“I am his fiancé,” Mara exclaimed in frustration. “I have a right to see him.”
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“I don’t care if you are his wife, ma, or grandninny.” The tall guard shook his head. “I’ve told ya before, the answer is no. No one’s allowed to see him, not even his da. On chief’s orders.”
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“Fine. I want to speak to Chief Muntoose, then.”
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“Not Chief Muntoose, silly girl. Chief Inquisitor,” he smirked at her surprised face. “Yae. Chief Inquisitor himself has come all the way from Brushwick to see the murderer get punished. And he says no one is to see the boy.” He spat the word boy, as if it brought a foul taste to his mouth. “If you ask me, I say you escaped a bad ending with that faardi boy. You know what he did to that poor man? Go home and count Joha’s blessin’ that he didn’t do you in before he got caught.”
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“But he hasn’t done anything,” she shouted in fury.
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“Yeah, yeah. They all say that. Now run along before I put ya in for bothering me,” he waved his hands dismissively at her. “Go.”
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Seething, she turned around and started marching back towards the inn. The whole town had gone insane, in her opinion. Not two nights ago these same people had been spitting on Feldor Hargreev’s name and thanking Joha that he had finally left the town. Now, suddenly, he had sympathizers everywhere. While she was inundated with sympathetic merchants and concerned housewives eager to express their horror and relief about how she had barely managed to escape a terrible marriage.
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“I told you that boy was a bad egg, Mara.” Onorith, the jeweler’s wife from next door, had scolded her only that afternoon. “I don’t know what you were thinking, getting engaged to him.” Of course, she had never told Mara anything of the sort. In fact, often she had caught the randy matron making coquettish eyes at Eren whenever he was around.
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“I never trusted him. He always had a look about him, didn’t he?” The grocer’s wife shuddered from beside her. “As I always say, bad blood will tell.”
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“Oh, shush, you two,” the carpenter’s old widow scolded the two biddies. “Don’t you see the poor girl is already in shock, without you two badgering her about it.” She took Mara’s hand. “We are just concerned for you my dear and so relieved that he got caught when he did. Imagine marrying that boy!”
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And so, it went on. Mara had quickly realized neither these women, nor anyone else in town really cared that a man had been murdered. Or that a boy’s life was completely ruined. Eren would never be able to live in this town after this. It was all an exciting who-dunnit sport for them to bring color to their tedious meaningless lives. All they cared about is their entertainment and their prejudices, and in their minds, they had already decided Eren was guilty. As if that was not enough, finally when she was fed of their bigoted prattle and thrown them off her property, they had the gall to be furious at her and tell her what a ungrateful little wench she was.
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As she neared her inn, stamping through the street past disdainful eyes, she saw Horath scrubbing vigorously at the front walls with a mop and a pail of suds. She frowned. She knew she had not asked him to wash the walls today. Horath was supposed to be inside minding the bar.
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“Horath?” She called as she got close. “What are you doing?”
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Horath turned around. Seeing her, he went pale and backed away trying to hide something on the wall. From his side she noticed splashes of red paint.
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“What are you hiding, Horath?” She demanded. “What is it?”
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Horath shook his head fiercely.
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“Horath, show me,” she ordered on the verge of losing her temper.
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Guiltily, he moved out of the way and Mara’s blood ran cold. Someone had painted ‘fardi’s whore’ and “butcher’s trollop” in big bright red letters. The malice of it stole away her breath. Horath tried to approach her comfortingly, but she backed away.
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“Well, well. That is downright nasty, cousin.” Gannett Haysteed’s voice carried over her shoulders from behind her.
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She whirled around. He was standing on the opposite side of the street; with the gang of thugs, he hung around with all the time. He smirked at her furious face and then languidly walked up to her. She saw Horath stiffen.
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“What do you want, Gannett?” she asked the boy coldly.
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“I just came to check up on you, Cousin Mara. You know, what with your new betrothed being arrested for murder and everything, it must be so awful for you right now. So, I thought you could use a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. We are family after all.” He glanced at the painted letters and his smirk widened. “People can be so awful, can’t they?”
