A series of written thoughts stashed away in a box of parchment, written meticulously and precisely, as if the writer had taken great pains to make their handwriting as legible and clear as possible. The handwriting here is unsteady and hasty, implying that the author's thoughts are in a state of disarray.
Owena's bakery was robbed and vandalized recently. I only found out because I'd heard rumours of a criminal having been arrested to be put to trial, and when I stopped by the jailhouse there were already several people gathered around waiting for the criminal to be brought to the Town Hall. Among them were the jester brothers, Baldvin and Loakee, as well as Abelor and Owena herself. I went over to greet them, but there weren't much talk and comforting to be had as shortly after the criminal, whose name was Wulf-something, were being marched out to the Town Hall by a pair of watchers.
I'd never seen so many people come in for a trial. Well, never been to a trial, either. The room filled up quickly, with Owena and the Jester Brothers up front, while Abe and I took our seats in the rows further away, and the rest went to sit where they pleased. The judge, a man named Rawkin, accused the man on charges of robbery, vandalizing private property, and I think also harrassment. Can't remember that last one. The accused -- not of Bree, judging by how he talked down on us -- didn't even try to deny his wrongdoings. He went on about how the rich in this town were pocketing coin meant for the poor, how people like Briony were left to suffer while those like Owena profited off those sufferings. How Bree was a disgusting town where those with coin were allowed to do as they please. The air about the room was tense as he spoke, but you could already hear folk murmuring and whispering as he made his case. People were called to stand as witnesses. Miss Briony was one of them, as was a woman named Brynleigh. A man named Rahvic started shouting death threats to the accused.
In the end, the accused was given banishment as punishment, as well as ten lashes, and three brands, one for each crime committed. Poor Miss Briony was out of sorts by the end of it, and Owena looked terribly tired at the end of the trial. I left with Abelor to share my worries with him about what the man's trial might mean for the rest of us folk, and give Owena some space to recover.
Bad signs, these are. Some folk are already getting riled up by this, and eager to take matters into their own hands. Already there were folk loitering about outside the Town Hall (And right beside the door too, you'd think they'd pick a spot where folk would be less likely to hear them...), discussing what might be plans to go after the accused man, who was declared free to kill outside of the town's walls. The Rahvic man seemed terribly intent on such, at the very least. It's frightening how bloodthirsty some folk will become when it means getting to dispense justice, but is it really justice to bloody your hands for the sake of an innocent, grieving shop owner? Is it even justice that would be the ultimate goal? Who should determine which person has the right to hand out that justice, even? A vigilante? The judge? Thinking like that is dangerous for everyone involved.
Soon enough, it might not even be justice anymore, but another motive masked under the idea of bringing justice.
It's a foul situation. It's not like the man was completely wrong, either. Mad? Aye, but only by his methods. There are those who would rather hoard all their coin than share for the good of the poorer folk of Bree, but Owena would never do such a thing. She's a trusting lass, perhaps too trusting, even, but her heart's in the right place, and large enough to give right kindness to almost everyone she meets. But to go around swearing to terrorize the folk here until everyone is some measure of equal...
I'm worried and scared for the forge. I worry for Hilda and the tailor shop. Abelor and his aunts. Baldvin worries about Corrinne's farm. Owena and Miss Briony. Baldvin's already asked me to forge a dagger for him for self-protection. The rest of us just want to make a peaceful living getting by. Abelor thinks everything will be all right now that the man is exiled, but I'm not so sure. I doubt this will be the last of him. I don't doubt that there will be folk who agree with him, but I think the most frightening thing of it all was the certainty with which he spoke about his beliefs. A man with convictions, a man who thinks he's right, that's a man who won't stop until he's proven everyone right.
