Role

Chapter 1

"Hands off, you brute!" protested the young woman, with a kick aimed toward
the crotch of her captor. The heel of her boot nearly grazed her intended
point of impact, and the guard set her down swiftly, too swiftly, as he
attempted to escape her reach. She landed with a thud on her hands and
knees as the guard backed away with a sword pointed steadfastly at her.
The woman muttered and stood up with as much grace as she could muster, and
dusted off her knees. She glanced around the room, casually looking for an
exit, before her gaze fell upon the judge.

The judge was an impossibly old man whose stern expression was made permanent
by a multitude of wrinkles and creases. After a few moments of staring, he
spoke.

"You are Horatia Felport, and you are accused of the murder of your husband
Grigori Felport. How do you plead?"

"Guilty, your honor."

The judge blinked once and smiled broadly. Under his breath, he muttered,
"It's almost never that easy."

He rose from his seat and his stiff robes made a crispy rustling as he
stood to address Horatia again, "Your punishment will be to hang by the neck
until dead at sunup tomorrow."

As the guard pushed her to the door, Horatia smiled, ever so slightly, and so
no one could see.