The Three Sisters
Seven hundred years ago, before the independence from Careinian rule, there were nobility scattered across the Unonian territory. One of these nobles, named Fox McFelese, was a bold vulpine who ruled his people with fairness and mercy. During his reign, he and his wife had three daughters each one year apart from the other. And as the years progressed the three daughters grew up to be beautiful vixens. They came of age and were soon allowed to be courted by other men.
On the day of the youngest one's sixteenth birthday, all three met in their father's court, which was required each day as governed by the common law of the land. Musicians were hired and knights from all across the north country rode in to celebrate. When the sun reached its highest point in the sky, Fox McFelese stood from his chair and looked upon his three daughters with great pride. He turned to the oldest first. Her name was Selvenia, with eyes a dark brown and dress an ink black.
"Selvenia, you have proven to be quite a coquette when it comes to the knights of Uno," he spoke. "Daintiness has no other match. You have my greatest blessings, my child."
"Thank you, father," she said while curtsying.
Fox McFelese turned to the next youngest, Ilesla, who wore a green dress. Her hair was the longest of the three, stretching almost to her tail. "Ilesla, your intelligence has been tested and proven most effective. You amaze me with your acute acumen, which will serve you well one day. You have my greatest blessings, my child."
"A pleasure, father," she said while curtsying.
He then turned to his youngest, Vesinia, who had her young hands held within her lap. Her white dress was as bright as is the sun, with her beautiful smile even brighter. "Vesinia, your good heart is unmatched throughout my lands. All the animals of the great Unonian forests bow to your good soul. You have my greatest blessings, my child."
"Oh, father, thank you," she said while curtsying.
As the celebrations began to die down, two of the three daughters stepped outside to mingle with knights and Chaljsko fighters who were returning to battle, as the smell of Unonian independence was ripe in the air. The youngest, however, stayed within the confines of the fortress, speaking to a most quick Chaljsko fighter who had proven himself worthy in battle constantly despite his youth. His name, Vho, was well known throughout the Unonian territory.
When evening approached, Vesinia and Vho returned to her father's hall, hand in hand. As he approached the noble lord, he placed his guardian staff in front of Fox McFelese's feet and bowed appropriately.
"Young man?" Lord McFelese asked.
"My lord, I inquire you of the hand of your youngest daughter, for I have never met such a beautiful vixen with such a marvelous soul to match. It is my greatest desire to wed her."
Fox McFelese nodded. "And does my daughter return this love?"
"Yes, father," she immediately replied. "It's as true as the moon each night and the sunlight each day. I love no other."
Intrigued at the rapidness of their love, the noble lord nevertheless had no choice but to allow the lanky youth to take her, much to the dismay of the eldest. Selvenia, who stood under the cover of a shadowy arch in the hall, had also fancied the young Vho, but wanted no part of Vesinia's intervention. She quickly hatched a devious plan.
Earlier the next day, before the sun could cast the shortest shadows on the forests, Vesinia walked out to the edge of the calm waters of the Kirovo River and sat down, admiring the serenity of the water. Flower in hand, she plucked the petals off one by one, humming a tune originally from the lips of the man she loved. Rings and gloves bestowed to her just one night ago adorned her young fingers and hands.
Selvenia had watched her the entire time, growing in jealousy and malevolent rage. As she regained her composure, she walked up to her younger sister and sat down with her.
"Are not the hands of another most comforting, Selvenia?" Vesinia asked, though her dreamy state made it seem as though any answer would be drowned out by the fantasies dancing within her young mind.
"Indeed it is," replied Selvenia. "Vesinia, the waters here are far too boring. Why don't we walk farther down the river, where we can see ships setting sail?"
With a smile, the younger sister followed her sibling, walking down the bends and curves of the widening river. They strode across the edge for hours, talking and singing. Then, with a snide smirk, the eldest pushed the youngest in.
As Vesinia struggled and sputtered in the rushing current, she held out her hand to her sister. "Sister! Lend me your hand!"
Selvenia scowled. "I'll give you neither hand nor glove lest you give me your own true love."
