They lowered the gate.
No long speech from the king, then. First piece of good news in some time. Of course, Prince Borin stepped up in his absence, saying a few token words before they brought the prisoners in front of the crowd.
Blake could not have torn her eyes from Eda if she had tried.
One at a time, the prisoners’ crimes and sentences were read aloud. Their guilt had already been decided. This was not a trial—it was a reminder for everyone watching.
This was what happened when you did not follow the rules.
They sentenced three thieves and a rapist before Eda. Within minutes, three men were hanging from the wall, and a woman had lost her hand.
Blood sprayed the ground a few feet in front of Eda, who was shaking despite her best efforts not to. Her age would work in her favour, and it would be the only time in her life her gender would be an advantage. Plus, she had Harlan onside.
Commander of merchants.
Defender of walls.
Protector of little sisters.
‘It’ll be all right,’ Blake said to her mother, who was trembling between them.
Lyndal rubbed Candace’s hand, practically blue from the icy temperature. ‘Of course it will.’
The crowd fell silent as the defender reading the sentences stepped in front of Eda.
‘Eda Suttone is charged with theft of livestock,’ he began. ‘Father Garsea has travelled here from the nobility borough to hear her confession.’
They made it sound like he had travelled from lands afar instead of through one gate.
Everyone turned to watch the man dressed in orange robes make his way over to Eda. The priest was in his late fifties and had one of those faces that gravitated down.
‘I love how they call it “theft of livestock”,’ Lyndal whispered to Blake. ‘Like she rounded up a herd and drove it through the gate. It was one chicken.’
Blake could not look away from Eda as the priest turned to face the crowd.
‘God is merciful,’ he began.
Another speech.
‘A young woman prepared to throw herself at the mercy of Belenus is a child worthy of his forgiveness. Let us hear what this young woman has to say.’
A tight breath came from Candace. Blake took her hand again and squeezed, daring a look at Harlan, who stood to one side. He did not look back at her.
‘What say you to Father Garsea?’ the defender holding the scroll prompted.
The Suttone women held their breath, and Blake’s pleading eyes burned at her sister.
Eda’s mouth opened, then closed. Her eyes went to the crowd, looking between the three of them. Blake gave her a nod of encouragement.
Speak.
Eda looked back at Father Garsea, eyes welling up.
‘Oh God,’ Candace breathed out, covering her mouth.
Eda could not do it.
‘You must forgive the girl’s silence, Father,’ Harlan said, stepping forwards. ‘She’s mute.’
