CHAPTER FOUR

Redania, 1209

It was the agonising pain which shattered my skull that had me waking from my deep sleep. With a sharp wince I clutched my forehead, my eyes struggling to adjust to the dark surroundings. Lying on my side, the uncomfortably hard ground pressed jaggedly into my side before I tried to sit up. The ground was slippery, covered in a layer of dirt and littered bits of straw that proceeded to stick to my skin and clothes.

The distinct rattle of metal caught my attention, along with its heavy weight and I raised my wrist to look at the thick cuffs and chain that bound me together. It wasn't all too hard to guess where I'd been taken as I moved to lean up against the damp cell wall. My eyes narrowed through the dark to catch the subtle gleam of the iron bars and I knew indefinitely. I'd been taken to the very bowels of this town – the dungeon.

A place meant for criminals, certainly not me.

Drawing my knees up, I wrapped my arms around my legs as I tried to member what had happened for me to end up here. The memories came flashing back piece by piece and I saw the goons' faces. Then I saw Merit as he thrashed about in a terrifying turn of events before suddenly dying. The scene became even more terrifying as I began to realise the gravity of the situation and what had really taken place.

Scenarios started play out in my head. The consequences of everything that's happened today have landed me in a world of trouble, and I'm at a complete loss as to how it had actually happened. I wondered if I would be able to plead my case to the Mayor – to tell him that I'm not responsible for Merits death. How could I be? Merits men were all there and I remember everything now. I never laid a hand on him.

It wasn't me.

My thoughts were drawn closed at the sound of footsteps. Looking up, two burley figures marched my way; one of which carried a flaming torch whilst the other fiddled with a ring of keys. I recognised them straight away as being the towns' guards and not Merits men, to which I'm relieved.

Standing up from the ground, I watched as the iron bars were unlocked before being slid across. One of the guards yelled "Let's go!"

I didn't move to the man's command but voiced my own instead "I want to talk to the Mayor"

"You don't make the orders!" replied the guard who held the torch. Clutching the sword at his side, he added "Make one wrong move and I'll cut you half"

I swallowed dryly, appalled at their harsh words and treatment. By the looks in the men's faces, I knew it would only be a waste of what little energy I have left to argue with them. So instead, I moved forward with a rattle of my chains to comply with their orders.

No other words were spoken we continued to navigate ourselves along the narrow path of the dungeons. In fact, the guards kept a right away from me. It was as if I carried the plague. However, it was all too soon that we neared the exit of the dungeon and a hum in the air caught my attention. It was subtle at first and hard to make out, but seemed to grow increasingly familiar as we neared the doors ahead.

The small vibrations in the air began to turn into a clear sound, like that of an angry hoard. Slowing my pace as a chill crept up my spine, the familiar tang of fear settled its way into the pit of my stomach and tears began to brim my eyes.

"Do you hear that?" taunted one of the guards as we stood by the door "That's for you. They're all up there waiting"

Those words caused me to tremble on the spot and I thought they might even give way as the doors to the caught yard were opened. A title wave of raging voices were instantly blasted in my direction and I winced as an unknown object was tossed my way; hitting me in the shoulder. My eyes widened in shock as I finally saw the sea of people all standing in the court yard. Some were holding lit torched, while others pushed against each other to yell in my face with their horrible words.

Heading further into the mass of the crowd, I shrivelled as I saw all kinds of faces; including those that are familiar. They were people I'd traded with at the market just earlier today, and they were also people I'd grown to know over the years. I thought some of them were good, which is why it horrified me so much to think that they're not only standing here but also taking part in this madness.

Shoving our way as the people clambered to get near me, I tried in vain to search for one particular person; who I know would never be part of something like this. There was never a time more than now that I wanted to see Bartha's gentle face. I wanted to wrap myself in her arms and feel the warm embrace, but she was nowhere to be found.

I could only see the people.

My eyes drifted on from the crowd to lay themselves upon the Mayor as he stood on the front steps of his home. A large and round bellied man, the Mayor held his head high in might with brown hair and a pointed beard. The man didn't say anything as I neared toward the steps, but instead he held his fist up in the air and crowds wicked roar died down.

The Mayor lowered his arm and spoke "You know why you've all been summoned here this night" he said with a deep voice "A heinous act has been committed. A man is now dead. Murdered by the hands of this woman – a vile witch!"

The crowd roared once again and I couldn't help but defend myself "I'm innocent!"

But the people wouldn't have it as they denied my claim "You're liar! Nothing but a filthy witch!" they all shouted the same thing in one form or another. They all truly believe what the Mayor had said I am, and I was quick to give up on hopes that the people would ever listen to me; just look at them all.

