"You have been an annoyance, my dearest brother!" On the mount, the Seer cried. There was nothing that he could do to prevent what was to be, but now it was his time to descend to Pomperaque. He stood on the highest overhanging cliff, spread his arms to the mild evening sky and threw himself off. "With the i-cam-raff I come -- by the will of God!" As he fell towards the city, he transformed into a beautiful and large swallow, and gently glided down to Pomperaque's towns-square. CHAPTER TEN On the following day, word had gone to all the citizens of Phoride, calling them to the town's square to observe the execution of a high official, set for sundown. The high official's name was not given. Most of the men and their male children had obeyed, what was a command to attend. Knowing well, who the unnamed official was to be executed, all but a few of the Prominants had left their wives at home. That was a direct symbol of their disobedience towards the ArchBishop. Manguino had not regarded the petition sent to him asking for a pardon, for Brook, based on the Canon's Law and its declared punishment. No one believed the allegations towards Brook and his wife, but they could do nothing to help him. There were many monastic guards watching the whole city and they had made it very difficult for any large groups of men to meet and talk. At sundown, large numbers gathered in the square and waited. They all looked at the two spreader-arches set on a platform, about a meter high, to one side of a large podium and the entire square took on the appearance of a theatre stage. There was an uneasy silence there. With all the men and boys crowded together, the silence had an almost unnatural aura to it. Nothing was said. Soon, several messeigneurs and cardinals came out of nowhere with the ArchBishop. Three walked on each side of him, as if guarding him from approach, and each man carried a club with spikes protruding from them, and Manguino carried a scroll of parchment enveloped by a black lash. Everyone in the crowd watched as the ArchBishop approached the podium and the others swung their clubs from side to side. Lloyd and Boyce watched the event also. They hid themselves in the shadows of an alley and were able to see the entire square without revealing their presence. Manguino was apparelled in a festive garb as were his men, and when they reached the podium, they helped him up the steps to it. He grinned and spoke. "People of Phoride! -- We are all gathered together this day to rid the earth of two blasphemers who think themselves above the law." he shrieked to them. Boyce was becoming anxious. He wanted to leave but he knew that he couldn't. What's more, Lloyd forced him to stay. He knew that it was cruel to make a child witness his parents' execution but Lloyd hoped that Boyce would understand why Brook allowed it all to happen.