Heretic

I woke up to the sound of yelling. Half a dozen voices, ruined and drowned out by the river. I looked out my window and across the bridge to see Franz and his followers surrounding Madame Piff’s bedhouse. It had been a week since I’d spoken to them. They weren’t looking to have a quiet conversation with Madame Piff.

“What’s going on?” I called out, “Lady Hen? Lady Hen?” She didn’t respond. She was never one to not be present.

Instead the ground trembled with a pleasant sigh, “They’re looking to punish her. They believe she’s committed a crime.”

I leapt out of bed. I slipped on what clothes I could and held up my scepter. “Who gave them the authority to do that?” My feet tingled as I stepped out of the palace.

“Didn’t you get the new shoes?”

“No time right now,” I hissed, “heavens, does it have to burn?”

“Do you have to complain about everything?” Rung in my ears as I stepped onto the broken bridge. The river growled under it. The stone arched up, little bits of it falling through. It was damp, and my toes slid slightly against it. The sides of the bridge had already collapsed, and there was nothing to hold onto.

Bits of gravel dropped through the holes under my feet. I took another step, but my foot didn’t stop. It just slid forward. I tried to stop myself, but tumbled to the side, barely keeping the scepter in my hand. I slipped further, and finally stopped myself just at the edge of the bridge. I was looking straight down into the river. I felt myself trembling. “Be careful, would you!” Bubbles scolded me.

I slowly picked myself up, and marched the rest of the way across. My toes started sizzling again as soon as I stepped on the opposite riverbank. I grimaced, seeing the Padro and his men storming into the bedhouse just in front of me. “Damn…” I hissed, “Damn, what are they doing?”

As I reached the entrance, I was met with the robed men coming out. They were forcing Madame Piff between them. Franz stopped. He raised his hood, “Princess, you’ve arrived at just the right time!” He bowed politely.

“Padro, I admit I haven’t yet been informed as to what exactly is going on here,” I gritted my teeth.

“There wasn’t time, Your Majesty!” Elsie yipped. Her knees bounced up and down under her like an excited child, “We’re taking the heretic to the river.” Madame Piff’s eyes widened. She threw her arms wildly, trying to break free, but they held her tightly.

I tilted my chin up. “Who instructed you to do this?”

“This is the will of the dragon,” one of the men beside Elise stepped forward, “I dreamt it. I dreamt Bubbles-Navfa demanded it. It is only right for what Madame Piff does. You must agree, Prophet!”

Madame Piff relaxed her arms. She smiled to me, “Speak not, Child. You save me from nothing. It’s today or another day.”

I lifted my scepter over my head, “Take her back inside.” I smiled, a plan forming in my head, “You have passed your test, faithful. Now, for your reward. Madame Piff will transform this bedhouse into a temple. She will serve as your high priestess.”

Madame Piff snorted, “As right as I will! Are you drunk, Princess?”

I looked at her sadly, “That is a command, Madame.” She put her hand to her mouth.

Franz lifted his arm toward Madame Piff, “My first command to you, High Priestess…”

I cleared my throat, “Padro, I think you misunderstand. The High Priestess outranks you. You will be taking her commands from now on. Your service has been greatly appreciated by the dragon and by myself.”

He froze, “Princess, there must be…”

“No,” Bubbles’ voice shook the ground. She laughed, “Franz, to be honest, you simply bore me. There were some days I dreamed you might slip into the river, just so you would interest me for a mere second.”

Franz trembled before me, “P-Princess, do you hear this? There is a demon pretending as…”

I put my hand on his forehead, “My, my, he’s ill. Somebody take him home.”

“I’ll go myself,” Franz tore his robes off. He only had his undergarments under them. He stormed past me and walked along the side of the buildings.

I turned to face Madame Piff, “High Priestess, this is now your temple. These members of the faith are here at your command.” I offered her a half-smile. I didn’t need her to be a cleric, an actress was enough.

Once I saw the faithful were following their new commander, and that Madame Piff would be more receptive to reasonability than Franz, I took my leave. I strutted down by the riverbank and approached the broken bridge. There was a loud footstep behind me. I turned sharply, and there was Franz running with his arms outstretched. I heard the river just behind me as he grabbed my shoulders and shoved me back. “What are you doing?” I yelled.

“Princess! I didn’t know you were a heretic!” He screamed, pushing me closer to the river, “A traitor!”

I pushed back against him, trying to circle around him to get my back away from the river. He kept screaming wildly. The noise carried back to the bedhouse. I managed to put my back against the arch of the broken bridge just as he threw me to the ground. My head hit the slippery rocks, and the world started spinning.

Someone else grabbed Franz from behind. I put my hand behind my head, there were only little drops of blood. Two of the faithful held Franz by the arms. Madame Piff strutted out behind them, “What has happened here?” She yelled.

Bubbles yelled, “The man is lost! He has tried at something awful!” I’d heard frustration from her, annoyance, humor. I had never heard wrath.

Franz shook, “I’m sorry!” He whimpered, “Navfa! Navfa! I’m sorry!”

Madame Piff looked at one of the fire glands. She sighed, “Cast him in,” she flicked her hand toward the river. Bubbles didn’t protest, and the faithful did as they were told. My vision blurred as I watched Padro Franz sink. My head was ringing, and I kept wondering if he would surface. I never saw any part of him again.

I fell asleep on the broken bridge.