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“We are not family, Gannett,” she gritted through her teeth.
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“Oh! We may be distant, but family is still family.” Then he grinned at her, roving his eyes for over body lecherously. “You know, if you are feeling low, boys and I know a way to cheer you up. After all, what family is for.”
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She felt the blood rise in her cheeks and Gannett’s lackeys erupted into laughter. Horath growled from behind her, and she saw Gannett stiffen in fear as he started towards him. Horath was twice the size of Gannet and could probably take the rest of his ape troupe by himself as well without breaking a sweat. She put her hand in between them to stop him and smiled sweetly at Gannett.
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“I know another way to cheer myself up, Gannett. Unfortunately, I am not in the mood to see your cowardly asses slumped in front of my inn today. But, if you really want to make me happy, why don’t we give it a try.”
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Gannett’s grin fell from his lips, while his thugs’ laughter was cut off midway.
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“You better watch your mozi, cousin. You don’t want to be threatening me right now.”
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“The only mozis I am seeing is the group of scrotchless curs in front of me. So, unless you want to be licking dung and dust from the street, I really suggest you all scurry along.” She lowered her hand, allowing Horath to pass her. She couldn’t see Horath’s face but whatever expression Gannett saw on him paled him. He moved backwards, Horath following him till he was standing beside his troupe.
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“I am telling you, Mara. You don’t want to be making enemies out of me, not after what happened to your little faardi fiancé,” he shouted.
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Horath growled like a shafu and lunged towards him, and they ran. Mara stepped forward hurriedly and caught Horath’s arm before he went chasing after them. Threatening them was one thing but, as much as Mara wished for it, beating up the son of the mayor would cause all sorts of trouble.
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“Come on, Horath,” she tugged at him. “Let’s go. It’s not worth it.”
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His rage subsided and he turned back and started mopping up the wall again.
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“Leave it.”
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He looked up at her questioningly.
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“That’s not worth it either,” she sighed, “Come on”, and led the way inside.
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----
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She had just sat down to go over the account for the day, not that there had been much business lately when Elta came bursting in through the tavern door. She looked at her best friend’s flushed excited face and groaned.
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“Elta, I am really not in the mood for gossip right now.”
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“No! You must hear this,” Elta said, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper, even though they were the only ones there. “It is about Eren.
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Mara’s heart skipped a beat. “What about Eren?”
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“Not here.” Elta grabbed her hand, pulling her off the bar stool and leading her into the kitchen. “I know why they are holding him for so long. They think he did it.”
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“But he didn’t do it. He wouldn’t,” Mara exclaimed. “Why would they think that?”
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“Mara. It is not good.” Elta's face turned grim, an expression she had rarely seen in the usual bubbly woman. “I got it from one of the guards that my husband is friends with.”
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“Got what?” Mara’s heart thumped with anticipation and dread.
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“They found his promise band Mara, near Feldor’s body.”
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Mara gripped the edge of the stone island to support herself.
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It can’t be.
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“I am sorry, Mara,” Elta reached out to pet her shoulder. “It looks like he did it. Maybe he got too drunk and lost control. Any man would lose control after what Feldor said about him in front of the whole town.”
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But Mara had stopped listening because something about Eren being drunk stuck with her. Suddenly, pieces started falling into place. Gannett Haysteed had gotten Eren drunk the night of their engagement, the night Feldor died. Gannett Haysteed never got along with Eren. She doubted he had even talked to him before. Eren had also told her he had taken off his promise band, so he did not lose it. As drunk as Eren was that night, anyone could’ve taken the promise band out his coat pocket. Finally, Horath had informed her that the boys left together that night.
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Then it finally dawned on her that none of this was about Feldor or even Tam, as everyone including her, was assuming. This was about the inn, her inn. If Eren was found guilty, her engagement would break. If she didn’t get married by her twentieth naming day, next summer, the inn would go to the Haysteeds, her and her ma’s only living relatives. They were willing to let an innocent man be executed for a crime he did not commit just so they could get their hands on her inn. The outright malice of the plot shook her so much, she staggered and nearly collapsed where she was standing.
