The sunlight was so dazzling that she could not open her eyes. It took her quite a while to adjust.
She was standing beside a sunken square. At its center was a square earthen pit filled with firewood, with a stake rising from the pile. Many people tossed a piece of wood into the pit as they passed.
There were "spectator stands" around the sunken square, and one could clearly tell the classes apart. The commoners' side had neither awnings nor seats. They gathered noisily, some climbing over the railings to sit on them. There were also seats for the "middle class," with wooden benches but no awnings. The most luxurious area was the "dais," which had not only chairs but silk canopies. Those were seats reserved for nobles, though not a single one had appeared yet.
At the sound of trumpets, she looked over. A group of gorgeously dressed knights appeared, followed by a donkey carrying a disheveled woman. She wore a yellow cloak that hung to her knees. There might once have been patterns on it, but they were obscured by vegetables and eggs. People ran after her, constantly hurling things at her. The knights were less her protectors than spectators enjoying the show. So long as the pursuers did not try to drag her off the donkey, they would not intervene.
After a while, they stopped at the entrance to the sunken square. Two priests helped the woman down from the donkey. Then another trumpet call sounded, and nobles in festive finery appeared in their seats.
Their seats were arranged at different heights. The inquisitors sat at the very top, while the nobles sat somewhat lower. Once they had taken their places, the two priests responsible for guarding prisoners during executions led the prisoner up the steps