Shocked, Vesinia attempted to fight the rushing waters, but soon drowned in the open waters, broken hearted and full of sorrow.
Lord McFelese, with his court preparing for the marriage to take place later that day, had sent the middle child to the miller for bread. Now Ilesla was very intelligent, and knew the fastest route to the mill was along the river. In no time she met up with Selvenia, who upon spotting her ran to her path.
"Ilesla!" shouted Selvenia. "Our sister, Vesinia, has drowned in the river! I asked for her hand, yet she would not extend it!"
Ilesla was very suspicious and desired to investigate, yet decided her father's commands were more urgent. "Go back to the fortress and tell all to father. I have been asked to bring bread, and it is bread I shall bring. But you run to him as fast as you can."
Selvenia did as she was told, though she would have done so anyway. She arrived out of breath into her father's hall and stumbled up to where he and Vho were awaiting the arrival of Vesinia.
"Father!" she exclaimed. "Your daughter, Vesinia, has drowned in the river! I asked for her hand, yet she would not extend it!"
Distraught, the noble lord immediately fell into his chair, griping his forehead with trembling digits. "Oh, my darling Vesinia." He turned to Vho, who was sick with sorrow. "My son, I have already accepted your invitation. Please, as my token of grief, select one of my daughters to wed." Sighing, he drew a disheartening breath. "No riches will replace her glow, but I will offer you money and land in addition if you so desire."
Vho knelt in front of the noble lord, attempting to cover his overpowering emotions. It was no use, as anguish infected his entire being. "I will honor your request," he responded with a hard blink. "I will choose the only one present, Selvenia."
Fox McFelese nodded. "Then we shall prepare the marriage for her."
Meanwhile, a minstrel from the ceremonies that took place yesterday was walking toward the fortress as he was hired once again for a marriage. He carried his visca pipes with care as he sauntered near the bends and curves of the river that ran near the fortress. However, as he crossed a sharp bend, he noticed a body washed up on shore, with the waves kissing her bruised and torn figure in the descending sun. In haste he sped toward the body.
"Almighty God!" he gasped. "A young vixen!" Shifting his eyes, he made sure no one was watching him. Then, with a hunting knife, he began to cut her body. "Young woman, I will honor you in the only way I know I can. I will set your spirit to music, and may you sing like the angel you are now."
He worked for hours, cutting and tearing her flesh, and eventually fashioned a harp of her breastbone, with lochs of her hair the strings of the harp. When he had finished, he met up with Ilesla, who had not witnessed what he had done. They arrived at the noble lord's hall in no time.
Once they arrived, all assembled within the stone confines of the cathedral within the fort. Everyone watched as Selvenia, dressed in flowers and flowing silk, stepped down the main aisle to where Vho stood near the altar.
Ilesla was not surprised to see Selvenia prepared for marriage. Immediately she walked up to her father and tugged on his arm. "Father, what is an important marriage without proper music? Please, allow the minstrels to play their tunes!"
With a solemn nod, Fox McFelese allowed the minstrels to step forward. As the minstrel who held the harp began to tune his visca pipes, he placed the harp on a stone. Immediately it began to rock back and forth, much to the amazement of the congregation and bride, but much to the horror of Selvenia.
It instantly began to play alone. The first string was a doleful note. The noble lord was overcome with grief, remembering the loss of his youngest daughter earlier that day. The second string played beneath the bone was just as saddening. Terror seized Selvenia as she dropped to her knees in a fit of screams. As the third string played, her heart stopped, and her boney body fell to the floor with a slight bound.
Years later, Unonian independence was clenched, with Fox McFelese the new king of the great nation. His only living daughter, Ilesla, chose not to accept the hand of Vho, but instead to devote her life to the mysteries of the Unonian Christian faith, which freely preached over the lands for centuries to come. To this day, the harp is still intact and is said to be buried within the Cathedral of the Seven Sacraments in Cavask. It is believed that harp will play if a guilty conscience walks over its burial location. Regardless of the truth to these statements, it is a living reminder to be grateful for one another, and to the darkened paths of jealousy and hatred that one must avoid at all costs.