Over the next hour they watched as the stage was constructed then the workers left.

“Odd.” Judd frowned then shook his head and looked to the others. “What would you think if I tried to get some work at the quarry?”

“Giving up on your knighthood quest?” Verne asked, drinking a mug of water. “I think they melted snow for this…cold…”

“Probably came straight from the well,” Aalis pushed the cup back towards him, “for all the fluids you drank last night, I suspect you are all dehydrated. More water.”

“Why are you thinking about working in the quarry?” Giordi asked, puzzled.

“It’d be a way of earning some money to pay for things.”

“You cannot be expected to pay for all our expenses.” Aalis argued.

“Giordi cannot earn anything while he doesn’t have a lute. Verne’s archery, while excellent, will only get him conscripted into LeMewn’s guards and Caste isn’t costing me a coin at the moment.” Judd shrugged.

“I could do something.”

“Like what?”

Aalis faltered. “Oh…well…”

Judd sighed and leaned closer. “Your skills are essential but here, as you so noted, they might generate the wrong kind of attention.” He paused. “I could try selling that hilt. The swordsmith in Fort Faine offered me some money for it.”

“Oh, that is a shame.”

“I know, but what else can I…is it that late already?” Judd peered out of the window.

“What is it?” Giordi asked.

“Look.” They crowded together to see what Judd was pointing at. A line of grey workers were leaving the quarry. “It can’t be the end of the working day, surely. I know I slept in but this is ridiculous.”

“Maybe they work in shifts?” Verne said vaguely.

“No one is leaving. They’re all…coming into town.”

“Anything else?” The tavern owner’s wife put her hands on her hips and eyed them sharply. “I mean, other than water?”

“Could you tell us why the workers are coming back to town?” Aalis asked as sweetly as she could.

“It’s a full moon.” She replied tartly.

“Is that significant?”

“Are you from Astaril?” She huffed at them. “Out here, there are monsters.”

“Isn’t there a wall around Quarre? We heard there were very few monsters to deal with.”

She tossed her head. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

The four companions shared confused looks which did little to enlighten. The sun had clipped its apex and was starting to dip down the other side of the sky when the clocktower rang for mid afternoon. The residents of Quarre began to emerge from their homes, pouring out of the streets of the grey city and filling the square. Moved by curiosity, Judd and the others left the tavern to stand by the wall. There were several boxes and crates, possibly placed against the tavern to provide a higher vantage point for those at the back of the crowd. All of Quarre turned out for the chiming of the bell to stand before the stage.

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“I’m guessing it’s not a spectacle,” Giordi mused, “or else there would be a rush for the front.”

“I can see a gap between the crowd from the stage to the well,” Judd craned his neck, perched on the corner of one of the boxes, “like a path.”

“Perhaps a wedding?”

“No one is waiting at the well,” Judd stepped down, “the crowd seems to be giving it a wide berth too.”

Aalis looked at him. “What is going on?”

“We’re about to find out.” Verne jerked his head and they saw Lord LeMewn descending from his house, in robes of dark purple and gold. He was preceded by three guards and followed by three more. Following them was Clariet and Caste.

Two of the guards stayed with Lord LeMewn as he climbed atop his stage, Clariet standing in front of it but off to one side while Caste hovered nearby, invited but uninformed it seemed, judging by the confusion in his green eyes. The other four guards walked down the path Judd had observed, past the well and towards the gates.

Lord LeMewn held his hands high and the light chatter softened then silenced completely.

“People of Quarre, men, women, children…my people,” he declared in a practiced manner, “it falls to me to keep you safe. It is my obligation, my responsibility…my pleasure to protect you and to ensure that Quarre is a city of honour, safety and security. That is why all grievances and transgressions are dealt within your sight, that I might be transparent before you and that you will see justice done.”

Clariet gestured and the crowd turned towards the gate.

“The guards are returning.” Judd whispered. “They’re bringing someone…”

“Who?”

“He’s tall…he’s taller than the guards…” Judd’s eyes widened and he ducked his head.

“What is it?” Aalis urged him.

“He’s…he has the dark skin of Maul.”

Aalis paled. Judd licked his lips and looked up again, the dark skinned man marched between the four guards, his ankles and wrists shackled. He had two thick braids through his dark brown hair from his forehead, ending at his crown where the unfettered hair joined the rest of his shoulder length locks. His eyes were dark and his expression was even darker. In fact, everything about him was dark, including the air of menace he exuded.

The guards marched him to the stage then forced him to his knees.

Clariet stood in front of the man with no fear, taking a scroll out from his cappa clausa. “Suvau,” he spoke clearly, his voice carrying to every ear in the stillness, “you arrived in Quarre on the day following the half moon, having travelled from Fort Omra and immediately began to sell your wares and your craftsmanship. Lord LeMewn allowed you to do so under his authority which you repaid by attempting to extort gold from His Lordship as well as accepting payment for poor workmanship. I have the written accounts of the testimonies of those you have wronged and witnessed your dealings with Lord LeMewn. The evidence is irrefutable.” Clariet looked up from his scroll. “Have you anything to say in your defence?”

He said nothing. Judd couldn’t see his expression as he was facing the wrong way. He looked at Verne who shrugged helplessly.

“Very well.” Clariet bowed to Lord LeMewn.

“In Quarre,” LeMewn continued, “we do not allow these kinds of offences to go unpunished. Unlike other cities and forts, however, it is not we who will judge you.” He nodded to the guards who forced the man to stand and took him back to the well where the shackles on his wrists were unlocked, replaced with a manacle that had a longer chain. The guards passed the end of it around the metal bar that was erected over the well then brought it back to lock around his other wrist, effectively chaining the man to the well. “You must face the consequences of your actions…and in the morning you will be judged…or you will be dead.”

“What does that mean?” Verne hissed at Judd.

“I have no idea.”

“Return to your homes, for when the sun has set and the gates are shut, the curfew is in effect.” Clariet ordered.

Four guards escorted the manor house residents back up the slope while two remained near the well. The crowd began to move away, returning to their homes, whispers starting to echo as they gave the well an even wider berth than before. Judd stepped down from the box he’d stood on.

“Judgement? What judgement?”

“I don’t know,” Verne leaned close, “but that’s a man from Maul…imagine what LeMewn would do to Aalis?”

Judd swore and looked around. “Aalis…where is she?”