Dust swirled through Newborn Town's central square.
The midday sun was fierce, baking the flagstones until they were scorching hot.
More than a dozen people were escorted onto a makeshift platform by soldiers of the Guard Corps, with Pike standing at the front.
There was not a trace of fear on his face. Instead, it shone with the radiance of a martyr.
He knew perfectly well that he was gambling.
If he won, he would be the hero who had dared to stand up for everyone, and his words would carry weight in Newborn Town from then on.
If he lost... no, he wouldn't lose!
To him, this young lord was like a scholar, disappearing into some mountain or other every day.
He was softhearted and easy to talk to, and more importantly, he needed his subjects to work.
The law could not punish everyone. As long as they made enough of a scene, the lord would have to back down!
That thought emboldened him further. He raised his arm and shouted, spittle flying.
"Everyone! Open your eyes and look! Our lord is a good man. He wants us to live better lives, and there's nothing wrong with that!"
He first lulled the crowd with a statement of approval. "But good intentions don't guarantee good results! We're people, not machines. Who can guarantee they won't nick a single salt potato while digging them up?"
"Today it's just one salt potato, but what about tomorrow? We work ourselves to the bone all day, only to have all our sweat and blood count for nothing because of one little 'accident'! I'm not doing this for myself. I'm speaking up for all of us! We must ask our lord to change this unreasonable rule!"
The dozen or so people behind him began shouting