
+ | pause and catch their breath. Between loud pants, Brinn said, " | ||
+ | safe for me and Ziedon to stay in this town. After dark, find Ardith | ||
+ | and tell her what happened. I'll wait here and hope that no one finds | ||
+ | me. Try to keep away from guards." | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | sorry your introduction to Grenzig had to be like this." At that point | ||
+ | Heralbid was standing in an attack stance in front of Ziedon, watching | ||
+ | the seven... no, now eight members of the town guard who were rapidly | ||
+ | surrounding him. The crowd had expanded outward, allowing a wide berth | ||
+ | for the armed men. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon wished he knew an invisibility spell. Things would be so | ||
+ | much easier if only he could find a new master to help fill up his book | ||
+ | of magic. Ah well. He would survive this trial and keep looking. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The situation was hopeless. Ziedon was tempted to surrender right | ||
+ | away, but perhaps a short wait would be in order. If Heralbid made | ||
+ | enough of a scene, some of the focus might be taken off of Ziedon when | ||
+ | the time for judgment arrived. | ||
+ | |||
+ | One soldier charged at Heralbid, who easily fended him off with | ||
+ | skilled swordplay. When a second soldier joined the first, Heralbid had | ||
+ | more trouble. He took a step back, almost knocking into Ziedon, and | ||
+ | lunged with his sword, killing one of the guards. Gasps were heard all | ||
+ | around from the crowd. "He killed another soldier?" | ||
+ | one?" "How can these men protect us if they' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "All right," | ||
+ | Two more guards arrived, laden with crossbows. They handed one to the | ||
+ | captain, and distributed the others around. " | ||
+ | hanged for this." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But what about the warlock?" | ||
+ | "He started the whole thing. I saw it with my own eyes." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The other soldiers smiled, and some laughed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Heralbid called out, " | ||
+ | touch this man!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | The others armed their crossbows. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | the justice in this town is fair, I know I shall go free." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Heralbid, surprised by his new friend' | ||
+ | taken away by two of the strongest guards. He struggled to stay by | ||
+ | Ziedon' | ||
+ | away, several yards behind Heralbid. He calmly allowed himself to be | ||
+ | taken into custody. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The courthouse was large and kept in good repair. A pair of | ||
+ | gargoyles hung over the great doorway, each holding a sign of Andritha, | ||
+ | the Fighter on the left, the Lover on the right. The party of guards | ||
+ | and prisoners passed through a total of four doors, rooms and hallways | ||
+ | before coming to an old, pale and bitter-looking man who sat at a small | ||
+ | desk. The party waited for the man to speak for what must have been | ||
+ | hours. From time to time, a soldier would leave and a new one would | ||
+ | enter. None of them were allowed to sit, not that there were chairs to | ||
+ | sit on. Finally, the man spoke. "The judge will see you now," he said, | ||
+ | and they passed through the fifth and final door without further delay. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The judge rapidly gave the impression of being bored, tired, and | ||
+ | totally disinterested in fair justice. But perhaps all judges give such | ||
+ | impressions to the accused. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | parchment on his enormous desk. " | ||
+ | manipulation of the town guard, and..." | ||
+ | guards who held Ziedon, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "He bewitched Heralbid!" | ||
+ | it happened!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | without my leave." | ||
+ | interested in quoting the law that carrying it out. "The punishment for | ||
+ | treason is life imprisonment and slow starvation, following the | ||
+ | confession and naming of accomplices. For manipulation of the guard, a | ||
+ | fine of two thousand silver aglars. For witchcraft, a fine of six | ||
+ | thousand silver aglars and a public hanging." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "If I may say a word in my defense?" | ||
+ | at him, and pointed to Heralbid' | ||
+ | Heralbid himself stood in a corner, still held by the two strongest | ||
+ | guards. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I saw him bewitched! We were asking questions like we been told by | ||
+ | the captain, and we saw these three --" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The other two ran off, didn't want to face a fair trial." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The judge looked to the back of the room, at the highest ranking | ||
+ | officer present, who answered the judge' | ||
+ | out looking for them." The judge turned back to the soldier. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "He was there in his black robes, planning his witchcraft, and there | ||
+ | was a woman dressed like a soldier, and a fiery imp waited for its | ||
+ | commands." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | that's all." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "They was looking from cart to cart, pretending they wanted to buy, | ||
+ | but then running off to the next, all the while planning their | ||
+ | treason!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Heralbid spoke up again. "There was no sign that they were | ||
+ | treasonous." | ||
+ | jabbed a knee into his chest, forcing him to double over and stop | ||
