"I told you enough of these childish fights!" In the center of his study, Frollo held his brother in a tight headlock after being informed that Jehan had been involved in yet another squabble with one of his fellow students.
"Mahiet Fagel is absolutely pathetic, Claude! It was hardly a tear in an otherwise cheap gown!" Jehan was powerless as his brother's grip on his tiny neck intensified.
"That isn't the point! Now I suppose you are here to plead for more money? To spend on so-called "charity" with those idiots you call friends—Pierre "the Slaughterer" and Baptiste "the Rook"? Honestly, Jehan, who are you trying to deceive?!" The Minister was livid with anger today, evidenced by the heightened volume of his voice.
Jehan choked out, "I needed the money!"
Frollo's eyes filled with indignation, snarling, "When are you going to grow up and desist with your relentless begging?! I will not always be there to fund your depravity, and most definitely do not want you to influence my ward with your behavior!"
"Why can't you just trust me, Claude?"
"Rather difficult to when the one seeking trust lives life with such careless abandon that he practically beseeches for the damnation of his immortal soul!" The Minister's strength never letting up.
"It's easier to savor life and be damned, brother!" Jehan protested, while attempting to break from Claude's hold. "But at least the journey is more enjoyable!"
"Blasphemy!"
"Minister Frollo?"
The judge and his brother looked up from their strife, Frollo still with his arm wrapped around the blonde troublemaker's neck, at the Captain of the Guard standing in the doorway. Glancing at Jehan, Frollo released him and sent him stumbling backwards to the floor.
Clearing his throat and regaining his composure, the Minister quickly replied in a dignified tone, "Status report, Captain?"
"We've received tips of citizens harboring illegal gypsies in the Rue Pavée."
Frollo narrowed his eyes at the rough-faced Captain. "Then we must leave and eradicate this dilemma at once." He picked up and adjusted his hat before ordering Jehan to leave, red sash whipping behind him.
X
"Many of the neighbors have reported gypsies coming and going late at night, sometimes even climbing in through the windows!" Gerard explained while he and the judge rode their horses toward the scene of the crime.
Frollo's lips curled in hatred. It was bad enough that his city was plagued by the gypsies' mere presence, always attempting to lead the good citizens down the path of their ungodly, pagan ways. What irked him even more was their efforts to gain entry into the city without proper documentation.
"No matter, Captain," Frollo said darkly. "When such filth is in custody, the sword of justice shall be wielded and unleash its righteous fury."
Oh, how he relished in watching gypsies plead for their lives as they fell victims to his dominance and acrimony. Today would be no different.
When the Minister and Captain arrived at the scene at the Rue Pavée, there was already a crowd of citizens assembled outside the large building that his soldiers now guarded despite the intense summer heat.
Frollo scoffed at the spectators. Of course. Why carry on with what your work requires of you, when you mindlessly watch criminals suffer at the hands of the law? He thought to himself sarcastically.
Captain Gerard noticed that a satchel hung from the Minister's side, which was odd considering that he usually only carried his sword when patrolling.
"Minister," he began. "May I ask the reason for bringing that with you?"
Glancing at said item, Frollo vaguely answered, "Consider it a sort of backup plan, Captain, should things go awry in this matter."
Steering his horse forward, Frollo looked down at the peasant couple and their son, as well as the building's numerous other tenants, shackled and guarded by a foot soldier awaiting his orders.
"Well?" he asked the soldier. "If there is suspicion of illegal gypsies, then where are they?"
Nervously the man answered, "Sir, they refused to give up the suspected criminals, claiming that there are none to be found."
"Did you try raiding the home?" Frollo asked dryly, slightly annoyed at seeing the building still intact.
"We, uh, tried, sir. But, somehow the inside of the house was barricaded after we made the arrests."
"Barricaded?" Frollo turned his attention back toward the house where his men stood exchanging ideas of how to handle the situation.
Out of pure frustration, he dismounted from his horse and advanced toward the house, brushing aside the idle guards. He shook the door handle furiously trying to open it before harshly slamming his shoulder against the wooden door in another futile attempt.
