The Lost Heir's

Chapter Eleven

“Bring her out!” A man dressed in scarlet robes shouted from within the crowd.

The crowd parted as a group of men dressed in ragged worker's smocks hauled a cart with an iron cage on it. A girl with brown hair that sat with knots atop her head, huddled in the corner of the cage, dressed in nothing but a dirty torn dress. She flinched as the people of the town threw rotten food, rocks, and faces. Anything they could get their hands on as a weapon to pummel the girl with.

“Kill the demon!” The low chanting began quiet, running through the crowd in a slow wave before gaining momentum and becoming a loud chant that covered the entire square. The cart stopped beside the platform and the door was swung open.

The girl screams pierced through the chanting, “Please no! I didn’t do it! I’m innocent. I’m one of you!” Soldiers dressed in iron plate yanked her out of the cage. Rhosyn could see her skin was covered with cuts, bruises and dirt as she struggled against the soldier’s restraints. Two more soldiers rushed up and grabbed her flaring legs, as they hurried towards the pyre, tying her to the post.

A hand grabbed Rhosyn’s arm, pulling her away from Saffir. An uncomfortable feeling slithered through her stomach and squeezed her chest.

Rhosyn struggled against the hand that gripped her arm tightly, “Let go!” She shouted. Her hood obstructed her eyesight. She raised her right hand and swung.

“Ouch!” A familiar voice cried out, “Quit it Rhosyn!”

Rhosyn stopped struggling and moved her hood back slightly to see Aria.

“Aria! What are you doing here? You scared me!”

Aria dropped Rhosyn’s arm and stepped closer to her, “Not here.” Before pushing her way out of the crowd. Rhosyn hot on her tail.

In the aisle, Aria spun around and made sure no one else had followed them.

“What’s going on Aria?” Rhosyn asked, noticing Aria continually watching their surroundings like a nervous animal waiting to be cornered.

“Uh...” Aria hesitated, “I kind of messed up Rhosyn.”

Rhosyn chuckled, “What’s new? Did you get into another scrap again, or steal something from a merchant? I’m sure Graver can fix it for you,” Rhosyn paused, “again.”

Aria shifted side to side, looking down at her feet, “Rhosyn, it’s bigger than that. Way bigger.”

Rhosyn sobered up, “What. Did. You. Do?” If Aria was admitting to this, it meant it was catastrophic.

“I may have,” She paused, “gone to the barracks outside the city and got caught playing with a sword, which I stole, and used magic to get away.” She rushed through really quickly, hoping Rhosyn didn’t catch it all.

Rhosyn froze, a chill running down her spine, “Repeat that.” How could she do that, when they've been so careful trying to remain hidden.

“No.”

“You i***t! Do you know what you have done?” Fury burned hot within Rhosyn's chest.

Aria shrunk. If she had a tail like the Falix’s it would have been between her legs, “Yes.” She glanced up at Rhosyn, “But I don’t think they are looking for me. The trinkets work.”

Rhosyn groaned, placing a hand over her face, “I’ll meet you back at home. We need to tell Graver and Telsa.” Before turning and heading out of the alley.

“Wait, Rhosyn!” Aria called out.

Rhosyn turned slightly to look at her.

“I’m really sorry I messed up.” Aria glanced down sheepishly.

“We don’t know if you did. However, we do know you won’t be allowed out of the house for quite some time.” Rhosyn looked away and continued on.

“Where are you going?” Aria called.

“To find Saffir. I’ll meet you at home.” Rhosyn said. “Not like it’s any of your business anyway,” Rhosyn muttered to herself.

She should have known this wasn’t going to be their new home. Aria always had to be selfish and go mess things up. Rhosyn pushed through the crowd, spotting Saffir, she made her way to her.

“Hey, where did you go?” Saffir asked.

“We need to leave.”

“Why?”

“It’s not safe here.”

Saffir blinked at her, “It’s just getting good though.”

“Saffir, we should leave.” Rhosyn urged again, gently lifting her hand and touching the inner side of Saffir’s elbow, tugging her.

“Why? We are just watching it.” Rhosyn tightened her grip on Saffir’s arm. A heavy feeling settled in her gut, making her want to run. If they were to be caught, it would be a disaster. They had finally been able to lose the last group that was hunting them about a month ago. Rhosyn’s eyes darted around the square, noticing the heavy presence of soldiers and priests. This wasn’t just a normal execution.

“Ow, you’re hurting me Rhosyn.” Saffir tried to remove the vice grip that was coming from Rhosyn.

“Saffir, we need to leave now.” The tightening of her chest made her panic.

A man in dark scarlet robes walked onto the pyre. A chain hung around his neck with a massive golden cross swinging against his chest. He held a black book in his hand as he stopped in the middle of the stage. He opened the book and raised his hands up high in the air. Invoking the gods.

“People of Vizara! God, in his infinite wisdom, has elevated me to Bishop specifically that I may, today, carry out the sentence to burn this witch at the stake. Burn her, as surely, she will continue to burn in hell. She was sheltered in the guise of a nun. Hidden amongst us.”

“She’s just a child! One of us!” A woman shouted. Rhosyn saw it was another nun from the same temple. It was rare for humans to protest against the church, much less the hunters.

He ignored the woman’s outcry and reached into his robe. In his hand, a silver-bound scepter appeared, its head surmounted by a pristine white jewel flanked by feathered wings. The bishop raised it high for all to see before pointing it at the girl. Slowly, the stone changed from white to green, bathing the girl with a green hue. Rhosyn felt the blood drain from her face. She was in trouble. The bishop looked at them all once more, arms open wide.

“This witch’s guilt and sins are clear, her very touch rife with poison that kills the souls of all who touch her. But today, her soul will be cleansed, in the heart of the glorious fire. Oh, today I am the instrument. The instrument of the Lord’s justice.” He turned to face the girl cowering against the pole. He lifted his arms high in the air and shouted.

“God, whose nature is forever merciful and forgiving, accepts our prayer that this servant of yours, bound by the fetters of sin, maybe pardoned by your kindness.” He placed his hand on the girl’s shoulder while the other placed a small chain and a cross over her head, letting it rest around her neck.

“Depart, then, impious one, depart, accursed one, depart with all your deceits, for God has willed that man should be his temple.” She began to scream and thrash as smoke began to waft upward from her feet.

“Leave, Devil, depart from the body of this woman and make room for the Holy Spirit!” The priest stepped back as she screamed, and the pyre went up in black flames. The priest turned back, with a smile on his face. Rhosyn felt her heart drop into her stomach and she attempted to drag Saffir out of the square. The scepter hadn’t gone back to white, but was changing color again.