The spear fell sharply against the floor. At once, six men jumped at him and restrained him, with some landing kicks and punches and spitting out curses. Anthony gritted his teeth as he received the blows. He had all the power to kill them, but was somehow made powerless.
The violence only stopped when the big man stepped in who had now taken charge of the whole proceeding instead of the innkeeper. The latter visibly disturbed by what he was seeing.
"Stop it. He is to be executed at dawn. For now, lock him in a secure place."
Irene wailed as she watched Anthony get beaten up and get escorted out. She herself was not harmed or David, but was forced back into their room.
Out in the cold, through the dark and empty streets, Anthony was led into an old storehouse. His hands and feet were restrained with rope before he was locked up inside. Through the gaps of the planks, he could see two guards posted.
Things happened too fast. Just the other day, he was wild and free, and his only problem was not getting enough tokens to buy luxury products. Now, he was all tied and fearing for his life.
The worst of it all, was that he was capable enough to break away from his rope, kill the guards and eventually the rest. But he couldn't dare do anything about it. They held Irene and David hostage, and he was not brave enough to test out if they would do good with their threats.
He was in the annoying part of every story he had read, and he could not believe he was living it out.
The dawn found him without a solution to his predicament. Soon it was time for his scheduled execution.
Several footsteps and shadows, and a conversation about the stage being ready. The door swung open and four soldiers came to pick him up. They untied his legs, helped him to his feet and led him out. This time, no more punches or kicks, just curses and jibes about him soon losing his head.
The streets were now bright, and noisy. The villagers awoke to an unexpected development. He came a proud rich merchant the other day, the next morning he was bruised and bound, and wearing leather armor. An explanation was needed, and they would get it soon enough.
Now atop the stage, usually used by visiting performers, he joined his executioner, who was the same muscly soldier. His big sword now unsheathed, ready to sever his head against the tree stump.
"This man, stands here today to answer for his crimes. He has committed treason by colluding with the enemy. A merchant who had exchanged his country for silver." he pointed at him, facing about a hundred people below.
There was silence first, the villagers digesting the information. Everyone looked at each other whether they should believe it or not. After all, they knew nothing of Anthony and the charges.
Then the first tomato flew, along with the first angry shout. It was a teary-eyed woman, perhaps, a relative of one of the soldiers he had killed. Still having huntsman attire on, he easily evaded the projectile.
But his action angered the rest, considering his evasion, an arrogant act for someone being charged. What followed was a rain of vegetables and fruits, and the deafening clamor of the crowd that seemed to have erupted in an instant.
Anthony could see the sniggering of the soldiers, who founded the legitimacy of their accusations on the wrath of the people. Anger, for the first time since back in Myrtiri village, filled his heart.
"Iocles, a captain of the army, and Marcus, a soldier, were slain while attempting to apprehend this criminal. Not only was he a treasonous bastard, but an impulsive and dangerous man."
The additional charges broke the camel's back. The crowd was enraged, and the soldiers had to form a barricade to stop them from storming the stage. And while the soldiers could stop their fists from reaching him, they could do nothing about the projectiles being thrown, if they did want to stop them.
The fruits and vegetables turned to stones and other hard objects, and soon enough, more bruises and blood covered his body.
He stood frozen, horrified with what people could do without even hearing of evidence. Modern Earth was far from perfect, but at least there, he would at least have a trial. The injustices of the medieval world, were more direct and brutal.
"Do you have anything for yourself." he could barely hear him from the noise of the crowd and the loud ringing on his head.
Anthony tried to stand still, despite the wounds all over his body. He was never this injured, even in both of his lives.
He was lightheaded, yet he had not lost the words to say.
"I will not forget this, and I will not die here today." he said loudly through his teeth, using the last of his strength to be heard by all.
It was spoken with all seriousness, but was received with laughter and jeers. With his fading vision, he made sure to memorize the faces, to imprint it in his memory.
He was forced into the middle of the platform, right in front of the stump. A kick landed behind his knees, and he collapsed to a kneeling position. A curse escaped his mouth, much to the delight of the spectators.
Everything seemed set.
"Imperials!" a shout earned instant silence and garnered everyone's attention. It belonged to one of the villagers, huffing and puffing.
"What do you mean?" one of the soldiers inquired.
"Violet banners, just miles away. An infantry column of hundreds of men, have come to capture this village for the emperor."
"How do we know, he's not just disrupting us?"
One of the soldiers who took a look as soon as he heard the word, came back, and with a horrified expression, confirmed.
Now everyone was convinced of the threat, including the executioner himself.
"Quickly, we must leave. Let's end this affair once and for-"