Time let me play and be

The Cardinal and the Witch

The Cardinal and the Witch

Cardinal Ignatius relaxed in the comfortable chair behind his desk. The report was complete and would be despatched in the morning. All that remained was to reflect on a good day’s work and prepare for a sound sleep that night. Outside, above the roofs of the town, smoke still rose from the site of the burning.

The last thing he expected was to be interrupted in his moment of triumph by a loud pounding on his door. Yet there was no denying that it happened. The thin, reedy voice of his clerk, Minus, accompanied the rapping.

“Your Eminence, your Eminence!”

The voice seemed panicky as its high-pitched tones shattered the Cardinal’s peace. It had to be something important that drove the timid clerk to disturb his master at such a moment. Ignatius called for the lad to enter.

The door flew open and Minus fell into the room, only just halting before he cannoned into the red-robed figure now standing by the desk.

“Your Eminence, the witch is back and there be hell to pay,” blurted out the clerk.

Ignatius gazed at him in disgust. “What witch? What the hell are you talking about, Minus?”

Minus pointed out the window at the smoke still drifting into the upper atmosphere. “The witch Mildred Evangelista,” he panted. “She’s come to the palace and demands to see you. Says she brings demand for payment.”

“What nonsense is this? The witch Evangelista is dead. We burned her at the stake but a few hours ago.”

“But I seen her meself,” gabbled the clerk, all thought of propriety before the cardinal gone in his distress. “I dunno how but she’s back and all blackened and smoking.”

The Cardinal fingered the triangular beard at his chin. It was annoying but it seemed he would have to investigate the matter. “Calm down, Minus. I will come solve the problem.” He paused before adding, “And attend to your manners when addressing me.”

When the clerk had slowed his breathing and seemed a bit more steady, Ignatius pointed at the door and Minus led the way into the maze of corridors that led to the audience hall.

Once there, the Cardinal was most surprised to see that his clerk had been quite accurate in his description of the witch. Her clothes were charred and still emitted a lazy column of grey smoke, and her face was black with soot, her hair a tangled remnant of once-luxurious curls. She stood upon the richly patterned carpet, her clothes dropping ashes and black embers to sully the precious weave.

In spite of her altered state, Ignatius could see that she was indeed the witch Evangelista.

“Well, Mildred,” he said, “have you returned to allow me to burn you again? I don’t know how you escaped, but it seems a pretty trick at the least.”

An enormous grin split the witch’s features. “Escaped I did not, your Eminence. I have been down among the sinners and return now with a message from the master of that dark realm.”

“I see,” said the Cardinal. “And why should I believe this nonsense?”

“Oh, it’s true alright,” responded the witch. Turning away, she yelled a word into the great vault of the hall. “Abardinacuum!”

An enormous figure, well over seven foot tall, green, and heavily built, appeared beside her.

The witch turned back to Ignatius. “This is my demon escort,” she explained. “He’s here in case you need any additional persuasion. You’re to come with me to the Underworld. You have a bill to pay.”

The Cardinal was surprisingly cool in his response. “An official visit, you mean?”

For a moment the witch stared back at him in consternation. The demon nudged her and she spoke. “Er, yes, I guess you could call it that.”

“Excellent,” said Ignatius. “Lead on then, Mildred.”

As they turned to walk down the length of the hall, the Cardinal called out, “Have dinner ready for my return, Minus. This won’t take long.”

Minus hurried off to do his bidding. He had nothing to lose. If his master returned, all would be well. If not, well, Minus would have a decent dinner that night.


Word count: 693
For “13,” 10.30.24
Prompt: "The Witch is back and there's hell to pay." —Winifred, Hocus Pocus