Frollo raised his eyebrow at the timid family whose pitiful expressions pleaded for mercy from the heated judge. "Rather questionable, isn't that?"
"Your Honor, please! We can explain!" the peasant father nervously cried, only for Frollo to raise his hand in dismissal.
Ignorant plebs, believing they'd be able to beguile me!
"Orders, sir?" Gerard asked, rearing his horse to Frollo's side.
The judge smiled deviously at the building, a plot already formed in his head. "If our dishonest peasant friends will not give up their houseguests willingly…then it is time to resort to extreme measures."
Captain Gerard blinked at the ambiguous answer. "And what are these "extreme measures," Minister?" he asked skeptically.
Reaching into his satchel, Frollo pulled out a small, round object, holding it up to show Gerard.
The Captain looked confused as he studied the object in Frollo's gloved hand. "And this is…what exactly, sir?"
Frollo smirked. "This is a smoke bomb, Captain; something I picked up from the Ottomans. Arabic gunpowder filled with skunk oil and sulfur in a terracotta casing which will explode on impact. A few of these and those mangy gypsies will be drawn out in no time." The judge removed the satchel and handed it to Gerard. "Distribute these among your men. The building will most likely be damaged in our efforts to apprehend these fugitives, but that is a risk we are willing to take."
The Captain looked somewhat bewildered at the Minister's cunning, but nevertheless did as commanded and handed off the rest of the explosives while recounting Frollo's scheme.
"Minister, please!" the peasant man pleaded, a shaken expression on his face. "This isn't necessary, is it? We've already told you that we are not housing gypsies in our home!"
Frollo scowled at the man's begging. "Of course not; I suppose homes just happen to board themselves up without their tenants inside." He nodded at the guard, signaling him to land a hard blow to the man's abdomen, resulting in a shriek emitted from the wife. "Until I have firm evidence that contests otherwise, you and your family are accessories to a smuggling operation!"
Frollo turned to witness his soldiers either chucking rocks or firing arrows through the building's many windows, the sound of glass shattering pierced the atmosphere.
"What are you waiting for?!" the judge shouted. "I want those vermin out immediately!"
His men hurled the palm-sized bombs through the broken windows, bangs instantly following upon impact. Smoke escaped from the building while the overwhelming odor of skunk oil filled the air around it. The sounds of cries and screams cut through those of the small explosions causing a smug grin of satisfaction to creep upon the Minister's face.
But the fun did not stop there: the front door was suddenly flung open and a blur of over a dozen colorfully dressed gypsies frantically evacuated the house. Frollo's men were ready and waiting, seizing each and every one of them before shackling them tightly.
Spectators watched in awe as the coughing and choking gypsies protested and cursed the guards relentlessly.
"A terrible decision to try and mislead a public official," the judge boasted as the family looked on in fear and shock. "Captain, escort each and every one of them back to the Palace of Justice!"
He smiled wickedly as he imagined how soon they would be begging for clemency before him.
"Lieutenant! You and your men inspect the rest of the building; tear the facility to bits if you must! Make sure there isn't so much as a rat left alive in there!"
You can never be too careful.
x
"The old man assured us that we could slip in without being noticed." A dark-skinned, colorfully-dressed man rested pathetically on his knees in a damp cell-bruised, cut, and nose bloodied. He looked up feebly at the impatient Minister of Justice, arms crossed, as a confession finally been extracted (albeit violently). "He said we'd be safe," the gypsy's red eyes began to expel tears in defeat and he began to sob. "Have mercy, Your Honor!"
The judge schooled his expression. "Unfortunately for you, I am not as easily swayed by tears as others might be. The fact of the matter is that you have admitted to entering my jurisdiction illegally, therefore proper execution of the law must be carried out. The rest of your heathen family will be no different."
The man shook his head in shock and disbelief upon the judge's statement.
"Although," Frollo said slyly. "Perhaps an agreement can be reached under certain conditions."
