It took effort to appear casual. Like shebelonged. He nodded a greeting and continued in the same directionas Shea.
She followed him at a distance, not daring toduck away, afraid that would arouse suspicions.
He wasn’t the only one moving around. Sheahad several similar experiences as she moved closer to thevillage’s center. Each encounter got a little easier, though herheart never seemed to settle back into her chest. It remainedlodged in her throat as she followed the crowd.
Her senses became hyper alert as she moved.Her hearing attuned to every sound. Beneath the hood, her eyesdarted around, looking for some sign that she’d been noticed.
Did that woman’s eyes linger too long on her?That man seemed to be paying unusual attention to her cloak. Whatabout the child she had just passed? Her back itched from the feelof his eyes.
The village square was framed by severalbuildings and served as the village’s central hub. Four wide dirtstreets intersected at the square, making it possible to approachfrom any direction. A wooden platform was front and center withfour posts rising into the air.
That was odd.
There should only be two. One for James andanother for Cam. Shea felt a shiver of foreboding run through herat the sight. She hadn’t planned for the unexpected.
She could only hope there were extras becausemore outsiders had been caught and not because Witt and Dane werelast minute additions.
She chanced a glance at the people chatteringnear her. The men had clumped into several small groups as theydiscussed business.
The women had gathered in their own littlegroups as well. Several held young children by the arm so theywouldn’t wander off, while the older children were left to theirown devices. Some chased others through the crowd as the adultscaught up on the day’s happenings. If not for the ominous presenceof the platform, it could have been a regular villagegathering.
Shea wondered if executions were socommonplace that they were treated as social hour.
As she’d said before, border towns werecrazy.
These people’s clothes were simple, with menwearing plain pants and undershirts covered by light jackets invarying shades of color, though most were muted and faded. Somewore hats, but most left their head bare. The women were almostuniversally in dresses long enough to reach their feet and sleevesthat went past their elbows. The patterns were simple and most wereone or two colors. Blue seemed to be a favorite.
She noticed that few wore a cloak similar tohers and none had the hood up. Perhaps she should put hers down.She hesitated, fearing that she’d be discovered immediately as thevillage, at only a few hundred adults strong, wasn’t that big. Allof whom would have grown up in Edgecomb. Surely, they would noticea stranger in their midst, even with all the excitement.
She lingered on the edge of the square toavoid notice, trying to blend in and fought against looking at theroofs. She really hoped the others hadn’t bolted or else she mightbe joining James and Cam up on the platform.
Silently, she urged the people to hurry.Every second she stood there was a second closer to discovery.
More than one person had begun to give hercurious glances, a few even looked like they were about to approachwhen a cheer rose.
Thank God. It was starting.
The captives stumbled out of the buildingnext to the scaffolding, blinking at the sunlight.
Hisses of anger, quickly followed by boosgreeted the men. The children weaving through the crowd hurledrotten pieces of fruit.
Shea’s lips tightened with anger when she gota glimpse of her men.
James looked lost and confused with his handsbound tightly behind him as his captors prodded him forward. Cam’sface was one giant, swollen bruise. He could barely stand uprightand had to be supported by one of his captors.
Two dark haired men, hands bound in a similarfashion, marched behind them with straight backs and lifted chins.They looked neither left nor right, showing no signs of fear.
By contrast, James looked terrified andstruggled against his captors at the platform’s steps as ifsuddenly realizing what was about to happen. The men guarding himgrabbed him roughly by the arms and wrestled him up the steps. Hefought as they tied his arms to the post, even as his jailorsrained blows down on his body. The fight seemed to have alreadygone out of Cam, and they bound him easily.
The strangers took their places stoicallybefore staring coldly at the crowd as it cheered for theirblood.
Shea felt a hint of admiration for thestrangers’ poise. Not many could face certain death with thatamount of dignity.
She took a deep breath. It was time.
She ventured deeper into the crowd, windingher way between the heaving bodies. She needed to be as close aspossible before Witt set off the distraction. It’d be best to bestanding by the platform when it happened. She’d just have to avoidbeing identified as an outsider as she moved.
Easy.