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“Mara, are you alright?” Elta grabbed her shoulders before she fell.
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“Yes,” Mara replied breathlessly. “I’ve to go.”
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“Where are you going?”
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“To the mill,” she called back as she sprinted out of the kitchen, gesturing to Horath to follow him as he hurried out the door. She had to find Myron and explain to him what was happening before it was too late.
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When they arrived at the mill, a new surprise awaited her. It had been ransacked. The storehouse doors hung from its hinges as if someone had forced them open. Half of the storehouse was empty. In the rest half, sacks lay cut open with grains spilled all over the floor. She made her way to the house and found it in similar condition. The kitchen door lay smashed at the threshold. Inside, everything was in disarray. The table and chairs had been upturned. Pots and pans and food lay scattered all over the floor. She picked her way in through the kitchen calling out Myron’s name but there was no answer. Upstairs, both bedrooms were a mess, mattresses and pillows ripped, furniture smashed, drapes torn, and clothes thrown out in heaps everywhere. She noticed Eren’s favorite book, The Voyages of Garoth the Grim, lying on his bedroom floor and picked it up. She was surprised how bare Eren’s room was, with no wall hangings, portraits, or decorations of any kind, but decided now was not the time to ponder over such things. They combed through the entire property, but it was empty, not a single soul was in sight, until a voice from behind them made both jump.
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“What are you two doing here?”
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It was Old Barthy, the groundskeeper. Frail, stooped and deaf as he was, Mara doubted he was much use around the mill except for telling tall tales. But she knew Myron and Eren had kept him on anyway, too attached to the old man to let him go in his twilight years.
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“Myron,” she asked him, frantically. “Where is Myron?”
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“He’s gone.” Barthy shook his wrinkled head sorrowfully, the wisps of white hair around his bald head swaying lightly in the evening breeze.
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“Gone! Where?”
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“I dunno. Left suddenly in night. And then they came and started tearing everythin’ up. I tried to stop them, but they wouldn’t hear it. Told me to piss off or they put me in.” He stopped even lower, and Mara was afraid he was going to fall. “Oh! My boy, my poor, poor boy,” he wailed. “They’ve got it for him. Saw it in their eyes. They gonna make him hang.”
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“Who? Who did this?”
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“That chief and his thugs and the mayor, who else?”
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He suddenly staggered and Horath rushed to his side to support him. Barthy grabbed Horath’s arm and then looked at Mara pleadingly.
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“But you’ve to believe me girl. He’s good boy. That Feldor was a snake, but he wouldn’ kill him. He wouldn’ kill no one.”
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Mara walked over and gently placed her hands over his wrinkled ones.
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“I know, grandda. I know Eren didn’t kill Feldor. That is why I need to talk to Myron. When is he coming back?”
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Barthy shook his head. “Didn’ tell me nothin. There was a time when he told me everythin’. Now, Joha knows what’s wrong with him. Muttering to himself, all the time.”
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This information was new to Mara, and she did not like the sound of it. Why would Myron just leave all sudden without telling anyone when his son was in jail for murder?
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“They said they be making announcement today in the square at sundown,” Barthy added.
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“Announcement?” Mara’s heartbeat quickened. Had they already decided then? Was she too late?
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Barthy nodded. “A guard told me. Chief Muntoose and Mayor and everybody be there. I was walkin’ over when I heard you guys shoutin’.” Then he started pleading again. “Do somethin’. Save my boy.”
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“Don’t worry grandda.” She squeezed his hand in reassurance that she didn’t feel herself. “I won’t let anything happen to Eren. Come with us. We’ll go to the square together.”
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As they started walking towards the center of the town, she wondered how she was going to convince this chief inquisitor that Eren was innocent with the chief and the mayor around. But she knew she had to do something. She couldn’t let Eren die just for trying to help her save her inn.
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When they arrived at the square, the sun hung low in the west and the sky had started to darken.
