Chapter 28: Altha

Summary

• Altha spends a long and unnerving night in the dungeon, awaiting her trial.
• She prepares herself for the possibility of being hanged, seeking solace in the final sight of the sky and sounds of nature.
• Altha reflects on her broken promise to her mother, feeling guilt for not being able to save her.
• She grapples with the injustice of possibly being executed for the death of John Milburn.
• Altha is haunted by disturbing visions in her cell, including images of her deceased mother and others affected by death.
• As she is led to the courtroom, Altha feels disconnected from the world, sensing the veil between life and death lifting.
• The courtroom is filled with people and negative emotions, and Altha looks for a sign of her fate in a juror's eye but is met with dismay.
• She desperately seeks out her friend Grace in the crowd, who is present but does not meet Altha's gaze.
• A judge summarizes the charges of murdering John Milburn by witchcraft and acknowledges the societal fear of witchcraft.
• The judge discusses the king's mandate to purge witchcraft and the vulnerability of women to such accusations of evil influence.
• Evidence is reviewed, noting the absence of a confession, no witch's mark found on Altha, and the natural occurrence of crows which could have caused the cows to trample Milburn.
• The foreman of the jury announces Altha as not guilty, contrary to her expectations.
• Altha is overcome with relief and disbelief, perceiving the hostile reactions from afar as if in a dream.
• She finally catches Grace looking at her with an unknown expression, suggesting an important but ambiguous connection.