Chapter 3
Disaster
3 days after Meggie's light green eyes rested on Pfeiffer's angelic face, the prince of sighs, once the laughing prince, died. He passed at dawn, and the men at arms rode into Ombra 3 days later. Meggie was in the market place with Minerva when they came. The Piper rode at their head, his silver nose like a beak in the middle of his face, as shiny as if he had polished it up especially for the occasion. Meggie's eyes searched foe the woman she had seen earlier. When Meggie finally located her, she was not atop the Piper's horse, but on Firefox's mount. She looked much happier up there, and Firefox seemed to enjoy her company to. This made Meggie scratch her head in confusion.
How strange
She thought.
"MAKE WAY!" cried the Piper. "MAKE WAY FOR THE ENVOY OF THE ADDERHEAD! WE ARE HERE TO PAY HIS LAST RESPECTS TO YOUR DEAD PRINCE AND ENSURE THAT HIS GRANDSON TAKES HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE AS HEIR!" The Piper's voice was so loud, Meggie cringed. The silence continued, but then a singe voice was raised.
"Thursday's market day in Ombra, always was, so if you gentle men would like to dismount, we can get on with it!"
The Piper looked for the speaker among the faces staring up at him, but the man was hidden by the crowd. A murmur of agreement rose in the marketplace.
"Oh, so that's it!" Cried the Piper through the confused voices. "You think we rode through that accursed forest just to dismount here and make our way though a rabble of stinking peasants?" The Piper continued, and Meggie noticed the look of horror on the Woman sitting behind Firefox's face.
Without another word, The Piper turned in his saddle, raised his black gloved hand, and gave his men a signal. Then he rode his horse straight into the crowd.