Aloisia narrowed her eyes. “Fine. Whether from his lips or mine, his testimony will be given.”
“You said yourself this map could lead to the one who placed the spell. Who is to say his words are true? Are we to just take him at his word?” Asmund shook his head. “I will not risk the safety of my town because you believe him. The final decision shall be mine.” He clapped twice and four guards entered the room. “Please take these two men into custody.”
Dhara was first on her feet, clasping the hilt of her blade. “These men are in our custody, Asmund. Stand your guards down.”
“If you do not wish to be arrested yourself, then sit.”
Mavka reached for her. “It is all right. These men are not the ones on trial. And, if the magistrate has any regard for truth and justice in the name of the Father, then their testimonies shall be heard.”
Asmund flinched, a fleeting moment which passed across his face.
Dhara sank back down beside Mavka, her teeth bared.
Inari held his wrists out with a sigh and allowed them to shackle him once more. Aloisia felt powerless as guards took Inari and Ezra from the room in chains.
“That is all.” Asmund dismissed them with a wave of his hand.
Dhara sprung to her feet, storming from the room, the huntresses trailing behind her. Kaja wrapped an arm around Aloisia’s waist to help her walk. With the trial fast approaching, the situation was slipping through her fingers. As the penultimate trial, it could ultimately decide the fate of Fynn and, potentially, Inari and Ezra.
Not for the first time, Aloisia cursed how their search had gone. She’d failed in her promise to Inari, to free him for his aid. And now, because of that failure, he was in chains once again.
They left the estate and joined their sisters waiting beyond the gates. A crowd gathered in Execution Square. The huntresses made their way between those awaiting the trial to the platform.
Aloisia looked up to the tree, its branches stretching out over the wooden platform at its base. A shiver crept along her spine at the thought that Fynn could hang from those branches should this trial go astray.
THIRTY FIVE
MagistrateVesterlefthisestateasthebelltollednine.HighPriestSilasandMotherLusanajoinedhim,bothwearingsilver,thecolourofmourningintheTemple,inhonourofthefallenpriests.Theymadetheirway,flankedbyguards,totheplatformatthebaseofthehangingtree.
Lusana wore a silver diadem atop her golden hair, twisting like a vine across her head. At its centre, an emerald shone, the only decoration in her otherwise sombre attire. She caught Aloisia’s gaze as she passed, her eyes narrowing, if only slightly.
They reached the platform and turned to face the crowd. A hush fell upon the square, a collective held breath as the people of Littlewatch awaited their words.
Magistrate Vester approached the edge of the platform. “We gather this day to witness the penultimate trial of Fynn Smith. The accused stands trial for the crimes of murder and witchcraft. This day we hope to shed light on the true events of that night, the night on which Brighde Smith lost her life. We also hope to find the truth of the shadow creatures which have come to being within our midst. These monsters have – on the orders of another – killed not only Brighde but three more innocents.” He turned to the high priest. Both men looked as if they had aged a decade in the past week.
“Since we gathered at the last trial,” High Priest Silas said, moving forth, “we have lost three of our own to the Forgotten Gods. As you all will be aware, three priests were killed in the Temple, under the watchful eye of the Father himself. The Temple has since laid them to rest upon pyres to ensure the dark magic etched into their skin has truly been vanquished.”
Those gathered touched their fingers to their lips, sending a silent prayer for the priests.
Asmund placed a hand on his shoulder. “From the accounts of the other priest present during this terrible moment, we know the Forgotten Gods are the ones who committed the act. However, these beasts do not act of their own accord. Our job, therefore, is to find the one commanding them to commit these heinous crimes.”
“The accused,” Mother Lusana chimed in, “was found to own books which detail the practice of dark magic. And we have in our custody a shaman, whose own connection to these monsters and murders is under question. Beneath the light of the Father, we pray today we shall find truth and justice.”
“Truth and justice,” the crowd repeated back.
“Bring out the prisoner!” Magistrate Vester bellowed.
At his command, the gates to the prison opened on the other side of the square. Guards escorted Fynn, bound in chains. The crowd was silent as they guided him to the platform, neither jeering nor cheering. The tension was palpable around Aloisia, an undercurrent of fear rippling through those gathered. This time, Fynn knelt of his own accord.
Lusana moved to the front of the platform, facing Fynn with her hands folded before her, the unnerving air of calm about her once again. “We have conducted further investigation since the last trial, particularly concerning the books on dark magic found in the accused’s home. Within these texts were spells and enchantments, further proving the accused had access to materials by which to summon the shadow creatures. Whether intentional or not, the accused called upon these beasts which then killed his wife.”
“Prove it!” Aloisia shouted, moving towards the platform with Kaja still supporting her weight.
Lusana whipped her head around to face her, the calm shattering momentarily as she glared her way.
“Show us these texts and the exact spell he would have used to summon the Forgotten Gods,” Aloisia pressed.
“I am not learned in dark magic, Huntress,” Lusana said. “How could I possibly do so?”
