Trouble at the Gallows

The trumpets’ call drew the people of Oakbridge out of their homes and to the town square. Tagrosi soldiers stood at every street corner, their heads held high. Masked legionnaires walked on the stronger rooftops, overlooking the scene.

I was in the midst of that crowd, the call having interrupted my conversation with Jeseka. Somewhere along the way, I lost her, and shortly thereafter I discovered that the trumpet had not been calling us to the town square, but rather to the gallows beside the sheriff’s office.

I found a spot where a tree’s root had raised the ground just a few extra inches and stood there, so I could see over the heads of those around me.

In front of the gallows stood a line of masked legionnaires, with Captain Marth in the middle, her spear in hand. Up on the platform I saw Consul Eon Maganti in his wheelchair, and standing on the trapdoor was a woman with her hands tied behind her back and a burlap sack bag over her head.

Peering down to the crowd in front of the gallows, I spotted the wide-brimmed hat of Sheriff Jayden Wood. By the hat’s tilt, I could tell he too was straining to keep eyes on the scene unfolding.

Murmuring spread through the crowd, some of it fearful and some of it furious.

Piers stood under a tree nearby, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword. He was only one of many Tagrosi soldiers who watched the crowd as if they were a swarming mass of cobras, ready to strike at any moment.

“Attention please!” Eon called out, raising both of his hands. When the crowd fell quiet, he spoke again. “Thank you. You’re very kind. But, unfortunately, I cannot say that for all of you. We came to this city so that we could march further east and end the tyranny of King Octavian Monde. Upon our arrival, we informed you that we wish no ill will toward the people of Oakbridge, we merely wish to cross the river here, and hold this town for as long as it takes to move our forces across.”

Feigned sadness took its place on Eon’s face and he slowly shook his head. “It has never been my intention that anyone here in Oakbridge should suffer or die. In fact, it was my hope that our presence here would bring money into your little town, make your citizens rich, that we might foster good relations between the Republic of Tagros and the people of Oakbridge.”

Eon pointed an accusatory finger at the woman wearing the burlap sack over her head. “But this woman has betrayed our trust! She has taken actions which are neither in your best interests nor mine. My scouts spied her heading northeast, away from Oakbridge. When they caught up with her, they found this piece of paper in her pocket.”

Eon reached inside his coat and produced a rolled up slip of paper with a ribbon around it. With deft fingers he undid the ribbon, cast it aside, and unrolled the paper. “If something should happen to me and you find this note on my body, then you must bring it to the marquis. Tagrosi soldiers have taken the town of Oakbridge hostage. I know not what they intend to do with us, but their leader has already spoken about his plans to march east and conquer the kingdom of Prayn.” Eon took in a sharp breath between his teeth and shook his head. “Get this message to someone who can do something about it.”

Eon crumpled the paper and held it out in his palm. One of his rings glowed and the paper caught fire, its ashes blowing away in the wind like dust. “What a shame,” Eon said, hanging his head as if the note’s contents brought him the deepest sorrow. “Allow me to educate you all--” he lifted his head, staring at the crowd with fury on his brow, “--on just what typically happens when an army like mine takes a town like yours. Typically, one of three things happens. First, the visiting army will often wipe out everyone in the town so that no one can run off and tell the enemy of their movements, just as this woman has attempted to do. Second, often the visiting army will take the people of the town prisoner. Lock them in their homes and force them to remain there until the army has left. Third, sometimes the visiting army will kill just enough people in the town to make sure the rest of them behave themselves.”

Eon’s eyes narrowed to slits and his nose curled up in disgust. “I wanted to do this without bloodshed, but one of your own has left me no choice.”

Cries of fear reverberated through the crowd, and the people of Oakbridge backed away from the gallows. I glanced over toward the school. If this turned into either a riot or a mass execution, I needed to get to Zac immediately. Then we would decide what to do.

The soldiers on every street corner widened their stances, as if ready to fight, and rested their palms on the hilts of their still-sheathed swords. Among them I spotted Piers, whose worried lip told me he feared the moment would soon come when he was given the order to attack the people of Oakbridge.

“No need to fear!” Eon cried out. “So far, this woman bears the sole blame for her crime, so her life shall be the only one we take. Unless you give me a reason to change my mind.” Eon rolled his chair over to the woman’s side and yanked the burlap sack off her head.

Keren!

It was my son’s teacher on the gallows, bound and gagged.

Eon gestured to Keren and peered out at the crowd. “Tell her she is a traitor.”

Stunned silence met his command.

“Now,” Eon pressed. “Tell this bitch she is a traitor, who could have brought blood and death down upon us all. Say it. She is a traitor!” He leaned his head back and folded his arms. “Unless, of course, you agree with her actions? Do my soldiers have many enemies to worry about here in Oakbridge?”

