Verunt sat alone on the edge of a shabby bed in the scarcely furnished room he'd spent the night in. The sun had just found its way through the window and made the hanging, orange crystal fade. He had wanted to turn it out the night before, but been unsuccessful in the hunt for a switch. The choice had come down to either sleeping under the blankets or throwing the glowing stone out the window. He hadn't thought the later alternative would do him any good in the hearing and resisted the urge once he'd pulled up a chair to reach it. Fortunately, the blanket had been thick.

He stared blankly into the stone wall without truly seeing it. Thoughts of his family had taken over his mind.  The memories of his sister's laugh, his mother's bad jokes and his dad's warm hugs streamed down his cheeks as tears, until Amber knocked on the door and he forced them back. 

An hour later, Verunt entered the crowded courtroom from one of its side doors. Every seat on the two rows of benches to his left were occupied by curious citizens and farmers who had come to the unique hearing.

The murmur increased when the people caught sight of him. He soon noticed Amber's wild yellow-orange hair on the second row. She smiled warmly when she noticed his gaze. Next to her sat Antheia, her gaze fixed at the council members.

He even saw the short man he'd seen in the marketplace the day before. The man was accompanied by men and women wearing alike bronze pins shaped like a fish and a hawk. They all looked at him. But one of them, a tall dark haired man with a thin scar over his right cheek, looked at Verunt with a fascination and excitement that made him wonder what he'd miss.

Facing Verunt stood a long, slightly curved desk with the five seated council members, all watching his every move. The tall youngling seated furthest from Verunt seemed as excited as the spectators while the grey bearded man next to her didn't show any hint of emotion. In the center of the room stood a grey, massive piece of stone, carved with high armrests and an even higher backside that would make even the tallest person feel like an ant.

Verunt sat down in the cold, stone chair and faced the five council members.

The bald man in the middle was the first to speak, not moving his hard stare a millimeter. "Carved in the chair you sit in is a crystal. It will glow as long as you tell the truth. But it will fade the moment you lie. You may have one warning, but no more. Your second lie will make your life here miserable, or extremely short."

Verunt swallowed a swelling lump in his throat. When the council member finally looked away he released his breath. He twisted in the chair to find a more comfortable position, but it seemed as it had been carved to cause as much discomfort as possible. There was always at least one bump bothering his ass och back.

"State your full name and age to the court."

"Verunt, I'm 18. " His voice filled the whole room as the crystal above his head shone bright lilac to let everyone know it was the truth.

"Where do you come from, Verunt?" his interrogator went on while the sharpfaced woman next to him wrote something down.

"Procul." The crystal kept its light. A tension spread amongst the spectators. To hear the name of another city was apparently something out of the ordinary.

"Why did you come to our city, Verunt?"

Verunt shifted stance in the chair, eyes darting around on the floor as unwelcome memories crept upon him. "I didn't plan to... I'd been walking for days, maybe weeks,  after leaving Procul. I didn't care to keep count. Then a storm blew up. I was looking for cover when it got so cold... The next thing I remember is waking up at your hospital." 

The crystal must have gone out because the council members stiffened and the bald man looked at him coldly. "Do not tell us lies."

"Leaving," he begun, his insides turning to stone. "was the wrong word." He lowered his gaze. "I was banished..." This time the crystal glowed. But the knot in his stomach did not ease. He knew what they'd ask next.

"Why did your people banish you, Verunt?"

"Those who rule Procul are not my people!" he quickly answered with his heartbeat booming in his ears. "I just wanted to help my family. Some in Procul lives like royals, while others starve. I couldn't sit back and do nothing." He took a deep breath and looked the bald man in the eyes. "So I began to take food for them, and myself. I got really good at it, but eventually they caught me. They gave me the choice between imprisonment and banishment. It was a cruel choice between two ways to die. Or so I thought..." 

It might not have been the whole truth, but it was enough for the crystal to glow, and therefore enough for the council members. They sat lost in thought for a while before the bald man addressed Verunt once more. "Your crimes in Procul should not define your life here... But the council must discuss what to do with you nonetheless. What are your thoughts on the matter, Verunt?"

He was quiet for a few moments, surprised of being given such freedom of speech. "I could leave, if you don't want me here." He looked towards Amber to find a friendly face. "But I'd rather stay."

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A/N: What did you think of this chapter? Has your view of Verunt changed? Don't forget to leave a vote if you liked this chapter! :D