This house was little, but charming. It wasn’t what you expected of anyone with power, but they definitely had extra money to spend on little details. Like painting the outside a robin-egg blue, and having flower boxes on the windows, and trinkets lining the shelves on the inside. Really, it would be a house you would expect to see a family gathered around a table inside, or teaching their children how to read. It was nighttime, so the two children were tucked into bed and kissed on the forehead, before their mother paced back and forth. Her hadn’t returned last night, which was peculiar of him, especially now that their son has been so ill lately, he often needs his father during the night. He had went to that silly play, which she was sure he stayed after to drink and talk with the actors. Honestly, she had never seen him drink much, but perhaps their lives were too stressful to handle for not. She waited in the living room with the newspaper in her lap, so she would know as soon as he was back.

After about twenty minutes she heard a horse’s hooves clank across the stone path. This was peculiar, as her husband didn’t own a horse, nor know how to ride one well enough to take it out through the night. She pulled back the curtain and looked outside to see a burly man throw his leg over the side and come to the door. The woman panicked, either this was one of his coworkers or a guard. As worried as she was, she had children (and one of them ill) that could be harmed if she didn’t comply even if it was the worst situation. She pulled the heavy wooden door open and called out to the man, “Is everything alright?”

He just continued to walk toward her, then came to her doorway. She now knew for certain he was a royal guard. He spoke up, “Are you Ms.Williams? Mister Ethan William’s wife?”
Her heart stopped, there was something wrong with her husband. Was he hurt? Did he have too much to drink? Would she have to somehow convince him to come home in a drunken stupor? She blamed herself for this, if he came home drunk, she would probably beat him. She figured she would need to pick him up, but why a royal guard? Shouldn’t they just send a smaller force, like the ones who enforce curfews?

“Yes, is he alright? I do apologize if he’s been drinking again, I’m sure I can convince him to calm,” she gave him a sweet smile and batted her eyes, since worrying and looking fabulous were two things she was best at.
“I was directed to inform you that your husband has been found practicing magic-”
Magic? Ethan couldn’t do magic.
“-that caused three to die and many more to become fatally injured.”
The room was spinning, she became faint.
“In such case, you are arrested for affiliation. You and your family will be interrogated.”

She felt herself being pulled forward, but he body was limp and empty. She didn’t understand what was going on, “Wait!” she called out and pulled back, “My children, you can’t take them. My son will surely die-”

He shouted, “Ma’am, I am directed to take you to the palace” he gritted his teeth at her, “If you comply, it will be easier on all of you.”

Her mind was still fuzzy, “No, you don’t understand. He’s very...very... weak, he... needs... constan-”
A needle had poked into her side, and was now taking it subduing effect. The woman blinked a few times, seeing a dark, blurry image of two more guards come out of the back of the carriage that the other man pulled here.

~

Melanie shifted herself to her toes to get a better look. The town centre had a stage on it, as it was usually just a square with a few benches on the edge and vendors lining it with a square fountain in the middle. The fountain was, of course, off and covered with the portable, wooden stage. Atop the stage was a podium, a pole covered in chains, and a chest. She cringed at the thought of what might be in the chest, as the pole almost always meant there was a prisoner. On the stage, though, was the one thing she hated. He stood in the center, speaking to the crowd. He was dressed in some of the most gaudy clothing choices she had ever came across, It didn’t matter what he was saying, she would disagree with it anyway, but she still decided to tune in to see what was going on.

“He was a respectable noble, and did good for all of Shalodud. The second man was a town hero, we all remember the day that he saved a man who fell into the well as it crumbled...”

[i]The well that you caused to crumble…[/i] Melanie tried her best not to roll her eyes, but it didn’t work. The only thing more strange than Namil saying something good about someone, is the fact that he seemed to be talking about people who seemed good even in his eyes, and with a setup like an execution. Maybe he wanted to chain someone to a pole and let these people beat them as a treat?
“-And they will be dearly missed.”
Things weren’t really coming together for Melanie. She debated on trying to just sell some more goods here while so many were gathered. Just then, a gust of wind came from behind, and continued to blow through the area. She looked up and saw some clouds making their way up to them, then looked to the front and spotted some clouds coming closer, too. [i]Great…[/i] she thought [i]at least I won't have to worry about the plants later…[/i]

“So now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for!” 
[i]Your resignation of position? Your suicide note?[/i] Melanie’s sarcasm was on a roll today. She didn’t join the crowd that thrust their hands into the air and cheered.
“The treacherous [u]thing[/u] that has caused us so much turmoil..”
[i]You’re finally admitting it?[/i] The crowd hissed, booed, and cheered like they were animals, not noticing the few drops that fell from the clouds joining in a slowly spinning circle.
“The man, and I use that word loosely, who decided to murder on a day meant for fun and relaxation”
[i]It wasn’t just one day, but I’ll give it to you for being so honest…[/i] the rain began to fall more steadily,
“This practitioner of dark and evil magic has slain too many of our good people. He must be punished!” Namil fed off the crowd, the rain picked up and sped down at people’s faces like they were being smacked with a tree branch, “You will decide his fate, because the people have the right to determine the severity at hand” the group chanted “Kill him! Kill him” and matched Namil’s rage, “Please, now, we bring out the criminal!” the cheers turned into booing and hissing, along with the occasional shout of “Down with magic!” or the like.

The wind began to swirl around, then Melanie spotted who they were talking about. She was so taken aback by their accusations that she had simply been stunned until this moment. Three guards drug out a beaten man,one flanked to each side and one behind. The third guard pulled the hood off the man, and she took only a second to recognise him. He was a rather fortunate merchant, the recent economy had helped him, although not much. He had a wife, and a little girl, and an even smaller boy. A very, very sick boy. One that she was to save tonight. Without thinking, Melanie pushed her way through the crowd in effort to reach the front.