Hoodwinked: The Summoning Book One

Chapter 19

The public square of Cartsville was overly crowded in the afternoon following the Otswana festival. Loborian soldiers, dressed in white and light gray uniforms, stood guard as a horse-drawn wagon pulled into the center of the village. It was accompanied by several more Loborian soldiers.

There were no Draconian soldiers in sight. Moving among the crowd, a lone figure, dressed in a white, hooded cloak lined with matching fur, slowly pushed through the crowd. Her hood draped down to hide her face and especially her turquoise eyes. Otti stood near the front where the prisoner's wagon had been placed.

Five prisoners staggered together, shackled in chains within the wagon. Four men, whom attacked the castle several nights prior, huddled in the back of the wagon. The fifth prisoner was an old woman in a filthy purple frock. At one point the gown had been worn by a beautiful enchanted queen. Now it hung loosely on the frail woman with thinning white hair and wrinkled skin.

Queen Hilvasha was hunched over, grasping the side of the wagon to keep herself upright. Otti watched her great aunt. The once beautiful and fair queen feared by all of Loboria, was pulled from the wagon by two Loborian soldiers. She was brought before the council of three kingdoms.

King Ceravius II of Tigeir, King Nathar of Draconia, and Prince Henzir of Osoria all sat on a balcony of the Cartsville Inn. The overhanging terrace provided them with a better view of the public trial and protection from the large crowd that had gathered.

The old queen was brought to stand before the council in the center of the square. Her limbs shook and her knees buckled. She was too weak to stand on her own.

"Queen Hilvasha Sulbarolia of Loboria," King Nathar addressed the old woman.

Several gasps and whispers spread throughout the gathered citizens of the village. Otswana was only a few of those not showing surprise at the queen's natural appearance. No longer under the witch's enchantment, Queen Hilvasha was the old queen she was intended to be.

King Nathar waited for the crowd to be still before he continued. "You are charged with breaking the treaty of the four kingdoms. Your crimes are as follows: the murder of eight daughters of the crown, conspiracy to commit murder of two daughters of the crown, attempted murder of your great niece, seven servants, three royal guards, and ten commoners. You are also charged with twenty counts of slavery and forty-seven counts of conspiring to enforce slavery. Twenty of the enslaved are here today to testify of your involvement in the crimes. Do you deny these allegations?"

Heads turned to look at the haggard, old woman being held up by the soldiers.

"No." The voice was low and raspy.

Murmurs and more gasps washed over the crowd at her response.

"Do you have anything to say on your behalf?" King Ceravius II questioned.

"Remove me from this earth before the darkness comes. Know this, I tried to save you all from the curse. Now it is too late. The last of my mother's clan is dead. The circle of the keepers is now complete. There will be no stopping the master and his servants. They will come upon you and destroy you all."

Yells, jeers, and outcries of protest filled the public square. Otti was pushed and jostled about as the people grew restless. Suddenly, a hand was placed upon her shoulder. Otti turned to find Captain Greypol behind her. He wore a black cloak for a disguise, but his frown was very distinct.

The princess returned his frown. She knew he would not be pleased she had broken her promises from the last time she had wandered alone and had not told anyone of her whereabouts.

No companion did she take, nor did she inform others where she intended to go. She didn't have much choice but to secretly leave the confines of the castle. The Draconians and her father had decided during the morning meal they would stay away from the trial. Only King Nathar would attend, for he was a council member representing Draconia. The council had also chosen the witnesses they required for condemning the accused. Otswana was not to be one of them.