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A Cautionary Tale – six drabbles of measured advise
Sighing, he strode towards the double doors. Ahead waited the contestants, those who had qualified for the “contest” in various ways. “Line them up,” he called, clapping his hands. Minions scurried to meet his demand, adjusting the girls into straight lines. He sat in his chair, holding his hand out for the paperwork. A brisk nod started them walking past him. Some strutted, some quaked, all were nervous. A raised finger stopped the procession, as he beckoned one girl closer. Opening her mouth, he looked at her teeth as if she were a horse, then signaled the procession to resume.
An edict had gone through the kingdom – all unmarried females between the ages of 15 and 30 had been required to assemble at the jousting ring. The consequences for disobedience were dire; his temper and reputation were well known and feared. Each girl had dressed poorly, attempting to hide her body in a shapeless sack. They had dirtied their rosy cheeks, attempting to hide anything that might attract more attention. Although they knew the last Lady of the Land had died in childbirth, there were also rumors of witchcraft, devils, dwarves and blood offerings. With power would also come fear.
He signaled the procession to halt again and got up from his chair. Walking down the line of frightened women and girls, he checked each one carefully. Turning, he queried “Is this all there are?” His Vizier bowed deeply, “Yes, your Highness. All except the girl who tends the sheep in the upper Valley. She was nowhere close, and the counselors deemed her to be too far distant for the assembly.” The ruler looked unimpressed. “Well, imprison these females here until I can see this shepherd for myself. We leave at dawn.” The Vizier, grateful for postponing the decision, nodded.
* * * * *
Dawn saw a cavalcade emerge from the central grounds, heading for the high pastures. Picnic lunches had been packed and the horses were festooned with gaily colored caparisons. The Vizier shook his head. “If this shepherdess seeks solitude, she will surely run away from this popinjay,” he thought, quickly burying that thought. Thoughts like that could lead to his death. After several hours they crested the lip of a lush valley with herds grazing comfortably below. “Ho, Shepherdess” the ruler called out. A young woman, beautiful in aspect, emerged from the center of the animals. “You will be my wife.”
“I am no man’s wife. I belong to the mountains, the wind and the rain. Any who think otherwise will rue the day their thoughts brought them to my valley,” she stated, crossing her arms. The sheep mulled around her, bleating softly, as if reassuring her. A large ram moved up to stand on her left, another mirrored the first on her right. “Her! I must have her! Make it so!” he cried out. The soldiers watched uneasily as the animals surrounded the girl. At a nod from her, the sheep began running; the herd aimed directly at the ruler.
In short order, all that remained was a stain on the ground. The girl looked around at the various Councilors and soldiers, all of whom sat astride their horses as if carved from stone. “Return to your homelands, you stupid men. Look no farther than your own hearths for happiness. Acknowledge the treasures you have. Treat your women with respect and raise your children to acknowledge the worth of each person. No person is a bycatch, each one has value and worth. Learn this lesson and pass it on. If you do, I will allow you life. If not…you die.”
Sighing, he strode towards the double doors. Ahead waited the contestants, those who had qualified for the “contest” in various ways. “Line them up,” he called, clapping his hands. Minions scurried to meet his demand, adjusting the girls into straight lines. He sat in his chair, holding his hand out for the paperwork. A brisk nod started them walking past him. Some strutted, some quaked, all were nervous. A raised finger stopped the procession, as he beckoned one girl closer. Opening her mouth, he looked at her teeth as if she were a horse, then signaled the procession to resume.
An edict had gone through the kingdom – all unmarried females between the ages of 15 and 30 had been required to assemble at the jousting ring. The consequences for disobedience were dire; his temper and reputation were well known and feared. Each girl had dressed poorly, attempting to hide her body in a shapeless sack. They had dirtied their rosy cheeks, attempting to hide anything that might attract more attention. Although they knew the last Lady of the Land had died in childbirth, there were also rumors of witchcraft, devils, dwarves and blood offerings. With power would also come fear.
He signaled the procession to halt again and got up from his chair. Walking down the line of frightened women and girls, he checked each one carefully. Turning, he queried “Is this all there are?” His Vizier bowed deeply, “Yes, your Highness. All except the girl who tends the sheep in the upper Valley. She was nowhere close, and the counselors deemed her to be too far distant for the assembly.” The ruler looked unimpressed. “Well, imprison these females here until I can see this shepherd for myself. We leave at dawn.” The Vizier, grateful for postponing the decision, nodded.
* * * * *
Dawn saw a cavalcade emerge from the central grounds, heading for the high pastures. Picnic lunches had been packed and the horses were festooned with gaily colored caparisons. The Vizier shook his head. “If this shepherdess seeks solitude, she will surely run away from this popinjay,” he thought, quickly burying that thought. Thoughts like that could lead to his death. After several hours they crested the lip of a lush valley with herds grazing comfortably below. “Ho, Shepherdess” the ruler called out. A young woman, beautiful in aspect, emerged from the center of the animals. “You will be my wife.”
“I am no man’s wife. I belong to the mountains, the wind and the rain. Any who think otherwise will rue the day their thoughts brought them to my valley,” she stated, crossing her arms. The sheep mulled around her, bleating softly, as if reassuring her. A large ram moved up to stand on her left, another mirrored the first on her right. “Her! I must have her! Make it so!” he cried out. The soldiers watched uneasily as the animals surrounded the girl. At a nod from her, the sheep began running; the herd aimed directly at the ruler.
In short order, all that remained was a stain on the ground. The girl looked around at the various Councilors and soldiers, all of whom sat astride their horses as if carved from stone. “Return to your homelands, you stupid men. Look no farther than your own hearths for happiness. Acknowledge the treasures you have. Treat your women with respect and raise your children to acknowledge the worth of each person. No person is a bycatch, each one has value and worth. Learn this lesson and pass it on. If you do, I will allow you life. If not…you die.”
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