David wiped his mouth and cleared the table. The trial was looming, so he hadn’t the time to dawdle. He yelled goodbye to Elizabeth and said he’d be in the village helping with preparations.

The village was a fluster.

A group of ladies were harassing Jeremy about the accommodation offered for the trial. News of the event had spread, and everyone wanted to get in on the dramatics. People had dressed in their best, which reminded The Captain he needed to clean up and change; that would require a visit to the cobblers, his true home.

The Captain waved off people as they asked questions or tried to get his attention while he headed home. He entered his house and closed the door on the rowdy village, shutting out their incessant rabble for a moment of quiet. David sighed and staggered through his broken home. The remnants of his scuffle with Jarrod still needed to be tidied, though he couldn’t imagine when he’d get the time.

The room where Esme had died was calling. Through the crack in the door, he could hear her breathing. It was deep, loud and seemed to contort the walls. David shook his head, internally chastising his fears.

He barged into the room. Nothing. Just the bed with the blood-stained pillow. The old dresser and the bay window sill. David’s heart throbbed. Since his wife's death, he hadn’t mourned.

“Captain!”

The Captain slammed the bedroom door and turned to see Jimethy had let himself in.

“Do I not get a bloody moment of peace!”

Jimethy halted and went wide-eyed in surprise. “Sorry, it’s–”

“It’s fine. Apologies for the language.”

“Right, it’s just Greg.”

“Yes?”

“He’s been bit.”

“He’s been bit?”

“Yeah, Alius bit him.”

“Where?”

“In the cells when he was cleaning him up, bit him on the hand.”

The captain rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“You seem agitated, David.”

“Call me captain. It’s the job everyone seems to want me to do.”

“Right, Captain…you seem agitated.”

“I am agitated. I’ve not slept properly. I eat under scrutiny. I can’t mourn my wife.”

Jimethy nodded. “Look, the trial is at three. It’ll be quick. After that, we can head to the pub and celebrate. Mandy will serve us up something nice.”

Jimethy’s celebratory agenda seemed to warm something within David. He cracked a smile and said: “Agreed. Let me get ready, then I’ll see about what happened to Greg.”

***

Greg was sitting outside the old cells with a bandaged hand, looking sorry for himself. He clocked the captain's approach and rose to meet him. “Sir.”

“What happened?” The captain took Greg’s wrist and inspected his hand.

“He was just sitting there quietly while I soaped his hair. Out of nowhere, he just bites me. Terry and Sam gave him a quick thrashing, but none too hard since he’d already been paggered by you.”

“Go home, have a rest. Go to the physician if it gets infected. We need your hands.”

Greg nodded quickly and jogged home.

Jimethy met up with David. “Shall we go speak to Alius?”

“What’s the point?”

“Find out why he bit him, perhaps?”

“We can ask him during the trial. Honestly, this helps our case.”

The trial was an hour away. The villagers had formed a crowd outside the town hole and were all vying to get in and seated. There wouldn’t be enough room, so it was agreed the doors and windows would be left open so people could look in from the outside.

Mr Graveson made his appearance, which caused several people to swarm him. Terrence, who had brought him up in a blanketed cart, shooed them away.

Graveson was wheeled to the Captain standing by a small well-off from the town hall. “Well, I’m here.”

“Good to see you, judge.”

“Hm, people are excited about this.” He strained to get out of the cart, prompting Terry and Jimethy to help him and onto his feet. “Alright, geroff me.” He dusted himself down, walked into the town hall and seated himself at the far end.

“Weird fella,” said Terry.

“He’ll do. People respect old folks. Like they are wizards or something.” Jimethy chuckled.

“Get everyone seated or cleared out of the way, Terry.”

Terry barked a: yes sir and started enthusiastically shoving and shouting for people to move their backsides.

“Jimethy.”

“Yes, Captain?”

“You and Samuel fetch Jarrod and Alius. Don’t let them bite you.”