Mara’s hopes sank. A large crowd had already gathered around the stone podium in the middle of the field that filled the center of the town. On the podium stood Chief Muntoose looking around imperiously at the gathered audience. The mayor stood to his right and was in a deep conversation with a severe looking large-bellied man with grey hair and black leather clothes. Mara guessed him to be the Chief Inquisitor from Brushwick. Beside him was a scrawny priest that Mara did not know, with a haughty expression on his face.
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Leaving Barthy at the periphery, she started nudging through the crowd to get to the podium. But before she could reach it, Chief Muntoose raised his hands to silence the audience.
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“Quiet everyone,” he bellowed over their heads. “Quiet. We have completed the investigation of the disappearance of Tam Hargreev and the murder of his father Feldor Hargreev and have finally reached a conclusion.”
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Mara frowned. Disappearance of Tam Hargreev? She had thought everybody knew Tam had run away.
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“As you know, it has been horrible few days for all of us. Silver Peak is a peaceful town filled with good honest hardworking folk. We do not have murderers or thieves or demon-worshippers. In fact, there has not been a single unnatural death in our town in over thirty years.” He spread his hand in a grand gesture and Mara saw many heads in the crowd nodding in agreement. “That is why, I know many of you have been very fearful the past few days of what is happening to our town. And I, as the chief of the town guard, thank you for maintaining the calm and giving us your faithful support in restoring the peace and order.”
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He gave a dramatic pause, then continued. “Even a single killing is a heinous crime, a vile affront against the natural laws of our blessed mother Joha. So, imagine my horror when I realized that I may be dealing with two murders, not just one.”
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Shocked murmurs spread through the group. Mara’s heart filled with dread. What she was hearing was preposterous.
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“I know what you all are thinking. Yes, I am talking about the heinous murders of Tam Hargreev and his father Feldor. We have determined both father and son were murdered.”
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Gasps echoed through the audience at the dramatic reveal. Mara wondered sarcastically what Muntoose was doing as chief of town guard when he clearly had the calling of an alley bard.
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“But, if you are thinking both murders were done by the same person, you will be wrong. No. This case is not as simple as that. And that is why, I had to call upon his honor Chief Inquisitor Mervin Gaythorne, who came all the way from Brushwick, to lend me his expertise.” Muntoose gestured towards the chief inquisitor as if revealing a major character of a play. The chief inquisitor simply smiled at him in a dignified response.
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“The chief inspector has discovered that are there are in fact two murderers in Silver Peak, not one. Feldor Hargreev was murdered by Myron Millstrem.” This time Mara was shocked too. She had not expected this twist. “Yes. Feldor Hargreev’s murderer is Myron Millstrem. As to why Myron killed Feldor, the story goes back to three years ago, when Tam, Feldor’s son, suddenly disappeared. Feldor had accused Eren, Myron’s son, for his son's disappearance. Unfortunately, without any evidence to confirm his accusations, we could not do anything at the time.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJhkQqfudP
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“But Feldor did not give up and went searching for evidence of his son’s whereabouts. And what he found so profoundly shocked and despaired him, that he could not help but announce Millstrems’ treachery in front of the whole town. So, what did Feldor find out that caused him to lose his life?”
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Muntoose paused again. It was skillfully done. The audience was now completely hooked, waiting breathlessly for the final reveal.
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“He found out that his son Tam and the accused Eren were, in fact, heraadhin, who snuck out at night into the demon ruins to, well, I do not have to describe to you true Joha-believers what sins they performed there.”
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Clamor erupted as almost everyone in the crowd started talking at once. Mara felt many eyes shift to fixate on her and she shriveled under their scrutiny. As for the Muntoose’s reveal, she was numb with abhorrent disbelief. They were not only going to make Eren take the fall for a murder he did not commit, but they were also going to destroy both him and Myron completely. After this, there will be no one in the town who would even look at them without disgust and disdain. She looked over at the mayor and the fake solemnity plastered across his face, and her anger turned into hate. The man was not only corrupt, but he was also evil. A hand squeezed her shoulder gently and she was grateful she was not standing there facing this farce alone.