The gypsy man looked in confusion over his statement.
"Say, if proper information is given, then there might be an alternative to the sentence of death."
"Information?" the gypsy asked. "About what?"
"I know that your people are keen on bargaining, so I will offer you a deal, gypsy," Frollo lowered himself closer and continued in a hushed tone. "I will lessen the severity of yours and your family's punishment…in exchange, you will reveal to me the location of the infamous Court of Miracles."
"What?!" the man was bewildered at Frollo's offer. "And what about our freedom?"
Frollo paused and chose his words carefully. "All in good time. Understand that as Minister of Justice, it would not be morally correct for me to allow a convicted criminal to walk away free without proper repercussions, even after providing essential information. Nevertheless, I still stand as the difference between life and death regarding the fate of your family. The choice is yours."
The gypsy leered at the judge. "Bargaining is not one of your strong suits, Minister. I would sooner sprout wings and conquer Byzantium than tell you where our safe haven is!"
Frollo bared his teeth and swung his arm, landing a hard blow to the man's face, eliciting more blood to flow from his mouth and sharp intakes of breath. The Minister remained as stone-faced and unmoved as ever, even when examining the fresh blood staining his gloves.
"I have tried to be diplomatic, but I suppose my endeavors have all been in vain. It seems the only way to keep your abominable kind in place is by force! No matter, tomorrow's little spectacle will be quite enjoyable, no doubt," he said venomously before turning to exit the cell, the sound of metal slamming afterwards.
As he stepped down the dark corridor on his way to next prisoner, Frollo could not help but grin. It had been such a long time since he had been fortunate to obtain such large catch of gypsy wrongdoers that he was eager to get the trials over with and go straight to the punishment. But first thing was first, he had to confront the leader of such an operation.
"Unlock it," he ordered a guard as he arrived at the next cell.
Entering the dark space, Frollo set his eyes on the man whose wrists were shackled to the cold wall: the peasant father who was the suspected ringleader of harboring gypsies in his home. Similar to the other prisoners that he had intimidated today, this man had seen his fair share of abuse, as evidenced by his numerous bruises, gauntness of his face, and how he shook from pain. The trembling man looked up into the judge's cold eyes with his own deadened ones. Like so many others, he resembled a dying man who waited for sweet oblivion to claim him.
Stepping closer, Frollo grimly said, "Given your physical state, it would be unwise to deny the inevitable truth of your innocence; the evidence is clear as daylight. However, my position requires a confession from the perpetrator himself, which means that there must be a trial which shall be conducted immediately."
"Immediately?" the beaten man asked fearfully.
"I am a man with obligations and priorities, so yes, immediately," the judge said curtly. "Bring him up," he instructed his men as he strode forward through the long corridor, subordinates in tow.
The Minister did not bother to stop and wait for the rest to catch up since they were hindered by the old man's weakness, instead scoffing and continuing his ascent to his courtroom.
The hollow, empty courtroom greeted him familiarly as he set his jaw, ready to send another lamb to the slaughter.
Taking a seat at his judicial bench, he gathered his parchment pieces and prepared his official stamp, lips curling into a sadistic grin as his captive was brought before him.
"Now then," he said tauntingly. "You sir—last name, Blanchet—are being accused of committing the crime of harboring at least fifteen counts of illegal gypsies in your home. How do you plead?" Frollo's dark gray eyes bore coldly into those of the accused man.
The man named Blanchet opened and closed his mouth nervously, knowing well enough that it was a lost battle. Under such pressure, he could not tear away his stare from the patronizing one of the Minister. "You too would break the law for your own survival," he tiredly croaked.
Frollo was visibly taken aback by such a response. "To violate the law of God for a dishonest way of life?! Utterly despicable and idiotic! On top of that, blatant denial of committing said offense. As you might be well aware, proper punishment must be enforced."
