People quickly scurried out of the way when Master Tom appeared. He was used to it as the town executioner - a defiled man, one touch enough to doom one to a life of dishonour. Even as he walked through the cramped Alley of the Nailmakers, the craftsmen and their customers somehow found a way to flatten themselves against the surrounding houses as he and the two town guards passed. They had called him from his house outside the City walls to act in his capacity as the torturer. Though they had not mentioned who was going to be his unfortunate victim, he was quite sure. The poisoning scandal had rocked the town hard enough to even reach the ears of an outcast like him. A young female poisoner, they had said. As beautiful as she was wicked, supposedly. And, apparently, obstinate enough that the judge had called for his help. He kept a well-equipped torture chamber, and although it was mostly used for intimidation, all of it was in perfect working order. This promised to be an interesting day, both for him and that poisoner.
He was a huge, powerfully-built man, but he was glad the two guards were with him. He knew what desperation could cause people to do. For the same reason, he had brought a heavy set of chains - shackles for the wrists and ankles, connected by just enough chain to allow a hunched shuffle. To help with intimidation, he was wearing the dark brown hood he normally wore for executions. The face beneath it was unknown to most townspeople. They would have been surprised how gentle it looked - until you met the gaze of his icy grey eyes. Unlike some of his fellow executioners, he really did enjoy his work, and had been more than happy to oblige when the judge had called him.
He arrived at the town hall, a squat half-timbered building distinguished from the surrounding buildings by the coat of arms above the massive oaken gate. A dark, narrow staircase led up to the room where court was in session. Inside, the judge was talking loudly and harshly; he could hear enough to tell that he was trying to give her a vivid Impression of the horrors that awaited her. She gave no answer, at least none he could hear. Time for his grand entrance! He handed the heavy chains to one of the guards and told him to keep them ready, then waited for a dramatic pause in the judge's speech. Three loud, heavy knocks reverberated through the courtroom.
He was a huge, powerfully-built man, but he was glad the two guards were with him. He knew what desperation could cause people to do. For the same reason, he had brought a heavy set of chains - shackles for the wrists and ankles, connected by just enough chain to allow a hunched shuffle. To help with intimidation, he was wearing the dark brown hood he normally wore for executions. The face beneath it was unknown to most townspeople. They would have been surprised how gentle it looked - until you met the gaze of his icy grey eyes. Unlike some of his fellow executioners, he really did enjoy his work, and had been more than happy to oblige when the judge had called him.
He arrived at the town hall, a squat half-timbered building distinguished from the surrounding buildings by the coat of arms above the massive oaken gate. A dark, narrow staircase led up to the room where court was in session. Inside, the judge was talking loudly and harshly; he could hear enough to tell that he was trying to give her a vivid Impression of the horrors that awaited her. She gave no answer, at least none he could hear. Time for his grand entrance! He handed the heavy chains to one of the guards and told him to keep them ready, then waited for a dramatic pause in the judge's speech. Three loud, heavy knocks reverberated through the courtroom.
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