4 CRIME AND PUNISHMEN (1/2)

Murmurs filled the public square in front of Soden's majestic palace. A row of giant torches guarded by an army of knights separated the crowd from the platform where three figures knelt with execution hoods on their heads.

”Citizens of Soden, I, Imogen Linchpin, Head of the King's Council stand here tonight to speak on behalf of our beloved King Longdon Egbert XIII. Unfortunately, because of some sudden change in his physical condition, he won't be able to join us,” a man in a purple robe said. He stood behind a golden pulpit, carrying a scroll.

Alarmed, the crowd stirred.

Imogen, whose hair was long, curly, and blond, raised both of his hands. Silence and order followed.

”But there's nothing to worry about as the King is under the care of Soden's best doctors,” Imogen said. ”So let me present to you these three fools! For years they've terrorized the innocent and plagued our Kingdom!”

Raging flames from the torches painted the crowd with red as their faces scowled with hatred.

”Their fate is now in my hands,” Imogen said. He then nodded his head to a man in a brown robe with a giant silver ax resting on his shoulder.

The executioner removed the cover of the one in a tattered shirt. With black and jagged teeth, the prisoner maniacally grinned like an unleashed beast. His unkempt hair and beard were long like a black lion's mane.

Everyone in the crowd, especially the women and children, gasped upon seeing his monstrous face.

”Doug the Savage!” Imogen said. ”This monster is guilty of abducting children and removing their innards. There are even rumors that he feasts on their organs. It was not until yesterday that our knights, led by Lady Luv Sranger, caught him hiding in the sewers-”

”You beast! You murdered my child! Come here, and I'll smash that-” A man from the crowd charged through the thicket of knights, but they quickly subdued him.

Meanwhile, Doug howled in laughter. ”Oh, I remember your daughter, old man. She was delicious!”

”Shut him!” Imogen said. The executioner used the butt of his weapon and pommeled it on Doug's head.

Doug growled before spitting blood. ”Was that your best shot? When I'm out of here, I'll eat your fam-” The executioner stomped on his head, driving it to the marble floor and silencing him at last.

Imogen continued. ”The last two are infamous thieves from Bunya! Hiding in shadows, they pretended to be friends of men. However, today they're finally caught by Lady Leva Seraphim and Lord Floyd Stark.”

The executioner removed the cover of the remaining two prisoners.

”The long-lost Bunya's King of Thieves, Igur Ramshackle, and his foolish apprentice, Vance Valfern! The King's Council had deemed these two as guilty for stealing an artifact belonging to Soden from the mansion of the Misfeet Family.”

There was silence from the crowd. Igur in his old age—gray hair and wrinkled skin—faced them with brown eyes full of dignity.