Kayla watched fearfully as the city guards marched the old man out to the center of the town square. She was still small enough to squeeze through to the front of the crowd that had gathered for the old man's execution, and the adults gathered behind her were too intent on the proceedings to pay any attention to the little servant girl sitting at their feet. It was fortunate for Kayla that she had reached only five Rens of age, although she probably didn’t see it that way. Everyone’s attention was focused on the 10-foot stake in the center of the town square where the guards were piling firewood. 

Kayla, on the other hand, was concerned only about the old man.  She cringed when one of the guards shoved him roughly. She'd grown quite fond of him over the last few months. It didn't seem possible that this kindly old man could be so evil or dangerous that people would burn him at the stake in a public execution.  She watched as they set him up against the stake, and bound his hands behind him with a few lengths of rope. Soon the High Counselor stepped up on a small platform that had been erected nearby, and turned to address the assembled crowd.

"Good people. Thank you for coming. What you are about to witness brings me no pleasure, yet it must be done. You see, the man before you is guilty of the most dangerous forms of heresy. His ideas threaten the very fabric of the society we have worked so hard to create. Perhaps some among you are tempted to place credence in his words. Do not. What you are about to witness should serve as a lesson to us all. Guards, proceed with the execution."

When the High Counselor finished his speech, the guards obediently set fire to the kindling stacked at the old man’s feet with several torches that had been prepared in advance. Kayla was horrified to see that the flames spread quickly around the base of the stake. As the flames licked around the soles of the old man's boots, the crowd began to jeer and mock him, and several onlookers even accused him of being in league with dark powers. Others called him various names. Some called him a traitor.

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This was too much for Kayla to bear. As the tears streamed down her face, she stood and began to work her way back through the crowd, intending to return to her humble servant's quarters. She had taken only a few steps when the atmosphere suddenly changed. There was a sudden collective gasp from the crowd, and the jeering and name calling stopped. Kayla paused and turned to see what had caused the abrupt change. By now she was separated from the old man by several rows of spectators, so she couldn't see what had happened, but she could make out bits and pieces of nearby conversations. 

"Where did he go?" asked one puzzled onlooker. 

"It's the strangest thing I've ever seen," said another, "One minute he was there, and the next minute, he was gone."

Another muttered, "So the High Counselor was right after all. He must have been in league with dark powers."  

"Attention, Attention." The High Counselor was addressing the crowd again.

"Do not be alarmed. This is just further confirmation of the character of the accused. I am sure it must be quite clear to all that dark forces have been at work here today. There is nothing more to be done. Please return to your normal activities."

Kayla didn't know what to make of the High Counselor's strange speech, so she stood where she was while the crowd dispersed. When everyone was finally gone, Kayla could clearly see the burning stake. There was no sign of the old man.