Blackford Crossing

[wookie]

Osmund's pale eyebrows nearly climbed up to the top of his skull "Dalla's son, Myles? I thought it might be some drifter or brigand, not a Blackford boy!" he looked very bewildered and sad.

Benfry struck his chin out grimly and placed his hand gently on his swordhilt. "I think you'd better tell us where Myles is, Dalla. He's in a lot of trouble and it'll be easier on him if he comes in peacefully"

[Ellinda]

Kaled took off his apron, dusted himself free of most of the flour and put on the massive leather jacket he wore when he was acting as sheriff of Blackford. He looked sad. "He's right Dalla, the sooner we talk to him, the easier it will go with him."

ooc: Kaled's the baker

[Deleted]

"He doesn't know what he's saying," Dalla said, pushing the boy roughly out of the way. "Are you suggesting my Myles would do such a thing! His father died in the war! He prays with me in the Blackford sept every morning and evening. I raised him under the seven-pointed star. I will not stand for this." Trembling, she strode out of the smithy.

[wookie]

Osmund & Benfry shared a look and spoke to Kaled. "Perhaps we should speak with Myles and see what he has to say over this" Benfry said gravely.

[Deleted]

"I know where he is," Lewys said, ignoring Dalla. Everyone knew the rumors about her and....well. The boy led them out of the smithy and down the village main street, and then farther on, until they came across a field full of grazing cows. "There he is," Lewys pointed to a wiry boy sitting by the haystacks.

[Ellinda]

The party walked towards Myles. He heard them coming, looked up and then looked as if he was going to run for it. "Myles," shouted Kaled. "Don't do it, the more you help us, the easier it will be."

[Deleted]

There was a flash of fear, then his mouth set stubbornly. "What's wrong?" he asked calmly. Myles Puckens was fourteen years old.

[wookie]

Benfry walked up to the youth cautiously. If he had killed Hayden, he was stronger than he appeared. "We just want to ask you about Hayden the butcher. Did you meet with him before he went missing?" he said calmly.

Osmund circled round behind Myles nonchalantly.

[Deleted]

"No."

[wookie]

Benfry smiled and threw the muddy shoe on the ground in front of him. "Maybe you can tell me why I found that near the body of Hayden in that case"

[Deleted]

Myles looked at the shoe for a long moment. Then he looked at Lewys, Ser Osmund, Kaled the butcher, Ser Benfry...they had all surrounded him.

"Hayden's body...he's dead?" Myles licked his lips. "I've never seen that shoe before."

"Liar," Little Lewys said. "Widow Puckens beat you black and blue for losing that shoe, Egen and I saw it."

[wookie]

Benfry frowned at little Lewys "You'd better be telling the truth about this Lewys. I'll tan your hide if you're telling tales"

He looked at Kaled to see how he would handle things, rather than take the law into his own hands

[Deleted]

"I am telling the truth!" Lewys insisted, wounded. "You can go ask Egen too. We saw him come back all muddy, and his ma beat him up. Besides, everyone knows Hayden was laying with her."

Myles pounced on him, beating the boy with hard, savage blows that were not entirely different from the way Hayden's corpse looked it had been beaten.

[wookie]

Benfry and Osmund leapt in to restrain Myles. Despite his struggling they were both 2 men grown and soon subdued him. They looked at Kaled to pronounce his decree upon the young man.

Inside, Benfry felt for young Puckens but resolutely held firm. Without law, there was no justice.

[Ellinda]

Kaled shook his head. "You have just doomed yourself, son, by that action. As the sheriff and justice in this town it is my duty to declare your punishment. The normal sentence for murder around here is hanging by the crossroads, but I got a cousin at the Wall. He's lived a good life up there and says they need new men. So your choice is to get your eyes plucked out by crows as you hang from the tree by the crossroads, or join the Crows yourself."