X
The whole city of Paris flocked to the square for the day's event; executions were always something that excited the community. The sky had become eerily gray and overcast, as if on cue for the occasion. The Minister had ordered for a large gallows to be constructed to accommodate the number of hangings. But Frollo had instructed his men to hold Blanchet the admitted mastermind until the very end.
"You will witness the consequences of such underhanded actions," Frollo had muttered to him fiercely.
Many citizens shouted protests against the charges Frollo read aloud, others in full support and eagerly awaiting a good hanging. Numerous gypsies, once so full of life, were now so expressionless as the public ruthlessly shamed them. The gypsy women and children were dubbed as demon-spawn practitioners of witchcraft, further encouraged by Frollo's own verbal hatred.
He had no desire to grace his prisoners with traditional last rites (and wasn't as though Father Augustin would have performed them anyway), preferring that they would meet their ends bathed in the shameful sin that led them to such a fate.
Tears streamed down prisoners' faces as his executioner wrapped a noose around each neck, especially the man Frollo held on the sidelines. Blanchet glared viciously at the content judge before the latter commanded the hanging his wife and son followed by sorrowful blubbering.
Paris applauded the elimination of more criminals, some demanding that they had met a more gruesome end.
After dumping the remaining corpses onto a cart to be thrown into some mass grave, Frollo shoved the man forward towards the executioner. Noose around his peasant neck, Frollo announced the man's crime (followed by crowd booing) before giving the signal.
Neck snapping, the city rejoiced in the killing of another wretched sinner, Frollo beaming in sadistic pride.
X
Long after the cadavers had been disposed of and the audience had long gone home, Frollo had remained and reveled in the ominous atmosphere the still lingered.
The world is rid of more heathen abominations and accomplices, he thought satisfied.
Breaking from his trance, the he turned his attention upward to the great façade of the cathedral. Promptly, he made his way to the entrance of the church and through the wooden doors.
"Claude!" an angry voice called, Frollo barely registering as he turned around and saw the Archdeacon striding down the steps from the bell tower in a huff.
With an indifferent expression and mellow tone, Frollo simply answered, "Yes?"
Father Augustin narrowed his eyes at him. "I saw what you did out there! Mass executions now? Are you insane?!"
The judge retaliated, "I am doing what my position requires of me and serving justice."
"Condemning even a woman and child to death though?"
Frollo shrugged. "They were in cahoots with an illegal smuggling endeavor and the law cannot bend on the grounds of their age or gender. Proper consequences must be met to ensure that others are discouraged from committing the same offense. Need I remind you, Father, of the words of Romans? 'For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.' Now that may not most prominent set of words in our Lord's book to you, but I carry said verse as a key to the conduct in which I perform my sacred duty."
Clasping his hands, Frollo tried not to smirk as he knew that he had won today's verbal exchange between he and his old adversary.
Augustin crossed his arms and said, "Frollo, one day the misdeeds you have carried out will come back to haunt you. I am begging you not to abuse your position and power as Minister of Justice. No doubt you have already made a few enemies along the way."
"I am well aware of that," the Minister said under his breath.
"Your prejudices and fear-mongering cannot benefit the city's sense of community and brotherhood at all; rather, only creating more hostility and hate among the people!"
"As long as there is order, I will do what I must to prevent more sin and immorality from plaguing these streets. If it requires a few miserable gypsies to meet their demise in the process, the so be it!" Without another word, Frollo marched up to the bell tower.
x
*A/n: I felt like I was forgetting to incorporate Frollo's persona as a hard judge and hatred for gypsies so you're welcome. I had been replaying Assassin's Creed: Revelations so that's where the smoke bombs came from; Frollo needed to upgrade his arsenal with some assassin gear (but no hidden blades!)
I'm kind of at an impasse here in terms of ideas because I don't want to skip around time too much. I got some but it's the time period mucking things up. So if there's anything you'd like to see, let's hear it.
Mahiet Fargel, Pierre the slaughterer, and Baptiste the rook are classmates of Jehan's from the book, specifically the famous 'ANATKH chapter.
Thanks again for reading and don't forget to review!