Bride to Be (part five)
Bride to Be (part five)
Alderic. Do I not know the name? Is he that man
Tills yon spit of land, so thin and barren
Trades in horses…
Have a care, young daughter. Vestal to a carven goddess
These our conquerors will have you cloistered
There your nose may humbly point, as your Mother Abbess
Orders, not in air
Humbly, my queen, I beg your pardon
Laughter
Your seat is that I once was placed on
You will love, as I have loved
To find a lecher, quartering his men
Making captives of your brother’s peasants, scattering his grain
Names his price to take the road again
But I would pray vengeance on him
Simpleton. I did the like
Went I to my father’s throne and knelt there many hours
When he’d supped and taken of his warders
Each accounting of each lamb and every vine in bud
And trespassers, their fleece-cloaked shoes, scented by the dogs
At the rise of moon he said, making show of wonder
Why, daughter…
This that plagues my child’s heart
Keeps her from her mother’s side
Taking neither food nor drink
This day long
Be it naught to do with Alderic
He dares beyond his place
He too, on knees before me…did you know of it?
I have sent him hence
And do you weep? Be at peace
Whate’er you ask, I grant
Provided it has naught to do with Alderic
Bride to Be
Bride to Be (part six)
The Public Waits for a Hint
(2019, Stephanie Foster)