Bitter Hearts: A Dark Cinderella Retelling

Eighteen

Present Day

General Pricha was talking about the village court that needed to be held in the council meeting.

"She's the murderer, we just have to get her to publicly confess it." He said with a grim expression.

"Now are you sure of this?" King Volker asked from his throne.

"Absolutely sir, she has very strong reasons to want the people she has killed dead."

"What proof do you have?" Grand duke Tokala asked.

"Her motives are proof enough, besides the villagers also think she the killer. So many people couldn't be wrong, right?" General Pricha said his lips in a thin line.

"Motives she has, her background story tells us why she would want them dead," General Rithisak added.

"I hope you're right," Tokala said, worry lines creasing his forehead.

"I am Duke," General Pricha said reassuringly, seeing that the thin bearded man was only worried.

"Hmm...we arrest her tonight, tomorrow we go to court," King Volker said his hand on his smooth chin.

"Yes My King," General Pricha said bowing a little.

"I and my men will aid you in her arrest," General Tedmund declared.

"Thank you," General Pricha appreciated.

"Generals!" King Volker bellowed.

"My King?" They all answered.

"Do not let another soul know about this, this should not leave this room, no one can be trusted at this moment," King Volker ordered, looking each one of his General's in the eye.

"Yes Sire." They answered.

General Pricha was making his way out of the throne room when two guards rushed in. Swearing under his breath he followed them back in and wondered who had been murdered this time.

"My King the killer has struck again," one of the guards said not even following protocol and honouring the King first.

"Who...who is the victim?" King Volker asked solemnly.

"There are two victims my King" the other guard said.

"Who" King Volker barked losing his patience.

"I cannot speak of it...,"

"Who you fool!" King Volker said, screaming at this point and leaning forward on his elaborately carved and decorated ivory throne.

"I-It is an a-a-abomination my King" the guard said stuttering. The King normally was fearsome to look upon but him angry would make one almost pee themselves so it was understandable that these guards were trembling before him.

"What?!!!" King Volker's sonorous voice reverberated across the room.

"Our laws will not allow us to speak of it, my King"

"Take me to the victims," King Volker said deep in thought.

"Yes my King."

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The air was still and a heavy fog was upon the forest.

The guards led the King and his Generals through the familiar path that led to the village shrine and even though they all had the same thought nobody said anything and only the sound of their bare feet crushing dried leaves could be heard.

The guards stopped when they were in front of the shrine; a cave in the forest mountains, and let the King walk forward to lead them in. The King took off his sandals and the rest of them followed him in.

There were different masks on the walls from the Bombo mask for initiation to the Bayaka dance mask for the circumsion of boys and the Bobo masks for sowing and harvesting ceremonies amongst others. They were cowrie shells, stone and coral beads scattered on the ground and a series of large stone, wood and ivory carved gods to smaller copper and brass idols. Hanging from the tree branches were different amulets made of special stones, the skulls and bones of dead humans and animals and different animal carcasses, some relatively fresh with dried blood and others so old and rotten that the animal was barely recognizable. Red cloth was tied at specific positions and a huge brass pot sat in the middle of the shrine with different sizes of calabash(earthen pot) around it, some open with unidentifiable content and others closed. A bag containing different feathers sat prominently at a corner and the air in the shrine smelt of both fresh and rotten meat, dried blood, foul smells and fresh herbs.

Despite all this the King and the Generals only saw the naked bodies of the chief priest and Duvessa joined together by a spear and of course a gleaming white note.

Those who murder innocent souls for their own selfish purpose will pay the price.

Scandalous isn't it? A chief priest meant to be celibate serving the gods and a woman meant to be widowed together. You would have never guessed it. An abomination! But guess what! This is the least of their sins.

My eyes go to and fro this village. A price has to paid that price is your lives. Expect me...

"Throw the bodies in the wastelands," King Volker ordered.

"Pricha!!" he bellowed.

"Arrest her now" he ordered once again, no emotion in his voice.

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