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Muntoose brought up his hands again and the discord died down. “Please folk. There is more. From the boy’s confession, we have found out that was not his only unholy crime. In fact, Tam wanted to end this depraved affair and told the boy so that night. He was ready to face the judgement for his sins, but the boy would not have it. In fear and rage, Eren killed Tam and left him in the mountains to be eaten by wild animals. And then he came back home, slept in his bed, and told everyone that Tam had run away because he hated his father. Can you imagine a more reprehensible lie? Not only did he seduce a young innocent boy to commit unspeakable acts, but after killing him, he even put suspicion on his poor grieving father, just so he could save himself.”
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Again, many nods accompanied his words and the expression of the gullible townspeople told Mara they were already convinced of Eren’s guilt. It reminded her again why she hated this town so much.
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“What about Feldor? Why did Myron kill Feldor?” Someone shouted from the crowd.
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“Why indeed? The truth to that, only Myron can tell, which he will once we catch him. Our belief is that when Feldor accused Eren publicly, he was finally forced to acknowledge his son’s unnatural proclivities and crimes. He killed Feldor to hide his son’s shame and then placed this promise band,” he took out a gold circlet from his coat pockets, “with the body so that his son would be finally punished. Of course, when he saw that the Chief Inquisitor had come to oversee the investigation, he realized his ruse would be revealed and he ran away.”
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“But how do you know it was Myron who killed Feldor and not his son?” Another shout emanated from the crowd.
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“We have an eyewitness who saw Myron near the alley where Feldor’s body was found. You see, that was the most puzzling piece of this puzzle … .”
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Mara had heard enough. She felt lightheaded and did not object when Haroth protectively grasped her arms and guided her out the crowd and away from the prying eyes. She walked over to where she had left Barthy but the old man was gone. She didn’t blame him. She wished she had never come herself. Her head swam with the momentousness of what she had just witnessed. It was a witch trial and they had thought of everything from a promise band conveniently found at the body to an eyewitness. This was not just the machinations of a greedy mind; this was maliciousness born of deep hatred. She couldn’t help but feel that Eren and his father were bearing the brunt of the loathing that was meant for her, just because they had decided to honor an old vow that Myron had made to her father.
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“I don’t understand why they are waiting till the day after to hang the boy. If you ask me, they should hang him immediately.” She heard a passerby as the crowd finally started to disperse.
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“I have heard they don’t just hang people like him. In big towns, they have a special machine to punish scums like these. They are probably fetching that from Brushwick. That will take a day or two.” His companion replied and then they moved out of Mara’s hearing range.
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The day after? So soon!
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Panic gripped her. She had to do something now. She looked around and spotted the Chief Inquisitor still standing near the podium with the mayor, the chief and the priest. She would’ve liked to catch him alone, but she couldn’t wait any longer. Threading hastily through the departing crowd, she hurried toward the quartet with Horath close on her heels.
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As she neared them, her anxiety built. She tried to figure out how to get the chief inquisitor’s attention without alerting the others. In the end, she decided to go with the simplest approach. She was going to be calm and serene and ask the chief inquisitor if he could see her in private. No matter what the man’s position, he would not refuse such a request from a woman. Then, when the mayor and the chief were out of earshot, she would tell him in the most concise way what she knew and suspected. An accomplished inquisitor like him should immediately see the logic in her argument. And then afterwards. She did not know what would happen afterwards. But it was clear to her that the mayor and the chief were far more dangerous than she gave them credit for. Chief inquisitor would come to the same conclusion and probably tell her to not breathe a word to anyone while he looked in on the two of them quietly. It wasn’t the best outcome she could hope for but at least, hopefully, it will buy Eren some more time. Surely, they would stay the execution if the Chief Inquisitor told them to.
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“Chief Inquisitor?”
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But when she finally came face to face with the man, her reserve fled. She could smell their sour ale breath from a distance away. They had come to announce Eren’s execution drunk as boars!
