Better Than A Pot of Gold

"Now give me the gold, lass, and no one gets hurt," Ragetti pleaded.

The Maid of the North sat on her rainbow and laughed. "No one will be hurt until my mother returns," she said, "and Louhi's wrath is terrible. She does not suffer idiots."

"She will suffer us!" Pintel proclaimed boldly, ignoring Ragetti's hissings.

The Maid laughed again. "Why should I suffer you, either?" she queried.

"Because we beg you to," Ragetti said, and was surprised to find himself on his knees.

The Maid looked surprised--and amused, but then she always looked amused. "Very well," she said. "I acquiese." She dropped the coin down from where she sat on her rainbow.

"Acquiese?" Ragetti murmured.

"We'll ask the captain," Pintel decided.

They heard peals of laughter ringing behind them as they left the Maid of the North, sitting on her rainbow.