Silence! Silence, everyone! The accused murderer is here and his hands are tied. There is no need to panic! speaks the fat Watchman as he brushes the sweat from his moustache and the crowd’s noise slowly dies down. As you well know, he had to consent to trial by jury. And he did, he says as he points at me. Why are you here? asks a woman with a thick lower lip. Because I caught him red handed and I am a witness to his crimes, says the fat Watchman. The crowd starts laughing at him. There’s no way you could’ve caught anyone, mate. Have you looked at yourself lately? asks a rowdy bald man as the crowd starts laughing harder. Shut yous wretched mouth holes, the jury is just outside these doors with the judge and your cackling like whores in a church is disrespecting everything we’re doing here, says the fat Watchman as his now red face is covered in sweat. Look who’s talking, says the same bald man, the one sweating like a whore in the church, said the bald man as the crowd tries to no laugh at the sheriff even more. Calm down everyone. We’ll begin in just a wee, says the Sheriff. Told you, says the fat Watchmen. You have to stand up for yourself, the bald man tells me. Don’t talk to him, the fat Watchmen tells him. Oh leave it be, you dick, says the bald man. How did you know my name? asks Richard the Watchman. Cause you look like a prick, says the bald man and I start laughing whilst trying to hide my face. What are you laughing at you murderer? asks Richard the Watchman. Nothing, I respond.

The jury enters the room guided by the Sheriff. The whole room fast gets quite quiet. Close after them is the Judge accompanied by a Priest. The Judge in his black robe sits at his chair. As he rubs his eyes, he squints trying to look at me. It is quite literally the middle of the night, so let’s not dilly dally. Prosecution, what do we have here today? asks the Judge. We have a murder case, says the Sheriff. This here young man was caught at a murder scene by this here Watchman, the Sheriff continued. And how do you plead, young man? the Judge asks me. Not guilty, I reply. The audacity! exclaims Richard the Watchman says as he springs up. Silence! The Judge bellows. Your honor, he is quite literally the devil! He’s a wizard! exclaims Richard the Watchman. I said silence! the Judge screams. Silence slowly sets in. Defendant, you were saying, said the Judge as he squinted at me. I am no devil. Or does the Watchman see horns on my head? Or does he mistake these hands for hooves of a goat? I am indeed a wizard, but an apprentice. I just arrived here in London this night to learn from you all. The jury starts to murmur and the people start to whisper behind my back. Well, you sure don’t talk like a devil, says the Judge. So what exactly happened? he asked. I started explaining the situation as they all listened.

Well, from my perspective, you’re either a horrible liar. Or you are one of the unluckiest people I have the misfortune of meeting, says the Judge. We have a woman that lived with the victim, says the Sheriff. Bring her in, says the Judge. Anne, come forth, says the Sheriff. With an almost see-through piece of clothing on her comes forth this brunette woman with nipples that could pierce your eyes out of they were to hit you. What was your relationship with the departed Juliana? asks the Judge. She would give me lodging from time to time, whenever I’d have no work or money, says Anne. And where’s your man? What’s your work? the Judge asks her. I have none, sir. I work on the streets for whoever has money, says Anne. She’s a prostitute, says the Sheriff. I understood that. You didn’t have to spell it out for me, says the Judge pointing and squinting towards the Sheriff. Did you ever fight with the departed? asks the Judge. Yes, since she didn’t agree with my line of work at all and wanted me to join her, said Anne. And why didn’t you join her to be a washerwoman? asks the Judge. I couldn’t. People were already talking about her since she took me in, says Anne. Don’t say anything anymore, woman! Richard the Watchmen exclaims. The wizard has you under his control, he says as he points at me. Take him out! I heard enough from him! the Judge screams. I look over at the twelve men in the jury as they whisper to each other. I promise you, jurors. That is not how magic works. No wizard, mage, warlock, necromancer, witch or sorcerers can control any mind, I plead my case. The Judge stands up and looks at the room as Richard is thrown out. Case dismissed! Jurors, Sheriff, go get some evidence and catch me whoever killed that poor woman. We didn’t change the judicial system just so we can execute anyone, says the Judge. The crowd remains confused at what just happened. You, wizard. And you, prostitute. You two are not to leave London or you will be executed, understood? asks the Judge as we nod. Good, he says as he leaves the room murmuring angrily under his breath. Lucky bastard, says Anne. Let’s go, you’re coming with me, says the bald man.

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