Update
Still finishing off chapter six. Once this is done and posted I can get on with writing the more exiting chapters that follow. In the mean time, here is a taste of things to come:
He was stood in the dock, unable to do anything more than listen as the evidence that would decide his fate was given. He was wearing a new suit, bought especially for the occasion, no doubt. It was expensive, he was sure: fine black wool, with a crisp linen shirt. They had let him wash for the first time since his incarceration, but it was not the comfort he had expected it to be.
Clothes to be buried in, he realised suddenly. They've already come to a conclusion, before I even stepped through the door. Indeed, as the verdict was read out it became clear most of the courtroom had reached the same conclusion. When the word "guilty" was pronounced there were no cries, exclamations or gasps. They all expected it, Tobin thought. Every man here thinks me a murderer.
The judge banged his gravell. "Tobin Whitlaw, for the murder of the Blackwater sorceress, I sentence you to be hung by the neck until dead. This is to be carried out immediately."
Two police officers tried to lead him from the dock, but he found he had quite forgotten how to use his legs. He stumbled and with his hands cuffed behind his back he was unable to stop himself falling. He ended up at the bottom of the steps in a crumpled heap. Someone laughed harshly.
The two officers dragged him to his feet and man-handled him out of the building. He stepped, blinking, into the beautiful spring sunshine. He was in the wide forum, standing before the dark wooden gallows. A crowd was assembled for the spectacle of his death, enthusiasticly calling for justice to be done.
He could do nothing but allow himself to be lead up the steps to the rope. Even if he believed he had any chance if escape from here, where could he go? No one would harbour a man they believed had slit a girl's throat, and it seemed everyone believed that, even his own family.
As he made his way up to the platform, he was able to look out over the crowd and see people he recognised. Near the front were the Earl and his family; Felicity was jeering, smiling even. Nearby were several sorceressess who shared her opinion of his fate. He looked out further, hoping to see a friendlier face; hoping to see Rosney. He caught a glimpse of someone who might have been him, but the man's back was turned and he was walking away.
He did not want to face his family, but when he saw them he could not look away. They were standing at the front of the crowd, almost directly below him. Milo was turned away, his face buried in his father's side. He will be all alone now, Tobin thought. Once there were three of us, but he is the last one left. His father was watching him, however, with eyes cold and emotionless. He did not seem angry, or even disappointed. When the hangman placed the black velvet bag over his head Tobin was grateful for being spared those staring eyes.
He felt them place the noose around his neck, the rope course and rough. Somewhere to his right a drum sounded, and the crowd went silent. Then the hangman threw the switch to release the trapdoor.
He was stood in the dock, unable to do anything more than listen as the evidence that would decide his fate was given. He was wearing a new suit, bought especially for the occasion, no doubt. It was expensive, he was sure: fine black wool, with a crisp linen shirt. They had let him wash for the first time since his incarceration, but it was not the comfort he had expected it to be.
Clothes to be buried in, he realised suddenly. They've already come to a conclusion, before I even stepped through the door. Indeed, as the verdict was read out it became clear most of the courtroom had reached the same conclusion. When the word "guilty" was pronounced there were no cries, exclamations or gasps. They all expected it, Tobin thought. Every man here thinks me a murderer.
The judge banged his gravell. "Tobin Whitlaw, for the murder of the Blackwater sorceress, I sentence you to be hung by the neck until dead. This is to be carried out immediately."
Two police officers tried to lead him from the dock, but he found he had quite forgotten how to use his legs. He stumbled and with his hands cuffed behind his back he was unable to stop himself falling. He ended up at the bottom of the steps in a crumpled heap. Someone laughed harshly.
The two officers dragged him to his feet and man-handled him out of the building. He stepped, blinking, into the beautiful spring sunshine. He was in the wide forum, standing before the dark wooden gallows. A crowd was assembled for the spectacle of his death, enthusiasticly calling for justice to be done.
He could do nothing but allow himself to be lead up the steps to the rope. Even if he believed he had any chance if escape from here, where could he go? No one would harbour a man they believed had slit a girl's throat, and it seemed everyone believed that, even his own family.
As he made his way up to the platform, he was able to look out over the crowd and see people he recognised. Near the front were the Earl and his family; Felicity was jeering, smiling even. Nearby were several sorceressess who shared her opinion of his fate. He looked out further, hoping to see a friendlier face; hoping to see Rosney. He caught a glimpse of someone who might have been him, but the man's back was turned and he was walking away.
He did not want to face his family, but when he saw them he could not look away. They were standing at the front of the crowd, almost directly below him. Milo was turned away, his face buried in his father's side. He will be all alone now, Tobin thought. Once there were three of us, but he is the last one left. His father was watching him, however, with eyes cold and emotionless. He did not seem angry, or even disappointed. When the hangman placed the black velvet bag over his head Tobin was grateful for being spared those staring eyes.
He felt them place the noose around his neck, the rope course and rough. Somewhere to his right a drum sounded, and the crowd went silent. Then the hangman threw the switch to release the trapdoor.