Trial by Night

Published by Ben Crofton at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 Ben Crofton

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Acknowledgements

To Erin: without your kinds words and encouragement (not to mention your top-notch editing skills), this book may never have been. I love you with all my heart.

Trial by Night

Under a black and starless sky, the village burned. Flames crackled wildly, throwing sparks into the air as charred buildings crumpled beneath them. Thick clouds of oily smoke belched upwards, briefly joining the fiery tumult before disappearing into the darkness above.

Nothing moved but the flames – not a breath of air stirred, and the stillness of death smothered all that lay in the light of the fire’s glare. Bodies sprawled everywhere - men, women, and children. The killing had been indiscriminate, done by a hand that had no concern save that not a single person survived.