“Why? Might I turn into a vampire?” He raised his eyebrows playfully.

The Captain didn’t seem amused and continued: “Keep an eye out for Daniel.”

“Why, what’s he up to?”

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“I haven’t seen him all morning if he tries to interrupt the trial. Kill him.”

Jimethy blinked. “Right.”

“I mean it. I don’t want anything to get in the way of this. It needs to be clean. I, we, this whole village must put this behind us and carry on as we were.”

“No disagreement from me.” Jimethy saluted and jogged away to fetch the prisoners.

David ran his hand through his hair, took a deep breath and entered the town hall. All eyes were on him as he walked between the rows of benches. He took a place behind the lectern borrowed from the burned-down chapel and banged his fist on it to silence the chatter. “Order, folks.”

They took a moment to calm down but soon prepared themselves for their new captain's address.

“Today's trial will have Jarrod Bucksley and Alius Van Der Haus on the stand. They are accused of the murders of Angela Yeoman and…” He cleared his throat and composed himself, “Esmeralda Potter. The defendants are additionally accused of the imprisonment and torture of Elizabeth Van Der Haus. Who will give witness today.”

A bubble of irritating chatter brewed amongst the onlookers.

The Captain silenced them with an advanced admonishment. “It’s imperative, that, during the trial, you remain seated and silent. If you do not comply, you will be removed. If you try to intervene in the trial.” He looked around the room for the absent Daniel but could not catch his face. “You may find yourself shot. This is a serious matter. A fair trial must occur for all of our sakes.”

The villagers remained quiet after this.

David gave a nod of satisfaction. “I shall be the prosecutor. Our very own and most esteemed elder, Mr Frederick Graveson, has humbly and generously offered to preside over the trial. You will respect his judgement.”

Judge Graveson grumbled and nodded.

Elizabeth entered. Everyone turned to see. David watched her tentatively walk up the aisle like a child at a wedding. She was wearing a black dress with a matching veil. Atop her head sat a wide-brimmed hat.

People spoke in hushed tones, gossiping, revelling and delighting in their theories. David considered them all parasites before shaking such a cruel thought from his mind. He guided Elizabeth to a chair reserved for her at the front and off to the side. “Are you feeling well, Elizabeth?”

“Yes?” She tilted her head.

David took her by the hand. “If you need to move away from the trial, please feel free. This will be difficult to listen to.”

She smiled softly, “I must give my statement.”

David nodded, “You are so strong, Elizabeth.”

“Did you think I was weak?”

“No…”

She chuckled. “I jest.”

“Right.”

Greg came into the hall with his injured hand and stood at the back.

The Captain felt everything was going to plan. He had his witnesses. He had his judge. He had the village ear. He had his two defendants.

Jarrod was the first to appear. His hands were tied behind his back and a black bag covered his face. Jimethy and Samuel marched him toward the stage. The crowd jeered while David demanded order. Jimethy shoved Jarrod onto a chair. Samuel ripped the bag from his head and revealed, to his horror, a large crowd of villagers staring at him with murder in their hearts.

Jimethy and Samuel left after tying Jarrod down. They returned promptly with Alius. His wiry frame twisted and jerked as he was bustled to the front to sit beside Jarrod.

A villager called out: “Mop and bucket!” about Jarrod and Alius’ contrasting proportions.

“Remove him, Terrence!” Shouted the Captain.

Terrence gleefully hopped down from the stage, and with Samuel's help, they dragged the man from his seat and pushed him out of the hall. Another villager took advantage of the free space and plopped herself down comfortably.

Jimethy ripped the bag from Alius’ face to reveal his deathly pale features to the village.

Alius sneered at them. “Look at you all, come to watch for amusement. You’re the maniacs.” He shook his head. “Not I.”

The crowd jeered at Alius and frothed angrily.

“Order, order!” Graveson spoke this time. “Shut up, you fools!”

David looked at Judge Graveson with a slight smirk. He was confident the old man could take control of proceedings and quickly headed to Jimethy to ask him: “Have you seen Daniel?”

