Half an hour later, a group of 5 armed guards game to collect her for the trial. As soon as she saw the guards, she got up off of the bed and walked over to the bars.
The lead guard spoke in a gruff voice. “Claudia Cedarleaf?” he asked.
Claudia nodded. “Yes, that’s me,” she answered, trying to keep from grinning. They would never know her real last name. She would die first.
The guard opened the cell door. “You’re to come with us, up to the courtroom. Don’t try anything; we have you outnumbered.”
Claudia smiled slyly at this. “What do you think I could do? My magic is disabled, and I have no weapons. You could overpower me easily, and running would be pointless.”
“That’s right, so don’t try it,” he said. “And wipe that smirk off your face, witch, or I’ll hit it off of you.”
“But, sir, the King said she wasn’t to be harmed!” interjected one of the other guards. “He said anyone who hurt the witch without his permission would be punished severely!”
“Well, she needn’t have known that, private!” growled the lead guard. “Empty threats never hurt anyone, though they can inflict quite a bit of fear.” He turned back to Claudia. “Just don’t get so cocky, witch. You’ll do well to remember that your execution lies ahead of you.”
Claudia looked at him straight in the eyes. “That depends on the trial; and personally, I think that tomorrow may be the execution of another.” She grinned at the guard’s face, which was beginning to turn red with anger.
One of the other guards stepped forward, and said, “That’s enough, both of you! We should be halfway to the courtroom by now!”
The captain nodded. “You’re right,” he said, and pushed Claudia along the corridor towards the long, winding staircase.
Claudia glared up at him. “I can walk for myself, you know.” The guard’s face paled and he quickly looked away.
The party continued in silence for the rest of the way.
* * *
YOU ARE READING
Spellbound
FantasyClaudia, a young girl from the town of Aramore, has her world turned upside-down when the army of the fearsome King Konungr invades the surrounding villages, targeting Aramore next. She manages to run away during the attack on her town, but not befo...
