Rushing along the river, Silver had quite a collection of questions for Sage when he returned. Not the least of which was wanting to know why the Baron seemed to be expecting him. In hindsight, the Guardian realized that Baron Monte was not in a nightshirt, but his regular clothing, so unless he was out for a midnight stroll, the nobleman knew that Silver was coming.

'It was a trap.' Silver could deny his thoughts no longer. 'The Baron took the mirror knowing I would come after it. Did Sage know? If so, I owe Ethyn a huge apology.'

Silver's thoughts stalled as a splash of color off to his left captured his attention. Along the river's edge, something that was once sky blue lay in a shredded heap. The lovely garment was now streaked with crimson. 'Blood.'

As the Guardian lifted the cloth from the ground, his heart clenched. He knew this dress. Only a few days before, he had complimented Sage on how she looked while wearing it. "No!" he said aloud, his hands gripping the edges of the fabric. They were clenched so tightly that he could feel his nails cutting into his skin even through the tattered dress.

Scanning the ground, there were two sets of footprints in the soft ground, and at least some signs of a struggle. Silver traced the faint edge of a larger imprint. Someone's body had hit the ground with significant force. Two knee prints of a second person were on either side.

The Guardian's mind raced. His stomach churned at the possibilities this scene suggested.

Looking for more clues, Silver only found a few more shreds of Sage's dress. He ran up and down the river's edge, but there was no sign of Sage or her attacker. Trying not to panic, the Guardian rushed to town to see if anyone could help him with what had happened.

By the time Silver reached Rynnlee, the morning had worn on and it was approaching midday. The town was eerily still, and a chill ran down his spine. 'Where is everyone? Did whatever happen with Sage scare them?'

The Guardian stopped by the brunette's home, but it was empty. Nothing seemed wrong. Indeed, everything was in perfect order as always. He left her dwelling and moved toward the center of town.

As Silver approached the inn, a lone figure was standing in the square. A dark purple cloak clung tightly around her shoulders with its hood thrown back. In spite of the warmth of the day, the woman seemed very cold.

The beautiful brunette looked about nervously. Her eyes fell on the Guardian and a mix of hope and shame washed over her face. It was more than Silver could bear.

Forgetting everything else, he ran to her and pulled her into his arms. "Sage," he called affectionately. "I was so worried. I thought something horrible happened."

"It has," the woman answered in an even tone.

Silver released Sage and tried to understand her words. The Guardian could see only emptiness in her eyes, and he instinctively grasped for her hands to comfort her. She jerked away and winced at his touch, clutching her arms to her chest.

Around her wrists, raw skin from her bindings shone an angry red. The image of her torn clothes at the river crashed against Silver's conscience as anger overtook him. His eyes flashed brightly.

"Who did this to you!?" Silver demanded to know. "Was it that soldier?"

Shame flooded Sage, but her remained placid. "Did you get the mirror?" She countered.

The guardian knitted his brow at her refusal to answer, but produced the trinket for her to see. "Did you doubt I would?"

Sage pressed her lips together as she closed her eyes. "No," she responded slowly, "but I hoped you wouldn't. I'm so sorry."

Taking a step away from her champion, Sage raised her the arm in the air. It was the signal.

From all sides, soldiers surged forward, pouring out from the adjacent houses. Silver was blindsided; his senses had failed him. 'How?'

As part of the Captain's plan, a detail of soldiers from the nearby fort had been requested in the night to put down a rebellion that was supposedly happening in Rynnlee.

When the men had arrived that morning, Borit dismissed his ragtag band of men and kept the legitimate soldiers to do his bidding. Having their official reports to go with his was crucial to avoid suspicion.

Knowing none of this, Silver could only try and puzzle it out on his own. Behind the soldiers, the villagers peeked out from behind curtains and doors. It now made sense why no one was in the street. They were being forced to stay inside.

The other piece of the puzzle that fell into place caused the Guardian's heart to shatter. Although Sage could not see his face, Silver's voice was wracked with pain. "Ethyn was right, wasn't he? You set me up," he asked softly.

Losing her composure at last, Sage's eyes brimmed with tears. "I'm sorry," she repeated.

Two soldiers wrenched the Guardian's arms behind his back as a third ripped the mirror from Silver's clenched fist.

On cue, a sharp nosed captain appeared from inside the inn with a triumphant grin. "Well done, Sage!" He applauded slowly. "You've caught the elusive criminal red handed."

The guard holding the mirror proffered it to the captain. Holding up the looking glass for all to see, he screwed up his face in mock confusion. "Now guardian, this seems far too fine an object for a man-of-the-people like you to own. How do you come to have it?"

Silver responded in a low growl. "Sage said it was hers. I was merely returning it to her."

Like an accomplished stage actor, Borit furrowed his brow. "Is this yours, ma'am?" he held out the mirror for her to examine.

Sage gave the mirror a cursory glance before glaring at the captain. She wanted so badly to strike him, but she held her temper. The look in his eye told her she had better answer or suffer the consequences.

When she did not immediately answer, Borit turned to the townspeople that were slowly gathering. His eyes lit on a soldier holding the arm of a petit blonde. Sage followed his gaze, and her face fell as she realized Lily had been recaptured.

"Well," Borit pressed, "is it your mirror?"

She sighed, "It is not mine, Captain."

"Indeed you could not own this mirror. No peasant could." Borit took a breath and addressed the astonished crowd. "I have received word from the Baron's manor this very morn that it was robbed last night. I have an arrest warrant for the man charged with stealing a priceless treasure: this mirror. The Baron has given me special permission to exact justice."

Borit produced a paper to prove his words.

In rare cases where the crime committed was egregious and the magistrate unavailable, a baron could permit a sentence to be carried out without a formal verdict.

These types of exceptions were generally reserved for times of war and only for crimes which endangered the public, neither of which was the case now. It was a clear abuse of power.

"I demand a trial," Silver said forcefully.

"Very well. Can anyone provide evidence of the crime? Ah yes, here it is in my hand. I, therefore, find you guilty. Satisfied?"

Silver jerked free of the men that held him, causing them to stagger backward. They were reluctant to regain control of the Guardian. His strength was clearly beyond what they could easily subdue.

Silver's nostrils flared. "You couldn't catch me in a crime, so you fabricated one? I hardly call that justice."

Borit cocked his heat to one side innocently. "Do you deny stealing from the baron?"

Silver shook his head slowly. Whether or not he had been tricked, he had done the deed.

"Why?" The word sprung from Silver's lips and hung in the air. The question had been meant for the woman staring at the ground. She turned her head away.

"Why what?" Borit crossed his arms.

"Why bring her into it?" the Guardian asked, motioning to Sage.

Borit's eyes danced with power as he neared. His voice became so quiet only Silver could hear.

"You really don't know? I did it because I can. Anyway, you brought her into this, not me. You think you are superior with that strange black cloak and the antiquated title of Guardian, but you are still that useless thief I dumped in the river. Now be a good 'guardian' or things will get very messy for the former soldier and the mayor. Right now I just plan to charge them as accomplices, but if you want they can share your fate instead."

The Captain pointed and Silver could see his friends in the crowd. A gag was in each of their mouths as they stood anxiously between a group of soldiers.

"You fiend." Silver hissed, but there was nothing he could do. He held up his hands in surrender.

"And what are you?" Borit scoffed at the insult. "You are nothing."