THE TRIAL OF WULFTHRUD
As recorded by the clerk of Bree-town Hall
Mr. Walt Hollytree
on the 8th of Chithing
Watcher BLAKE
People of Bree, we are gathered here today to witness the fair and lawful Judgement of the accused, Wulfthrud. Overseeing the proceedings will be the esteemed Judge, Rawkin Oakley. The prisoner stands on trial for robbery and vandalisation of the private property of Owena Baker, as well as threats of physical violence against her and a third party.
Judge OAKLEY
Is the plaintiff ready?
Mr. WULFTHRUD
Yes. I think she is.
Watcher TIMOTHIE
That is not you.
Ms. BAKER
I am sir. Do... do I need to do something right now?
Judge OAKLEY
Be seated, Ms. Baker. Is the defense ready?
Mr. WULFTHRUD
I am ready to defend myself.
Judge OAKLEY
Ms. Baker, what is today's case?
Ms. BAKER
Mr. Wulfthrud was invited to my home with Ms. Eldryssa the other night. Once he had eaten a honey tart he took out his hatchet... wait... is this when I tell the whole story?
Judge OAKLEY
Focus on the crimes he is accused of. But please, go on.
Ms. BAKER
Once we sat down he demanded to know where all the money was. I told him and he took all the coins from my counter. Then, he started to smash my items with the hatchet. He broke my shelves, many crates with food, and spent time chopping up my carpet. Then he told me that he would be back for my blood.
Judge OAKLEY
Have you any witnesses to corroborate your claim, Ms. Baker? This Eldryssa, is she here?
Ms. BAKER
No. Yet, a few who saw us earlier in the Pony are here. Ms. Brynleigh may have sen him earlier or Abe. Wait, no. Abe wasn't there.
Mr. ABELOR
I was there at the Pony indeed, but Ms. Owena left to do her deliveries. I never saw this man.
Judge OAKLEY
Then is this Ms. Brynleigh here, Ms. Baker?
Ms. Brynleigh, is it? You are called to the stand. Please raise your good hand. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Ms. BRYNLEIGH
I do.
Judge OAKLEY
Ms. Baker said you saw her leaving with the accused for her home. Is this true?
Ms. BRYNLEIGH
To be sure, sir, I cannot recall if I saw them leave together. But I did see him in the Prancing Pony that evening, along with Eldryssa and Owena.
Judge OAKLEY
Did you notice anything unusual about the fellow that night? Anything strange about him or his manner?
Ms. BRYNLEIGH
Yes, my lord. He seemed rather unpleasant to me. Rude and distasteful.
Judge OAKLEY
Please, Ms. Brynleigh—address me as 'Your Honor.' I make no claim to lordship. Please be seated.
Ms. BRYNLEIGH
Yes, Your Honor.
Judge OAKLEY
Mr. Wulfthrud, what say you in your defense?
Watcher BAKER
You can talk now.
Mr. WULFTHRUD
You Bree-folk are all the same. It was only three nights ago the woman fell victim to equality. A woman who eats and hordes her riches while there are men and women—boys and girls starving in your streets. Working their fingers to the bone. Your own neighbors you treat like servants.
<Disturbance by Mr. BALDVIN>
Judge OAKLEY
Silence! Order, order in the court!
Mr. WULFTHRUD
I will gladly take whatever sentence you give me. Go on, punish me for collecting on a debt the world owes me. Give the Bakers their cake—help them rebuild. All while you turn your cheek on people like Ms. Briony.
<Disturbance by Mr. RAHVIC>
Mr. WULFTHRUD
Who serves your drinks and tends to flocks tireless to support her family—she's robbed every day of luxury like Ms. Baker was for one night.
Judge OAKLEY
Order! Was Ms. Briony an accomplice of yours, Mr. Wulfthrud?
Watcher BAKER
Justice, he keeps pulling that woman into his plans. It would be good to hear from her more about how this man has also harassed her.
Mr. WULFTHRUD
She is symbol of this town's Wicked Truth—Your Honor. How you can't be bothered to seek real justice. You prefer your weighted scales.