The implied threat was surely not lost on anyone, but all in Oakbridge remained silent.

Eon clasped his hands down on the armrests of his wheelchair. “It seems you leave me no choice…”

I heard the sound of iron-edges inching their way out of their sheathes.

“Consul Maganti!” Jayden called out, his hand shooting up into the air.

“Ah! The sheriff speaks at last.” Eon gestured for Jayden Wood to join him on the gallows’ platform. “My dear friend, share with us what’s on your mind.”

Jayden ascended the ramp on the right side of the gallows, took off his hat, and held it in both hands. “Thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Consul.”

“It’s my pleasure, Sheriff,” said Eon. “Go ahead.”

Jayden looked at Keren, then back at Eon. “If I may be so bold, I think that the people of Oakbridge would be far happier if we got to punish her ourselves. Just as you have been so gracious to… you know… discipline your soldiers when they did us wrong, we can discipline Keren for doing wrong to you.”

“What do you propose?” Eon asked.

“I’ll throw her in the jailhouse,” said Jayden. “Until such time that you have already left the town. That way she learns a harsh lesson and is no threat to you during that time.”

Eon chuckled. “Isn’t he wonderful? Give him a hand!” The Consul started a hearty applause, but he was the only one clapping. “Jayden, I think it’s wonderful, all that you do to serve and protect your people. Really, I do. But, at this point, this is more than a mere matter of whether or not this woman is a threat to us. She has set an example for others here, others who will now try to be ‘heroes’ where she failed. Unless they see truly horrible consequences for such actions.”

Eon gestured to us, though his argument was directed at Jayden. “When I told them she was a traitor, it seemed none of them agreed with me. What am I supposed to conclude based on that? It seems that the people of Oakbridge agree with her actions, which means that they are all a threat to my soldiers now.”

My blood chilled with the realization that there was little to no way that Eon was going to give Keren over to Jayden. He was only entertaining the debate so he could defeat Jayden’s arguments and dismiss his suggestions. Keren was doomed to die, no matter what Jayden said.

The debate went on, with Jayden making a merciful and diplomatic point, only for Eon to cast it aside and make it sound foolish. Jayden was far from ready for a public debate like this. He was a genius investigator, but arguments were never his forte.

A flash of desperate inspiration hit my brain. I picked up a rock and threw it at the gallows. “Traitor!” I shouted. The rock hit the ground near Keren’s feet.

The debate halted, and for a moment all eyes were on me.

“Keren’s a traitor!” I yelled with my fist in the air. “Traitor!”

Somewhere between the hateful looks of the Oakbridge residents and the satisfied smile of Eon Maganti, my stomach turned and my knees went weak. I slumped back against the tree which propped me up and hung my head in shame.

“Indeed she is,” Eon said. “So, there is at least one man in Oakbridge who understands.” The Consul turned his head to look upon Keren’s fearful face. Her pleading eyes desperately tried to soften his heart of stone. “And therefore she must die.”

He opened his palm in front of her face. One of the rings glowed, and a beam of golden light, thin as a needle, pierced through her forehead.

Her body collapsed.

She was gone. My son’s teacher, whom I’d known for years, was gone just like that.

Cries and yelps sounded through the crowd.

Followed by shouts of anger.

When I dared to look up again, all life had gone from her eyes, leaving only terror and confusion.

She’d never smile again. Or call me in to lecture me about my son’s behavior. I felt as if a small piece of my soul had just been snatched away, leaving inside me a tiny hole through which chilling winds whistled.

“Death to Tagros!” shouted a man in the crowd.

I agreed with the sentiment, but this hardly seemed like the time to seek revenge.

“Death to Tagros!” shouted another.

“Draw swords!” Eon commanded. His soldiers did as they were bid, and I heard the hum of countless iron-edges igniting at once. Among them stood Piers, his weapon in hand, though the point of it was directed at the ground before him.

The people of Oakbridge backed away from the Tagrosi soldiers and the gallows.

The masked legionnaires raised their batons and Captain Marth pointed her spear at the people.

Eon called out. “I came here with my army, but in mercy did not engage your pitiful little town in battle. Would you prefer we had it out? We can test the strength of your arms, and see how quickly my soldiers can slaughter the lot of you! Strike the first blow, Oakbridge, and we will begin.”

My eyes searched the area for the quickest, clearest route to the school. If my fellow citizens did something stupid I needed to get Zac out of there.

But several moments of silence went by, and neither side acted against the other.

Finally, Eon said, “Well, it seems you’ve come to your senses. Good. All of you, go about your business. And someone should come take this woman’s body.” He pointed to Keren. “She deserves a proper burial and a proper funeral. Even if she did make a mistake by crossing me.”