Alcingeria

Chapter Forty Four: Edwin's Choice

Chapter Forty Four Edwin's Choice:

Friday July 2nd 1690

Edwin ran through the crowd, pushing and shoving people out of the way. We were all right behind him. When we broke to the front of the crowd, we saw that one of the men held a flint and steel, and had it aimed at the pile of dry hay that now covered the foot of the cross and the surrounding area.

"Stop! Vulrock Law Enforcement!" Edwin shouted in rage. "Who authorized this execution!?"

I couldn't tell if he was angry at the fact that he was forced to rescue the witch by his code of honor, or at the fact that he was actually doing it.

"We don't need authorization!" Laughed one of the men. "This is a witch! An abomination of nature!"

"Who said you don't need authorization? On second thought, I don't care. If anything like this ever happens again in the future, anyone responsible for the execution will be executed themselves! Understand?"

At this, several men drew their guns.

"No, you will not interfere with the delivery of justice!" One exclaimed.

"We can't let you stand in our way!"

I uneasily drew my gun, but the law enforcement officers were less hesitant. Was this what it was going to come down to? A shootout with civilians?

Surprisingly, thankfully, no. Edwin raised his hand, motioning for us to lower our guns. We obeyed, but I didn't put mine away. I wanted to be ready, just in case.

"Consider what you're doing, you damned fools." Edwin almost chuckled. "You're outnumbered here. Even if you somehow managed to overcome us, there'd be a platoon ten times our size on you in a manner of minutes. Is that something you want? To risk your lives, your freedom, over a witch?"

Their resolve visibly faltered, and several of them took a step back.

"You're bluffing," one said unsteadily.

"Oh, really?" Edwin asked, walking slowly toward the barrel of the lead man's gun. The man looked to the others quickly but back to Edwin just as fast. Edwin didn't raise his gun, but stopped when his forehead was touching the cold metal of the pistol's barrel. "Go ahead and find out."

There was a moment of uncertainty among the group where they looked to each other, and the witch, weighing their options.

"Come on, it's not worth it." The man finally said. "Let's get out of here before things get out of control."

"Fine," snapped another. "This isn't over, though."

With that, they scattered, one after another. I exhaled in relief, putting my gun away.

The witch looked to be around seventeen or eighteen, and was wearing witch clothes that were blue with white trim. She carried no wand or staff. Her hair was Dark, rich orange. Her eyes were sapphire blue. She was a little taller than me and her skin tone was pale, like Tabatha's.

She was also hyperventilating. She had her hands tied to the cross behind her back and she looked around frantically. She began sobbing, her shoulders heaving as she did so.

"Thank y-you so m-much!" She stuttered through sobs. "Th-thank you!"

Edwin and Gerald walked over and untied her. She collapsed into Edwin's arms, still sobbing.

"You take her." He said to Gerald, barely keeping the disgust out of his voice.

He passed the witch to Gerald and he took her without complaint. They both walked back to us and Gerald put the witch on her feet.