Lauraleigh's Secret (Anna the Girl Witch Book 0) by Vic Connor

Author:Vic Connor [Connor, Vic]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Helvetic House
Published: 2018-06-01T22:00:00+00:00

There are always fools among the ranks of men, even among the greatest; and when the tale of Lorelei reached the court of the Count of Palatine and the ears of his young son, Ronald of the golden locks and merry smile, he knew he must see this beautiful enchantress for himself. Ronald snuck away from his father’s castle certain he could outwit the enchantress and bring her back as his wife. Proud as a peacock he went forth; but never again would he proudly step across his father’s drawbridge, the sun bright upon his hair and the pommel of his sword.

Why is it that youth knows not how to listen to the warnings of the world? The very chirping of the birds along his way seemed to call out and echo the words, “Go back, go back, go back.” But Ronald had vowed to himself that he would forge ahead and conquer this enchanting enigma.

And why is it that those who will not listen to the voices of nature will neither listen to the wisdom of men? For once Ronald reached the Rhine, he could find no boatman willing to bear him to Lorelei’s rock. They all knew too well what fate awaited those drawn there by her song.

Fuming at the peasants’ apparent stubbornness and cowardice, Ronald departed from them and ventured on, until he came upon the poorest of huts and found living there an old man with misery stamped upon his features.

‘Canst thou row a boat and steer one? For I am minded to venture upon the river forthwith, and have need of such service.’

‘Aye, that can I,’ replied the old man. ‘Seventy years I plied that trade, until younger men stole it away from me, and poverty rotted my boat.’

‘A boat I shall buy; thy poverty I can alleviate’, Ronald told the old man.

‘Then will I serve you, young lord,’ swore the old man, ‘but not until the dawn; for ye will have heard that it is not good to venture there when the sun has set.’

‘Old man,’ sneered Ronald, ‘I pay not for thy fear. I am full aware of why cowards tremble at my request, and that indeed is my sole purpose in sailing forth: to behold her, Lorelei. It is for this reason thou must bring me to her rock.’

‘Give then the gold,’ spoke the ancient, and Ronald from his purse poured out a stream of coins that glittered brighter than his hair.

‘I am resolved,’ said the old man; ‘but for my conscience I must yet warn you again. Long have I lived along these shores, and many have I seen drawn to Lorelei’s rock; and not one of them has returned with his life.’

‘I also have heard these tales,’ spoke Ronald, ‘and remain unchanged in my quest.’

From the old man’s hut, they proceeded to the shore, where Ronald took what coins he had left and bought a boat at three times its worth from a man who had earlier refused to bear him in it.

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