The notification reached all the citizens of eminence in Winter Gates the next evening – an emergency Scythe Lodge meeting.

The scythe Lodge dispensed three different constituents of the ruling methods of that time – justice, education and regime, through the independent Three Judges; Roy Spleen, Grim Reaper and the mortal Reginald Skarr. "Independent" in that they each specialized in one of these building blocks and individually had equal power. A legend has it that there was some kind of a hive mind-connection between them. Of course, there was no real evidence to support this rumor, apart from their remarkably witty penchant for bickering. And maybe their shared bad mood.

The only party more powerful than the Three Judges was of course, Queen Mandy. However, when the judges were seated in the great courtroom they had the power to decide over her over a new law for example, if their proposal was better than hers their law could be ratified by a 'commoner vote'.

The Scythe Lodge courtroom was located near the town square, as it was a tourist attraction. It was possible for regular people to enter the building, but only a small group of people were allowed in the heart of it at a time. This was the second most sacred place in the entire world of Winter Gates, second after Mandy's bedroom.

The rectangle courtroom was designed to please the eyes of royalty. It was high under the ceiling and lit up by three splendid chandeliers, and the carved stone walls decorated with paintings, tapestries and stained glass windows depicting officers of court and commoners in work. Over the three oak benches there was a large painting of Mandy, positioned to make a parallel with the hearts of the judges, and a colorful stain glass panel depicting a group of medieval princesses quilting. The patches consisted of pages from the Mandy's Law.

It was an unusual number of people in the courtroom that night. The horseshoe-shaped desk below the tall bench was the seat of the most trusted servants of the Queen. Also the more powerful forces in the kingdom; Nergal, The Spider Queen, Eris and Mrs. Doolin; Billy and Mandy's governess, had a position here. To their right were General Irwin and Major Hoss Delgado.

Boogeyman should have had a place here, but had no right to claim it, as he had killed a number of mortal women. The judges knew he just could not help himself. In Winter Gates all mortal women were the objects of love and respect, because Mandy was one of them. All the seats in the jury box were taken, and most of them were conversing softly. With some exceptions.

A green-skinned elephant-like jury member wrote something on his clipboard and turned to a short man in a top hat sitting next to him.

"Hi, I'm Fred Fredburger, and don't you think these meetings are boring? It's like, um, when they say boredom is good for you, I agree that's it's only good sometimes. Yes."

The top-hat'ed man groaned. "Be quiet, you fool! The queen has arrived!"

The room silenced to the sound of trumpet players on a balcony above the benches, and everyone rose from their seats.

Mandy entered the room, with Bailiff Fly following behind her. She was pale, very pale, but showed no other signs of weariness after that horrible clash with the Boogeyman. She was dressed in a black brocade dress lined with gilded edges and intricate gold embroidery, over a wide farthingale. Her visage was unusually grim, and it disturbed some of the others. She stepped up to the dais in the right corner, which was prepared for her.

The trumpets sounded again. Two lovely little princesses opened the arched double doors next to the bench, and bowed gracefully to the judges as they entered the court. Grim first, and Spleen with Skarr following. They were majestically clad in long, black robes. Spleen even had a wig on, although everyone knew it was because of his own vanity more than obligation.

The Queen laid her right hand on her heart and the left on the scroll Fly was carrying. It was her duty to swear the oath on behalf of everyone in the room.

"Whatever fate gave us the power to separate right from wrong - let only that fate bring injustice."

The judges sat down, Grim to the left, Spleen in the middle and Skarr to the right. Everyone else sat down, and Fred Fredburger eventually followed.

"Now," Judge Skarr cleared his throat. "I requested this meeting because four days ago our most revered citizen was kidnapped by the Boogeyman."

In a different time the people in the courtroom would have laughed when hearing Boogey's name. Nowadays it was always accompanied by angry chattering and mumbling.

"The chamber guards at duty that night," Skarr was interrupted by Billy giggling. Mrs. Doolin slapped him with the hard side of her farthingale.

"But he said "doody," Billy insisted.

"Has already given us their statements and they corroborate each others." Billy's interruptions had grown on Skarr. "And we found out – Boogeyman kidnapped Mandy in order to sell our secrets to Mindy and the Crumcrust thugs!"

Everybody booed and hurled paper. Nergal swung his skinny fist over his head. "Communism! This is the first wave, people!"

The Three Judges banged their gavels twice in unison.

"His criminal record started early," Grim said somberly and read up from an immense and overflowing folder labeled "Boogeyman" in all thinkable alphabets, including Fluvii and Cyrillic. "First offense – putting weevils in me salad. After finishing school he started as an in-turn at Southern Sun psychiatric, where he performed nasty experiments on several patients. It was only after the incident at the nunnery we finally caught up with him."

"And the morons at the penitentiary let him leave on good behavior, without consulting us. We should have gone colonial on their hides!" Skarr banged his fists into the counter.

Grim almost sighed. "We had no choice. The democracy makes it possible for a prisoner that has not hurt herself slash himself or others to be released…"

Mrs. Doolin, Mandy and Eris fanned themselves. Scythe Lodge meetings were by far the best entertainment since dirty limericks.

It was Judge Spleen's time to talk. "What we have previously agreed upon is that Boogeyman is a homicidal maniac. Our main priority concerning him is to keep him safely locked up. And that pretty much sums it up for now." Spleen sighed and folded his hands on the table.

"And what about the long-term plan?" Grim was not pleased, either was Mandy. She squeezed her fan ominously.

"We'll get back to that. There's a different reason for tonight's meeting. A far more troublesome reason. Will Your Majesty please step forward?"

Spleen cleared his throat as Mandy approached. "Your Majesty was taken by Boogeyman on Tuesday evening. During the interrogation said perpetrator admits to have stolen the Book of Hours, which displayed the spell for creating The Darkness."

The court was silent as the grave. Even Fred Fredburger looked serious.

"Did Her Majesty generate The Darkness?"

Mandy looked up at him. It was made by her order, as she never touched any of the components herself. But she was not about to tell on Granny Grim, as at least Skarr and Spleen would place the blame on her. And although Grim was there that night, she had to answer for herself. He had no power over her. "Yes, I did. I produced and contained The Darkness in order to restock my arsenal."

This was not completely true, and Mandy could see they did not believe her.

"And why did Her Majesty not consult us? The Darkness is a black, evil force, not a potion. Furthermore…"

"Excuse me, Judge, but something smells stinky!" Fred Fredburger broke the rising tension. Spleen looked up and his gaze was drawn to the window.

Through the glass he could see houses in the distance, swimming in flames. Everyone else heard the people's screaming first and they turned their heads. Before anyone reacted the window was smashed open. Billions of shards from the irreplaceable stained glass rained down on the Lodge members, and an all too familiar guest came floating in on an enchanted shield.

"Hello, there. I believe it's time to start the negotiations."