The survivors were not sure whether to mourn G55 or rejoice that a spy had been caught. Strangely, though, the talk again soon turned to the Acolyte. Shasta was particularly determined to rout this mysterious individual.
"Why are you so sure the Acolyte must be evil?" asked the Legate of Khand suspiciously. "And why did you suggest a double-killing yesterday?"
"I sense the beginnings of a witch-hunt!" snarled Shasta. "What about you, Easterling? Why wouldn't you believe the Envoy? Spy!"
By the end of the day Guard-lieutenant Shasta and the Legate of Khand had all but come to blows, shouting insults and accusations at one another while the rest looked on in bewilderment.
"My Master has, as yet, granted me no insight into either of these two," said the Envoy, "but I wouldn't be surprised if one of them's a spy. Or even both."
There was some talk of killing the pair of them, but after some debate it was generally decided that Shasta looked the better of the two, and that it was Legate alone who must die. It only remained to think of an appropriate method of execution.
I know," said one among the company– they were never afterwards sure who– "This Legate claims to be an Easterling, does he not? Well, then– think of the Wainriders!"
It took the others only moments to grasp the possibilities of the idea. Boro volunteered the large, heavy cart he used for his charges' fodder, and, once Legate had been tied up and placed in the middle of the main courtyard, the company got together and gave the vehicle a hearty push. The huge waggon trundled slowly, inexorably forward. The crunching and squelching it made going over the Easterling's helpless body could not be drowned out even by his frightful dying screams.
The waggon rolled on with bloody wheels, coming to a gradual halt at the far side of the courtyard.
The crushed and mangled thing it left in its wake was barely recognisable as Legate. The others waited around it as the shades of evening fell, hoping against hope for some sign, for the barest hint of a magical change.
They were to be disappointed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Living
Boromir88 –Wealthy mûmak breeder.
Sally –Messenger girl.
Shasta –Particularly attentive guard-lieutenant.
Steve –Court Jester (from Umbar).
Pomegranate –Entertainer.
A Little Green –The Empress's favourite snake-charmer.
Pitchwife –Captain in the "Provisional Royal Númenórean Navy" and emissary of Angamaitë IX, Lord of Umbar.
Lottie –Accident-prone sorcerer's apprentice.
Inziladun –Minister of the Treasury.
Lommy! –Court physician.
Dead
The Empress of Harad. Mod.
–assassinated in her sleep.
Bom Tombadillo –Greatly afflicted beggar. Ordo.
–multiple stab wounds.
Eruhen –Court eunuch. Ordo.
–burned to death on the Empress's funeral pyre.
Rikae –Empress's handmaiden. Royal Executioner.
–garotted with own wire.
Nogrod –Camel and coffee trader. Spy.
–poisoned with own merchandise.
Galadriel55 –Professional assassin. Captain of the Guard.
–neck broken in stairwell fight.
Legate of Amon Lanc –Legate of Khand. Ordo.
–crushed to death by an enormous waggon.
Night Four has begun.