+ | talking. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Then we stopped them for questioning, | ||
+ | bewitched." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I tell you, I was not bewitched," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "See? If you wasn't bewitched, you wouldn' | ||
+ | wasn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "That makes no sense. There' | ||
+ | warlock." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "He took the sorcerer' | ||
+ | and all the others who came to help! And then the imp attacked me, and | ||
+ | ran off with the woman." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Very well," the judge said. "The prisoner will be --" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The judge looked Ziedon up and down, in a none to friendly fashion. | ||
+ | "Make it fast. It's going to be starvation or hanging, so I suggest you | ||
+ | admit you're a witch and stick with the more merciful sentence." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | that was rarely heard from his lips. "I frankly do not know why I am | ||
+ | here in this court of law. I came to this town as a well-intentioned | ||
+ | visitor. I arrived here with a few other travelers, with whom I had | ||
+ | been traveling for security and defense. Once in your great city, | ||
+ | myself and two others walked your streets to marvel at the wonders that | ||
+ | your city has to offer. I do not know why I was accosted by your city | ||
+ | guard and I do not know why my two traveling companions ran from the | ||
+ | guard. I could have easily run as well. It is a testament to my | ||
+ | innocence that I did not run." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon paused to clear his parched throat and to let his words sink | ||
+ | in. He signified that he wanted some type of refreshment to aid in his | ||
+ | speaking, but no one seemed to notice. The judge yawned and raised his | ||
+ | eyes to the ceiling. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I am by profession an Herbalist," | ||
+ | person various herbs and roots and concoctions. My intent was to visit | ||
+ | the merchants of this fair town and see if I could purchase herbs that | ||
+ | are difficult to find. Little did I know that being a foreigner in your | ||
+ | town was a crime. You may wonder why I am robed in black. The answer is | ||
+ | that Herbalists of Rhongil wear black to indicate their profession. I | ||
+ | am by no means a sorcerer who is here to corrupt your people, but an | ||
+ | innocent pawn in some local dispute that is still unclear to me. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I have placed myself in your custody because I know that the law is | ||
+ | fair and just and because I have no reason to fear the law. I do not | ||
+ | know what further I can say on this matter." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I would call the torturer to extract your confession," | ||
+ | said, "but I'm tired and you annoy me. There is no evidence for | ||
+ | treason, so that charge is dropped. You will pay two thousand silver | ||
+ | aglars for manipulation of the guard, and four thousand for witchcraft. | ||
+ | You will be imprisoned for a period of up to two years while you | ||
+ | arrange for the payment. When you have paid your fine, you will be | ||
+ | hanged." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Despite the outrage he had just been subjected to, Ziedon maintained | ||
+ | his respect for the law. He was willing to accept the judgment, but he | ||
+ | hoped there was a way to atone for his crime other than lengthy | ||
+ | imprisonment, | ||
+ | times what he could hope to receive from the townsman. There had to be | ||
+ | some process for appeal, or some other judge who would view his case | ||
+ | more objectively. Though, to be honest, he had bewitched the soldier, | ||
+ | and he was guilty of both crimes, probably the first man accused of | ||
+ | such things with any degree of accuracy. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon was roughly pulled aside and led to the far door, behind the | ||
+ | judge' | ||
+ | judge began, "of conspiracy with a traitor, of threatening members of | ||
+ | the town guard, and of murdering a Grenzig soldier. For the first | ||
+ | crime, the punishment is beheading. For the second --" | ||
+ | |||
+ | The main door burst open, bringing silence to the room. A pair of | ||
+ | high-ranking soldiers rushed to the judge, ignoring everyone else. They | ||
+ | spoke with him in anxious but quiet tones, and the judge stood, | ||
+ | straightened his robe, beckoned to his aides, and headed towards the | ||
+ | back door. Ziedon was pushed aside by a soldier so the judge would not | ||
+ | collide with him. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "What about the prisoners?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | The judge stopped for a moment, and then continued on, walking | ||
+ | rapidly out the door. "I don't care. Get rid of them!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | At that, the courtroom cleared. Ziedon was forcibly taken out the | ||
+ | main door, through the four remaining doors, hallways and rooms, and | ||
+ | thrown out onto the dusty gravel that made up the main road. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Relieved, but at a total loss as to what had just happened, Ziedon | ||
+ | stood and dusted himself off. It was nearly evening, high time to find | ||
+ | Ardith and the rest, and see how things were moving. | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | This story is copyright 2003 by the DM. It may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in printed or online form, without the written consent of the author. Any site may link to this story, at http:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||