Judge OAKLEY
You may step down, Mr. Wulfthrud. I call forth Ms. Briony.
Ms. Briony, do you know this man?
Ms. BRIONY
I... I suppose I might Your Honour. In a sense. H—he's taken to visiting the Pony of a night, where I work, you see? And once I think he chased away a bear or wolf that was worrying the sheep while I tended them on the hills by the millpond south of town.
Judge OAKLEY
Raise your better hand, child, and look at me. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Ms. BRIONY
I do, Your Lord... Honour... Oakley.
Judge OAKLEY
Are you well-acquainted with this man? Are you on friendly terms with him?
Ms. BRIONY
No my l—Your Honour. That is, he tried to give me coin. Said I was working myself to death and deserved better or somesuch.
Judge OAKLEY
Then you have nothing to do with the crimes Mr. Wulfthrud is accused of?
Ms. BRIONY
I didn't take it, and so he left the coins on the hill where I grazed the town's sheep. My da... my da was ill that day, you see. He's ill often—No!
Mr. WULFTHRUD
She wouldn't dare treat you Bree-folk as you treat her.
Ms. BRIONY
No, I didn't! I'm an honest lass, I work hard. I'm not like my da. Ms. Owena, I had nothing to do with it, on my eyes I didn't!
Judge OAKLEY
You're alright, dear. Do you know anything else that may help us in our pursuit of justice for Ms. Baker, Ms. Briony? Anything at all?
Ms. BAKER
I believe you Briony.
Ms. BRIONY
I... I heard him admit to Timot—to Watcher Timothie—that he ruined the bakery. But he made no mention of robbery or coin.
Judge OAKLEY
Thank you, Ms. Briony. You have done well; please be seated.
Watcher BAKER
She did. She was there when the arrest happened. The only problem was she wouldn't get out of the way. When a Watcher asks a person to step back, it is for your own safety.
Judge OAKLEY
Has anyone else any more evidence to bring forward about the accused?
Mr. RAHVIC
I would like to, Your Honor.
Judge OAKLEY
You first. Please state your name and occupation.
Mr. RAHVIC
Rahvic, retired hunter.
Judge OAKLEY
Come forward, Mr. Rahvic. What do you have to offer the court?
Mr. RAHVIC
I'd like to offer the court a witness's statement.
Judge OAKLEY
Please.
Mr. RAHVIC
It is but the day before I met this man. I had nothing to do in the matter. The man confessed in front of me and the Watchman on his right that he destroyed the Bakery in the name of good. The man should also be accused of disturbing the order by drawing his weapon in the public spaces and stalking as Briony told you. Everyone I have crossed has told me that man was responsible of the destruction not only have I heard this from a medium but as I told you. From the man himself as I was present at his arrest.
Watcher BAKER
He was there when I arrested Wulfthrud.
Judge OAKLEY
Thank you, Mr. Rahvic. Please be seated.
Mr. RAHVIC
Thank you, Your Honour.
Judge OAKLEY
I believe from the evidence presented to the court today, the outcome of this case is clear.
Mr. Wulfthrud, you are Wulfthrud no longer, but now made wolfshead. You are convicted by this court for the crimes of being a vagrant, of robbery, of theft, of disturbing the peace, and sedition against the people of Bree-town.
Mr. WULFTHRUD
<laughter> You take my name, do you?
Judge OAKLEY
For the crime of vagrancy, you shall be branded with a V. For theft, you shall be branded with a T. For robbery, you shall receive twenty lashes. For disturbing the peace, a day in the pillory. For sedition, you shall be too branded with an S, and after your time in the pillory you shall be barred from re-entry to this town.
<Disturbance by Mr. RAHVIC>
Judge OAKLEY
Silence! Order in the court!
If you are found again in this town, Wulfthrud, you shall be hanged without trial. And too you are exiled. If men see fit to kill you beyond the bounds of town, they shall be pardoned of all guilt.
Thank you, dear watchmen, for your service. This case has been decided. Court is dismissed.
