Thread:Selound/@comment-4482397-20111220195629

heres the next update. in the next chapter, i think Elonwyn and Alya take care of Findo by sneaking him food and water and tending to his wounds, and Keena tries to make Ralken love her. =DDDDD heeheehee. good luck Keena XD

Findo opened his mouth to argue, but suddenly, both his arms were grabbed by two guards.

“Wait, Stumptooth? Bluehide? What are you guys-

He let out a snarl of pain as they roughly pulled his arms behind his back and tied his wrists in place. Findo struggled fiercely, trying to break from their grip.

“Sorry mate.” Stumptooth muttered. “Badrangs orders.”

Findo stared at the crowd of angry, unfriendly faces. He caught Keena, watching him from beside her father and brother. She was smiling evilly.

“You little- I won’t let you get away with this!” he yelled angrily at her.

“Come on you.” Bluehide yanked Findo forward. The crowd parted to let them and Badrang through. Findo continued to struggle. He was going to kill her!

Findo found himself shoved into Badrang’s meadhall. He landed painfully on his knees. Badrang seated himself on the throne and Findo glared up at him. He was distracted by an unexpected movement and he turned his head.

People were milling inside. Elonwyn, her arm in a sling, with her father’s paw placed firmly on her shoulder, Ralken, escorting Alya, and Keena with her father and brother.

When everyone had found a place to stand, Badrang rubbed his temple. “Keena, why don’t you tell us what happened.”

Clogg exploded. “Ere! I don’t know about that Weasel, in fact, I never trusted him, but Elonwyn would never do anything like help some-

“Tramun.” Badrang said coldly. “I asked Keena to speak, not you. We especially don’t want to hear something from you, a fool who lets the enemy into Marshank and had the gall to call them friends!!!!”

“They said they was magicians!” Clogg snapped.

“Never mind about all that.” Ralken said. “The guards are taking care of the traitors. Let’s get down to business. Keena. Speak.” He glared at her, letting her know he didn’t believe a word she was going to say.

Keena went slightly red, but she stood straight, and Findo could see her eyes were red and her face was streaked with fake tears.

“I *sniff* got bored with the circus and went to get some fresh air. I *sob* barely got to the healer’s tent when I was grabbed by that weasel and he…. *sniffle* he…”

She burst into violent sobs. Elonwyn swallowed and glanced at Findo, who was staring at the ground, his blue eyes dark with hate. Cold, murderous hate.

“Keena, if you can’t compose yourself, purpose you’d better leave and let someone else talk for you.” Alya said pleasantly, masking her disgust with a smile.

“No!” Keena said a little too sharply. She made up for her mistake by rubbing her eyes. “I’m… I’m the only one who was there…”

“I’m sure.” Badrang said threateningly. “Continue.”

“Then Elonwyn hopped out and tried to kill me. I defended myself, but then I was grabbed from behind and pinned against a barrel. I saw, Findo and I tried to scream, but that little stoat… she… she put a spear to my neck and he… Findo… he…” her voice broke. And she collapsed to her knees, trembling.

Nipwort put his arms around his daughter and rubbed her back and head comfortingly. “I’m... sorry, my lord. My daughter has said all she can. If she may-

“No.” Ralken interrupted. “She’s going to stay and answer questions. Now, Keena, it was dark out. How are you sure it was Findo and Elonwyn?”

“I could recognize them by the firelight.” Keena murmured.

“There were no torches lit near the healer’s tent, Keena.” Ralken said, his eyes narrowed. He gave a furtive glance at Findo, who was still staring angrily at the ground.

“There was light behind me from the bonfires.” Keena snapped, starting to sweat.

“don’t tell me you’re saying my daughter is lying Ralken.” Nipwort said in a shocked voice.

“I’m simply saying she might be misled.”

“I know what I saw and what happened to me!” Keena snapped.

“That’s enough Ralken.” Badrang said coldly. “Blackdash, what do you know?”

“I simply found my little sister with blood running down her body and she was crying and trembling. Then dad came.” Blackdash wrung his paws and gave Elonwyn a miserable grimace, as though he was trying to apologize. Elonwyn stared at Findo, whose eyes were tightly shut.

The evidence is completely against us. Elonwyn thought. The only ones who “saw” what happened were Aqua, Ralken, and Alya. And Alya’s blind. Ralken has some reliability in the horde, but he’s a friend of Findo and, my cousin, therefore biased. As is Aqua, who is not reliable.

She hugged herself. I’m safer than Findo. I should be alright.

“I WON’T STAND FOR IT!!!” Clogg roared. “ELONWYN IS NOT ANYTHING LIKE THAT!!!!”

“I agree.” Badrang stood up. “Elonwyn is too timid and cowardly to threaten someone or help someone else do something vile. Keena is possibly mistaken about Elonwyn being there. But she is probably right about Findo. Normally, the sentence would be death. However, Seeing as not enough people saw what happened, Findo shall merely be tied to a post on the morn and lashed with a leather strip fifty times as a warning and thrown tied out on the battlement for the gulls to peck for the day and night for everyone else to see. He’ll be put on duty the next day. He’s to be given no food or water both nights and both days. Everyone is dismissed. Bluehide, Stumptooth, take Findo away. His sentence begins tomorrow.”

Elonwyn stared in horror as Findo was lifted like a limp rag. He provided no struggle, but as he was dragged out of the meadhall, he gave a glance at Keena, who was smiling evilly. He glared at her before he was thrust roughly out the exit.

Elonwyn glanced at Ralken who was watching, his eyelids ticking. He was angry. Alya walked away from him and placed her paw on Elonwyn’s waist.

“Come now Lonny.” She smiled at Clogg who stared at her suspiciously. “Excuse me Cap’n, but your daughter needs her arm looked at every day. Come Lon.”

Lonny nodded and walked beside Alya.

“We don’t have to do everything, Badrang says.” Alya winked At Elonwyn.

“Yes.” Lonny nodded.

the chapter is called Crime and Punishment

 