Two Stones

Clayton slowly rose to his feet.

“Young man?”

“Good sir, I wish to address the jury.”

“Proceed.”

Clayton bowed nervously. Anna could see his hands trembling until he reached forward to touch the edge of the table to steady them. “L-lords and ladies, I-I would like to speak on Anna’s behalf… as a character witness. I met her less than a week ago… while pursuing her as a witch hunter.” Clayton gripped the table edge, fighting to focus on the words.

“She had every reason to kill us. We were threatening her life. But she chose to only scare us away. Later on, she saved my life when I would have otherwise been left for dead. Yes, she has used magic. But it hurt no one. I believe that sentencing her to death would be unjust.” He swallowed hard, visibly relieved to be done. “Thank you.”

Clayton took his seat, looking at Clara for affirmation. She smiled back softly and nodded.

The robed man appeared unmoved by Clayton’s words. “Does anyone else wish to speak?”

He waited a long time, seemingly expecting someone else to stand up.

“Perhaps a member of the jury?” he coaxed, keeping his back to them.

A young noblewoman finally stood. She looked briefly toward the amber eyes, until catching the dagger-like stare directed at her. She abruptly looked away. “The witch has admitted to using magic. Her character witness confirms it. How can we possibly show leniency? The law is the law. Any use of magic necessitates death as punishment.”

A wave of nods passed through the jury.

She continued. “If we show the witch leniency, will not the next witch ask for the same? And the next? The people fear magic because of the severe penalty. If that penalty is diluted, we may face turbulent times.”

More nobles nodded.

The young noblewoman quickly sat down, visibly exhaling once seated.

Clara rose immediately but waited to be recognized before speaking. “Lords and ladies, if death is your decision, could she at least be permitted to seek her end at the hands of The Great Undeath?”

Only two jurors nodded. Several shook their heads.

The striking noblewoman finally stood, appearing displeased. She locked eyes with Clara. Clara stared back, unafraid.

“Only one may stand at a time,” the robed man said. He looked at Clara. “Let Duchess Dilara speak.”

Clara sat down begrudgingly.

The duchess ran her hands slowly down her dress, smoothing it, forcing everyone to wait for her. “Facing The Great Undeath requires a long journey,” she said at last. “I fear the witch could slip away in the dead of night. Then what? We go into hiding again? No, her execution should be swift. Otherwise, we risk our lives if her hands should ever be freed again.”

“She has been genuine all this time,” Clara shot back while seated.

“Perhaps to fool us all,” Dilara replied coolly.

The robed man looked sternly at Clara. “Do not speak out of turn, or you will be removed from this proceeding.”

Anna stood. She stared at Dilara. The duchess stared back.

“The witch should speak,” the robed man said.

The duchess sat down, her eyes never leaving Anna.

“Thank you,” Anna said softly. She turned her attention from the duchess to the rest of the jury. “If death is your decision, I humbly ask that you let me be ended by The Great Undeath. I was summoned here to face it, and I failed, at the cost of my friends' lives. I do not know why I survived the first time. I will not survive it again. Let me perish where my friends lie so I may honor their sacrifice.”

Murmurs broke out among the jury.

“Does anyone else wish to speak?” the robed man asked.

The duchess stood.

“Does anyone who has not spoken yet wish to?” he reiterated.

No one else stood.

“Very well.” He looked to Anna and then to the duchess. “Please be seated.”

On cue, a soldier came up from the roof hatch carrying a large wooden jewelry box. He approached the robed man. The man lifted the lid, revealing a number of small, charcoal-dyed paper envelopes.

“Since all who wished to speak have done so, we now move to sentencing.”

He cleared his throat. “The law is the law. The accused has pleaded guilty. Leniency cannot be granted where the penalty is death. However, the law is not rigid on the manner of execution. Therefore, the jury will vote on that.”

The man retrieved the envelopes from the box and began handing them out, two at a time. The noble in the front row passed an envelope to the noble behind them.

“I am sure the jury is aware of how this process works, but for the guilty party, it should be explained,” the man said. “Within these envelopes there are two small stones. One white. One black. You are deciding how the guilty party should be put to death. Remove the white stone for the witch to be cast into the ravine below. Remove the black stone for the witch to seek The Great Undeath.”

He paused to hold up one finger. “You are to remove only one stone.”

“Please discreetly remove the stone of your choice, then close your envelope and return it to me. They will be drawn at random and the results tallied. In the event of a tie, the final envelope drawn will be the decision.”

“You may begin.”

The jury opened their envelopes and made their selections. It happened very quickly. Anna was surprised at how little hesitation there was.

With their decisions made, the envelopes were handed directly to the robed man. He immediately placed each one in the jewelry box.

Seemingly finished, he started to count them aloud. “...nine, ten, eleven.” He paused with a deep frown. “I am missing one.”

The duchess stood, holding up her envelope. “I wish to speak.”

“You may not, Your Grace. The envelope, please.”

She passed it over with a scowl.

“Since you interrupted the proceedings, your vote will be first.”

He opened the envelope. “Let me remind everyone that the stone remaining indicates which stone was not removed.”

The man reached into the envelope and pulled out a black pebble. “Black,” he said, holding it up in the air between his forefinger and thumb. He overturned the envelope, shaking it to show nothing else was within.

He set the black pebble inside the jewelry box, then drew another envelope, opening it. “Black.” He held the result up for everyone to see, then turned the envelope upside down and shook it to show it was empty.

The process repeated. “Black.”

“Black.”

“White.”

“Black.”

“Black.”

“White.”

“Black.”

Clara looked to Anna. “I’m sorry.”

“Black.”

The man paused on the second-to-last envelope.

His frown deepened.