A stiff breeze was blowing over the skyways as Nannade was once again led to City hall by guards. This time she was led to a different room. She was not yet allowed inside, instead waiting on one of the chairs in the hallway, opposite of the great arched glass windows that were flooding the building with a sunny atmosphere. Soon after, Elissa and Garetas arrived as well. They were informed that the tribunal and the judges were still preparing to receive Garetas to hear his formal appeal. Nannade would have to wait outside. “Only Hidden Hands with a call sign can address a tribunal of five as a peer.” Was what Garetas had said.

After that, they would have to wait some more until they would be called upon by the tribunal. The three of them, well-guarded, waited for the tribunal to open the session.

When it finally was time, Garetas was called in. He pulled a folded piece of paper from his vest pocket, unfolded it, threw a few last glances on it, then put it back in the pocket. His face showed concentration and surety.

The moments that he was inside seemed to stretch ever longer but finally, he emerged from the door. Anticipation unleashed the tension in Nannade’s body as she shot up from her seat a d turned to him.

Garrett chuckled, trying to hide frustration and tiredness. “Not yet, I just made the formal appeal and clarified the issue.”

“AAAND?” Nannade tensed up even more. “What did they say?”

“Well,... I told them that the mark of the sinner would be detrimental to your past years of training and preparation being utilized. They accepted my appeal and will now deliberate and negotiate. That can take a while and they might want any of us for further testimonies. Sit back down!”

The hours of waiting stretched even more agonizing than the few minutes Garetas had been inside. Agonizing boredom. Garrett and Nannade tried to get two of the guards involved in a game of cards, but they remained stalwart. So instead, Garrett tested Nannade's wit with a memory game. It had been a while that she really practiced anything. She had to use her wits and skills many times in the past year, but never were they purposefully tested like this.

The sun outside the broad and high windows was beginning to turn to a golden yellow when Nannade noticed a sound at the door. Shortly after, it opened and member of the five Hands stepped out and turned to them.

“The tribunal has concluded. Please enter.”

Nannade tried to contain her nervousness as they entered and found the seventeen sitting there. The door shut behind her and the room felt like it was tearing her apart from mere tension. The head judge awaited them. She held up a piece of paper and read aloud. “Nannade of Sturreland, we, the tribunal of five Hidden Hands and twelve trusted judges of Sturreland, have come to the conclusion that your punishment shall be branding with the mark of the sinner-“

Nannade's heart sank. Then the judge went on.

“-in accordance with the proceedings and to the discretion of the five Hands overseeing theestablishment of your call sign and reception of your mark of approval by the Lodge of Sturreland. The stone of sin will then be handed over to one of the five Hidden Hands of this tribunal, chosen by us twelve judges, but not disclosed to any one person.”

Nannade tried to make sense of the words she just had heard. “What is that supposed to mean? In accordance with the proceedings...chosen by us but not disclosed to any one person...”

It was Garetas who answered her. “It means you’re allowed to hide the mark of the sinner like you are allowed to hide your seal.”

In her head, she finally managed to arrange the mazy words into a proper meaning. “Oh.”

The judge spoke up again. “Does the defence wish to make an appeal?”

The room was silent as all eyes looked to Nannade, only Nannade’s eyes looked to Garrett.

“Do you?” he asked her.

She turned inward. This was the day she had banished from her mind so many times. It would not get better from here on out, she knew that much. She tensed up her jaw, straightened her back and prepared for her answer. “No, the defence does not wish to file anappeal.” This was her fire to walk into alone.

“Then your branding will be made in Laeddunn in thirteen days from now. Once you are branded, you and your stone of sin will be handed over to the responsibility of the tribunal. These were the conditions that all parties could agree on. Guilt and punishment will be upheld, as will be professional destination.”

Something inside Nannadesank deep, deeper than she could have ever imagined, but was at peace at the same time. She felt that something was coming to an end. She accepted it. It was like trying on a new collar and finding if to be bearable.

“Court dismissed.”

They were back out on the hallway. The sun and clouds outside cast a cruelly beautiful evening upon the city. It was not her day.

“Don’t worry, Fleabag.” Garetas’ tried to cheer her up. “This is an even better outcome that I had expected. You should see this as a victory.”

Nannade could only sigh as the guards put their hands on her shoulders and led her back outside. Garetas and Elissa were accompanying her.

“I know. Still. I guess all that time out there felt so good. I felt so free. Now that comes to an end. I feel like I lied to myself all this time. I forgot that I failed in my lifelong goal. The serpent didn’t set me truly free after all. I couldn’t take my freedom from you. I was betrayed or toyed with by almost everyone, from Bronislaw to Black Surgeon.”, She sighed again. Heavier and heartier than before. “I just...” she stopped for a moment. The guards pushed her on, bit she resisted, only a little. “...I thought I could just take what I wanted, but instead I broke it. For the rest of my life.”

They arrived at the swaying suspended bridge leading to the suspended prison. Nannade sighed another time. “I guess this is where we say goodbye for now.”

Garetas’ tried his best at a smile. “We’ll see if we can get some visitations. They gotta let us see you some day.”

Nannade liked that. They said their goodbyes and Nannade was escorted inside and put back in her cell.

With a loud SLAM the door was shut, the locked several times behind her. She was in her cell again. Thirteen days. She really hoped her teachers would be allowed to visit her.