"Now, my dear people, it would do us no good if she died here," Lia heard the mayor say. The people roared in response.
"But we can't let the witch live!"
"She'll have to die or she'll kill us all!"
Lia hung her head to roll her eyes unseen. If her life was not on the line here, she would be laughing at the moment. These people were absurd, blaming someone just because. She felt her forehead. It was still a little sticky.
The mayor pacified the people, "I know. Like you, I also want to remove the threat to our town. But we have a distinguished guest right now. We should present her to him, and then, the general can put in a good word about our heroic deeds to our King. Imagine it, we'll all be rewarded!"
The people shouted agreement in unison. Lia rolled her eyes again. How can they not see that the recognition would only be given to the mayor? He would get all the monetary gifts, too.
"So tie her up, and we'll bring her back with us," the mayor ordered.
Four brawny men approached Lia and put a rope around her. They then threw her to a cart and guarded it. One of them flashed his knife at her.
"Do something funny, and my hand might slip." He smirked while the others laughed. Lia just stared at them.
She crossed her fingers hard, hoping and praying that she would still be alive when she was presented to Eldric. If not, then her gamble would be useless.
The atmosphere around her was that of soldiers coming home from a triumphant war. One might think that there was another festival with all their lively talks and laughter. They had won against the witch, after all.
Lia hugged her knees and rested her head on it. Too tired to think, too tired to feel. The carriage jerked that caused her to fall sideways. Her guards were on alert. She looked around and realized that they had arrived in town.
"Oh, the great vice-general! You have come back!"
Lia had goosebumps with the sickening sweet tone the mayor used. She whipped her head but could not see the general's reaction with the people crowding the front and side of the cart.
A deep voice sliced through the praises of the people. "What was that that I heard from the guards? You used my name to order a witch hunt?"
"Ah, you see, it is of utmost importance to capture the villain that had been threatening the peace of this town. It is through my— everyone's effort that we managed to seize her."
Silence then a movement around Lia where her guards hauled her and pushed her forward. She had no choice but to walk until she was near the mayor. It was only then that she looked up. The mayor looked smug, but the general stared at her, his jaws set firmly.
"I present you — the witch," the mayor did a small bow. "I hope you'll put in for the king how much effort I did—"
"She's just a young lady," Eldric said, giving the mayor a cold glare. The mayor flinched at that, but he recovered right away. "According to hearsays, she has platinum blonde hair. I see black."
"Don't be fooled. Witches know a lot of witchcraft. She might be pretending to be young and have black hair for all we know."
Lia snorted to which the mayor glared at her and signaled for his men.
Just before she felt the slap coming her way, she heard Eldric say, "You dare accuse someone without evidence in front of me!"
"Ah, but the rumors said that the general is weak against young ladies—"
"What are you implying?!" the man beside Eldric said.
This made the mayor nervous. "I only mean that the witch might be playing to your favorite look…"
Eldric glared at him then said to the man beside him, "Lock her up."
Lia swallowed, and the mayor grinned.