Looking straight ahead, never making eye contact with the elders, Ester was as helpless to defend herself against the council, as she had been to prevent the tortures inflicted upon her body. The magistrate, physician, and town priest each presented their evidence, proving that she was a “witch.” They showed that during each of the “tests,” she had been unable to prevent their actions. They stated that not once had Ester used magic to aide her and never had she pleaded with the Goddess to assist her in her time of great need.
Ester was not permitted to defend herself, and within minutes was found guilty. She was sentenced to immediate death and was led outside to face her execution. This time, she was pushed toward a tall post standing in the center of the courtyard, with bundles of wood stacked around its base. As she stumbled through the deep snow, Ester glanced at the faces of the townsfolk around her; some looked on her with undisguised hatred and distain, but on a few of the faces Ester saw a glimmer of sympathy and regret before those individuals broke eye contact. Placing one foot in front of the other, she continued to trudge a straight path to the ring of wood where her execution would take place.
As she was tied to the post, piles of twigs and small branches were placed around her feet and she saw a glistening of shed tears on the cheeks of a small number of sympathetic faces. Looking at each of the crying people, she noticed the glint of winter sun on metal talismans before they were hidden from sight again. Those spilt tears and glints of metal gave her the hope, that although she was beyond earthly help, her life and beliefs would not be forgotten, nor had they been in vain. Aware that her end was swiftly approaching, Ester began whispering silent prayers of protection and forgiveness in this, the moment of her death. Members of the town council moved to circle her, and chanting a series of invocations, ignited a bonfire around her.
As smoke filled her lungs and the flames caressed her flesh, Ester silently continued to pray, and even amidst this ultimate trial, she remained faithful. She did not cry out when the fire completely engulfed her body, and within seconds her lips were stilled, as death freed her from the consuming flames.
Later that evening, while a blood red sun set slowly in the west, Ester’s ashes were scattered throughout the town and surrounding forest by a gentle breeze. As the sun dropped below the horizon, its rays reflected off a scrape of metal lying uncharred and ignored amid the remains of the deadly fire, causing a small gold cross to flash and glow brightly in the fading light.
