Firefly (Unformated) by Piers Anthony

Author:Piers Anthony [Anthony, Piers]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Horror, Fiction
ISBN: 9780688097059
Publisher: Morrow
Published: 1990-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

Once in medieval times in a medieval kingdom there was a good nobleman who had many fine sons and one timid daughter named Teensa. The sons grew up and went into training for knighthood. The daughter might have been useful as a match for some scion of another noble, but though she was winsome enough, she was so shy that she hid her face when any of that type was present. Her father despaired of finding a husband for her, but she was his only daughter and she was infinitely precious in his eyes, so he bore with it.

One day a hunting party from a neighboring region passed by. It asked asylum for the night, as it had wandered astray in the pursuit of game and had too many leagues to travel to avoid nightfall. The nobleman granted it, and the party rode into his castle.

The hunting party consisted of a young foreign nobleman, four young knights, and a dozen squires, pages, and servants, together with their horses, dogs, and falcons. The castle staff rose to the occasion. An excellent dinner was served, much stout ale was guzzled, and stories of valor were exchanged. Then the visitors went to their quarters for the night.

Teensa absented herself from the proceedings, terrified of so many strangers. She hid in the stables, garbed as a slops wench, so that no one could find her. Her father made excuses for her absence, saying that she was indisposed.

The visiting nobleman was typical of his age and station in that he cared more about his horse and falcon than the rights of lowborn women. He went out after the banquet to check on his gallant steed, as he normally did, and woe would betide the page responsible if the horse were in any way discomfited. But the horse was in excellent spirit and the servants already retired for the night; the nobleman was satisfied.

Then the nobleman spied a wench. It was evident that she had been admiring his fine horse, as wenches tended to. "Dost thou wish to sit on my steed?" he inquired gruffly of her.

Abashed, she nodded, for it was arguably the noblest stallion in the region, a gift from an alien prince.

"Come here, wench, and I will lift thee up," he said.

She approached, afraid of the man but lured by the magnificent horse. He put his hands at her elbows and with huge and easy strength lifted her up, for he was a powerful man. She bestrode the stallion, and was thrilled; she had never been on an animal like this before.

Then the nobleman reached up to lift her down again. But instead of setting her on her feet, he held her suspended in air. "Now I have done thee a favor," he said. "Does that not require a return favor?"

Uncertain of his meaning, but hoping he meant her to bring some treat for the great horse, she nodded.

He then set her down, but retained his hold on one of her slender arms.

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