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“What do you want, girl?” Chief Muntoose raised his eyebrows slightly swaying where he stood.
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“Chief Inquisitor, may I speak with you in private?” Her voice sounded too meek, and she hated herself for it. But the chief inquisitor was an imposing man, and she couldn’t help feeling a little frightened of his cold stare.
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“Who are you, little girl?” He enquired in a commanding voice.
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“She is the boy’s betrothed, your honor.” Mayor replied from behind him.
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“Ah! The innkeeper? Mara, is it?” He raised an eyebrow and she found herself nodding meekly. “Well, it would be inappropriate of me to meet you in private Mara, seeing that I have just sentenced your betrothed for murder.”
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She flinched at his casual tone. Then he saw Horath. “And who might he be?”
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“That is her groundskeeper, your honor.”
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“A nogar, eh?” The chief inquisitor’s lips twisted in displeasure. “Whatever you have to say, you can surely say it here in front of everyone. There is no need to worry. We are all men of the law here.”
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She took a breath to calm her nerves. “Your honor, I believe there has been a mistake. Eren did not kill Tam. This is not what you think it is about.”
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Both his eyebrows rose at her assertion. “You think I made a mistake in the investigation, do you? Then pray tell me, what do you think you know.”
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She flushed at his patronizing tone but forced herself to continue. “This is about my inn, your honor.” She threw caution to the wind. “Haysteed and Muntoose have orchestrated this entire farce so the mayor can steal my inn!”
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The Chief Inquisitor’s eyes widened, while the mayor simply looked at her with a sympathetic smile.
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“Why you insolent, little?” Muntoose spat. “How dare you make such vile accusations?”
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The Chief Inquisitor raised his hand to silence him. “That is a grave accusation, my dear. Do you have any proof?”
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She did not. But now that she had his attention, he had to come to the same conclusion she’d once she told him everything.
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“Your honor, next summer, I will come of age and if I’m not married by then, the deed of the inn will be transferred to my oldest living male relative, which is Mayor Haysteed. He and his son Gannett have been after the inn for a very long time.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoJfYxHGN0
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“I know all of this!” The Chief Inquisitor interrupted her. “You are not telling me anything new.” She flustered.
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“It was Gannett who got Eren drunk the night of the murder so he could steal his promise band.” She pointed out desperately.
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“Another grave accusation my dear, but do you have any proof?” He repeated himself, firmly.
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She hesitated. She did not have any proof. She had no way of knowing if anyone had actually seen Gannett steal the promise band.
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“You do not have any proof and yet you come in my presence throwing wild accusations and trying to undermine my work and reputation?” His voice thundered and his expression hardened. Mara felt herself cower under his cold gaze. “And you insult these honorable men publicly who are simply trying to do their duty and bring peace and justice to this town?”
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“Ah, your honor. Do forgive the poor girl.” The mayor gave the Chief Inquisitor’s shoulder a gentle pat. Then, he looked at her with the same patronizingly kind smile she had been receiving from everyone the entire day. “She is simply in shock and does not know what she is saying.”
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“Distressed as she may be, that is no reason for such insolence, Rogen,” the chief inquisitor huffed. “Are all the townsfolk of Silver Peak so disrespectful?”
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“I assure you, your honor, that is not the case,” Muntoose exclaimed in dismay.
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“If I were you girl, I would show some gratitude for saving you from such dangerous and depraved men.” He turned to Muntoose. “Get this silly little girl out of my sight, before I lose my temper.”
Chief Muntoose tried to grab her arm, but she brushed it off. Then without a word, she turned around and left with Horath at her heels, red-faced, nearly in tears and feeling smaller and more humiliated than she had ever in her life. He was not going to listen to her. She was sure she was right but without any proof no one would listen to her.
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“Young people these days, Rogen. They’ve no respect for their elders and authority,” she heard the Chief Inquisitor's booming voice carry across the empty field.
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Then as she started nearing her inn, its dark windows reminding her of the chief inquisitor’s cold black eyes, she had another thought. It wouldn’t have mattered even if she had proof because they were in on it. All of them.
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