“No, had a quick look around while I was dragging these two in.”

David rubbed his chin. “I have a bad feeling about this. Take my gun. Tell Terry to get his rifle and wait outside.”

“Right you are.”

Terrence accepted the order but didn’t seem too pleased. He was much more interested in watching the trial like everybody else. Though getting to show off his rifle might impress Hannah.

Graveson scratched his big nose and adjusted his spectacles. “Well then. We have a prosecutor. Do we have a defence for Alius and Jarrod?”

The room fell silent.

“Well, this will be a fair trial!” Alius cried with a gravelly laugh.

“You can defend yourself.” Said judge Graveson.

“Judge, I don’t know what I am accused of!”

“Liar!” Yelled The Captain.

“Order!” Graveson grumbled. “You’re on trial for the murders of ehm…what were their names, David?”

“Angela Yeoman, Esmeralda Potter and the imprisonment and torture of Elizabeth.”

“Right, all of that.”

Graveson was about to speak but was interrupted by a deafening shot. He cringed and the crowd stood up and screamed. “Order! What was that?”

“He’s been shot! He’s been shot!” The crowd panicked and began pouring into the aisle.

Terrence came in with his rifle and held it aloft. “Sit down! Calm down!”

Daniel was heaving with the smoking flintlock in his hand. “That’s what you get, you fat bastard.”

Jimethy pointed his pistol at Daniel. “You stupid fool!”

The Captain held out his hands. It had occurred to him that with all of Daniel’s foolishness, he had outwitted the entire village and himself by hiding behind the large curtain behind the main stage. “What have you done, Daniel?”

“Justice. That fat pig shagged my wife, then killed her. He was mine!” He pulled out the flintlock’s bayonet and clipped it in. “Now I’m gonna stick, Alius.”

“Don’t!” Jimethy held his gun firm. “Drop it.”

“Or what? You’ll shoot me?”

“I will.”

Daniel laughed and walked closer to Jimethy. “You won’t do anything.”

“I swear I’ll do it.”

“Yeah?” Daniel lunged and grabbed the gun from Jimethy like a flash of lightning. He stepped back and held the gun out to Jimethy. “Back of now, Jim. You soft prat.”

Jim, feeling foolish, raised both hands and stepped back. “Don’t do it, Daniel.”

The Captain sighed, so much for a simple trial. He’d kill Daniel if he got the chance, which he soon will.

Daniel smirked and held the gun up to Alius.

Alius bounced on the chair. “Go on, do it! Show the village just how incompetent Mr. Potter is!”

He cocked the jaw.

Bang.

The crowd ducked down and gasped.

Daniel dropped the flintlock, stumbled back and slid down the curtain.

Standing in the aisle with a smoking rifle was Terrence. He lowered the barrel and nodded at The Captain.

David nodded back.

The room was silent until the unhinged cackle of Alius rang out like a death knell on Sunday. “Oh, Captain Potter. That’s two dead men. Two dead men on your watch! I assume I’ll be the third. You’re an angel of death!”

“These deaths are on your head, Alius.”

“Keep telling yourself that, Mr Potter.”

David looked at Jimethy with a disappointed glare that Jimethy could feel. He walked to him. “Clear the dead from the room.”

“I’ll be needed on hand to–”

“You can clear the bodies. Terrence will take over your duty here in the trial. You’ll be needed as a witness anyway.”

“Right. Captain.” He nodded, lifted the pistol and made to walk out.

“Jim.”

“Yes?”

“The gun.”

“Right.” He handed the gun to David and made for the cart so he could load up the bodies.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” David called. “Please, sit.” He raised his hands. “What you just witnessed is the unfortunate ripples of a village, our village, that has been tortured over the past months.”

The crowd sat to listen.

“Daniel was a disturbed man. We did our best to alleviate his worries, but we failed. For that, I am sorry.” David cleared his throat. “The trial of Alius will go ahead.”