8 20 Seasons Pass (8)

The shopkeeper jerked back in, "What do you think I am? I have a reputation to hold up too!"

"If that is the case, where did you get the snake fang?" Rhosyn asked. She hoped she didn't fall into a trap buying the dagger.

"Very well," the shopkeeper closed his stall door and turned to face her, "This is on the down-low."

Rhosyn nodded.

"I find my wares at the sites of the battlements. Where we faced off with the different devil races. I get my information from the Migaret Halo Church. They keep the records there."

"Wait, you have access to the Migaret Halo church?" Saffir piped in, "That's so cool! What is it like?"

The Shopkeeper shrugged. "Like a church. Grand halls, seas of candlesticks, censers burning everywhere. A lot of gold icons everywhere too, a king ransom. A library, nothing too special."

Saffir's eyes dimmed as her shoulders slouched in disappointment, "Oh."

Shouts could be heard coming from outside. Rhosyn and the Shopkeeper looked at each other before peeking out of the stall and down towards the square.

"Why are they shouting?" Rhosyn asked.

The Shopkeeper shrugged before going back inside his stall, "Who knows? Last time they got like that, they were on the hunt for a devil."

"A devil?" Rhosyn asked worriedly.

"Look kid, it's none of our business. It's best we stay out of the church's way. Now get out." The shopkeeper kicked Rhosyn and Saffir out.

What suddenly got into him? She thought, before remembering that humans were terrified of the other races. Including herself.

"Oh!" Rhosyn exclaimed, "Here Saffir," she passed a basket over to Saffir, "I made these for you. Happy Seasons!"

Saffir's face lit up with excitement as she removed the cloth and found the pastries underneath.

"Thank you!" her voice muffled as she had shoved one in her mouth. "Wait, seasons?" she asked, "What are seasons?"

Oh no, Rhosyn realized she slipped, "I was just meaning happy birthday. You were born in a certain season, which should also be celebrated." she lied, pulling something out of thin air to explain. Saffir looked at her weirdly for a moment before shrugging it off and stuffing another pastery in her mouth.

"Come let's go see what the commotion is all about!" Saffir grabbed Rhosyns hand and dragged her down the street to the mass of people in the square.

Saffir pushed her way through the crowd, pulling Rhosyn with her. She spotted men in black cloaks standing around a small platform with lit torches.

"Bring her out!" A man dressed in scarlet robes shouted from within the crowd.

The crowd parted as a group of men dressed in ragged workmen smocks hauled a cart with an iron cage on it. A girl with brown hair that sat with knots atop her head, huddled in the corner of the cage, dressed in nothing but a dirty torn dress. She flinched as the people of the

town threw rotten food, rocks, and faeces. Anything they could get their hands on as a weapon to pummel the girl with.

"Kill the demon!" The low chanting began quiet, running through the crowd in a slow wave before gaining momentum and becoming a loud chant that covered the entire square. The cart stopped beside the platform and the door was swung open.

The girl screams pierced through the chanting, "Please no! I didn't do this! I'm innocent. I'm one of you!" Soldiers dressed in iron plate yanked her out of the cage. Rhosyn could see her skin was covered with cuts, bruises and dirt as she struggled against the soldier's restraints. Two more soldiers rushed up and grabbed her flaring legs, as they hurried towards the pyre, tying her to the post.

A hand grabbed Rhosyns arm, pulling her away from Saffir.