The Human - Soothsayer *ON HOLD*

CHAPTER 3

He remembered the fear, the feeling of lost and helplessness when he was thrusted up the slopes and through the city gates, several others in tow behind and ahead of him. There had been guards then; military men escorting townsfolks that had been lucky enough to survive the attacks, many of whom had lost their families, just like him. At seven years old, Ty had probably been one of the youngest amongst the groups of survivors that day. He remembered the pitiful stares thrown his way when they saw he was companionless as he trudged up and took his provision of food and blanket.

That was how he felt now; scared and vulnerable as he was dragged through judging eyes and bright concrete buildings. Everything here was too colourful. There were too many fountains, and plants, as if these people had all the time in the world for gardening. It was nothing like the comforts of the lower district, or the jail cell he had been in minutes ago.

According to the law, because he had been arrested in the middle district, he had to go through jurisdictions there, but the look on greasy hair's face when the manacles were slapped on him had implied that there was something more. Ty guessed it was probably something along the lines of the guards being able to get away with having him beaten up for what he did to them. No one in the middle district would care for the injustice inflicted upon a lowly teen from the lower district.

The courthouse was a large rectangular building complete with a steeple and large pine doors, its design similar to those of the buildings in the middle district: colourfully painted brick and iron railings, and octagonal or round towers and turrets to draw the eye upward. The sigil of the city council was emblazoned over the door – a golden scale with an arrow straight down the central pivot point, looming ominously over him as he was led through the wide open doors.

He was met with a room that was similar to the insides of a church, with low empty benches on either side and a high table at the end of the room, seated by an old grim-faced judge dressed in black and white robes.

Saved for the guards that stood by the entrance and greasy hair behind him, the only other people in the room were the staring faces at the front; the jury. Ty felt a pang of dismay seeing no signs of Alexi or Tobias. He wondered if they even knew he was here, it had only been a couple of hours since his capture.

Greasy hair led him down the aisle, his head held up as if proudly displaying his captive. Once they arrived at the pulpit, Ty was released, albeit reluctantly by the man.

'Hubert,' the judge acknowledged with a sigh, lifting his glasses and peering at them over a long hooked nose. 'This better be important, unlike the other offenders you've brought previously. May I remind you that courts held for small-scale crime have been reduced under recent circumstances, and I would actually like to utilize my time on actual crimes.'

A few of the jury nodded in agreement and Ty felt hopeful that he would be let off easy. It seemed Hubert often brought people in under dismissible situations. Ty suddenly felt certain if he was given the chance to explain that it was all an accident the jury would give him a pass.

'Your honour, this... rat had attacked me and my comrade while we were on our patrol, under no particular reasons except for the fact that we were doing our jobs. We saw a man wielding a weapon on the streets and was apprehending him for doing so. My guess is that this rat is under cahoots with that man and was hoping to rob us blind after apprehending us.'

Ty rolled his eyes in disgust at Hubert's obviously made-up accusations, earning himself a glare from the judge. As if anyone in the lower districts would ever have the right mind to rob a pair a guard under broad daylight.

'My partner is in the infirmary as we speak, nursing an injured arm. Luckily, I was fast enough to fend off the attack, and my quick thinking allowed me to arrest him.' The pleased and cocky look returned to Hubert's expression.