"Make no mistake!" called out the Mayor "His death will not be in vain and no crime goes unpunished by the law"

Gesturing with a wave of his hand, the peopled turned to look at a tall structure at the back of the court yard, shrouded by a large blanket. The guards standing by it pulled the cloak to reveal a wooden pyre, standing tall and terrifying. The people cheered at its unveiling while I swallowed the lump that'd formed in the back of my throat, tears spilled silently from my eyes.

Falling to my knees I looked up at the Mayor "Please, you're making a mistake. I didn't kill him!"

"I've seen the body with my own eyes. Nothing so fowl could ever be conjured by a mere human woman. You are what I say you are and you'll die by the stake for the treason you've committed on this town – including that of your disloyal guardian"

It was in that instant that I was struck with a heavy blow of pain. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces as I turned to see the pale figure being brought out from the very same depths of the town's dungeon. Bartha stood shaking in tattered clothes. Battered and bruised, her brown locks had been shorn close to the scalp.

I went to run toward her, but the guards took hold of me "No" I called out with a shake of my head "Bartha!"

"Take her!" ordered the Mayor, to which the guards beside me gave a hard shove.

"Move!"

Leading me back through the crowd, the people parted in order to form a direct path to the pyre. They wanted to see me die and they were willing to see it happen so easily. Gazing up, the large wooden pyre stood tall and large filled with logs and stick all stacked and tied together atop a large wooden platform.

Climbing the few steps, I took the opportunity and ran to Bartha. Taking her face in my hands, she slumped against me. He red blood stained my hands as I kept her close. Her lungs let out a wheeze with every breath and I could only look on with pure hatred in my eyes. They'd beaten her within an inch of her life and now they were going to take it completely; with no remorse or regard for life.

"I'm sorry" I whispered against Bartha's forehead "I should have listened".

Her head shook in my arms "No, it's me. The fault lays with me – because I've failed you, and your mother"

Looking into Bartha's green eyes, she was abruptly ripped from my grasp and I screamed in protest. My arms desperately reaching out to try and keep hold of her for as long as I could. Pushing us closer to the pyre, the guards positioned us back to back against the main post while another wound thick rope to keep us in place.

Squirming as the rough material chafed against my already bruised skin, I struggled to reach through the layers of rope in order to find Bartha's hand. I could barely reach her fingertips, but the little amount of contact was enough to let her know that I'm still here.

Standing atop the staircase of his home, the Mayor hadn't come down but rather watched on from a higher place. The guards moved about to keep the crowd at bay, but my eyes could only focus on the ones carrying lit torches. My mind raced, wondering which one would be responsible for starting the fire that would end my life. Time seemed to pass ever so slowly as my eyes wandered to find – him.

A distance away I spotted the ashy locks of hair and glimmering yellow eyes of a man. He stood alone and off to the side, and unlike the rest he wasn't chanting for my death. Instead, he stood there quiet and stern, as if wanting no part in this. I briefly wondered why the man bothered to stay, if not to be like everyone else. However, my attention toward the stranger quickly vanished at the site of a large glimmering torch.

The swell inside of my stomach curdled and twisted and I fought even harder against my restraints "Bartha" I uttered, but there was no reply. She hadn't moved or spoken a word since they'd tied us to the pyre. It was as if she'd already gone from the world.

The guard holding the flame thrusted the torch in the air for the people to see, then wasted no time in shoving it deep within the pile of wood bundled around my feet. Sucking in a sharp breathe of air as the sparks ignited a path through the sticks, I could already feel the heat creeping its way toward me. Everything inside of me screamed to get away from the fire, but there was no way out.

Instead, those yellow flames licked and swirled their way along; burning hotter and brighter until the warmth turned into a searing heat as it reached my legs. Burning away at my clothes, grey smoke trailed up toward the sky and I couldn't help but cough and splutter as I struggled to breathe. My eyes watered and my nose ran from the intoxicating smell, and it wasn't long until the pain intensified.

Through the crackle of the fire, I could hear Bartha as she moaned in pain. Her voice only reached higher until she began to scream, while I cried and wailed in not only the agony of my suffering but that of Bartha's. I could hardly handle the sounds she made as well as the nonsensical words that left deformed from her lips.

Rage grew deep inside of me as the skin of my legs bubbled and blistered, and the taste of iron tinged my mouth as I bit through my lip. The flames had yet to reach my waist, but this slow death didn't make me wish for my life to end any sooner. Instead I took one last glance at the dreadful faces which surrounded me, before looking straight up toward the night sky and its stars – and I made a wish.

I wished that this whole retched village would burn, just as I am now. My mind filled itself like a dream with the image of this town going up in wicked flames. I heard all their cries as they screamed for mercy, and I watched as they all clambered over each other to try and save their own lives. The site was terrifying and chaotic. A sea of flesh and bone lying in the ash and rubble; men, women and children alike. None of it mattered anymore. They would all perish in a whisper and a scream; like the one that now pierced the air, as if from a wailing banshee.

There's only darkness now.