"Long ago, a king married to have heirs. His wife had three daughters. Eventually he realized his wife could not have anymore children and his daughters were the right age for marriage. He married them off and split his kingdom between them, keeping only enough land for his court. A few years later, the queen gave birth to a fourth and final daughter. Her name was Costanza. She was raised well and became a gracious, educated and accomplished princess. When she was old enough to marry, her father tried to marry he son of a Marquis but she refused to marry some one below her station.
"She dressed herself as a man and left, calling herself Costanzo. She became a servant for a different king, but the queen desired Costanza as a lover." I hear 'ew's' and 'grosses' as I tell the story. "Costanza rejected her, time and again. The king had wished for a satyr, a creature that had been long destroying his lands. The queen suggested that Costanza capture one. The king relented and told Costanza of his desire; she agreed and asked for bread, water and a large vessel.
"In the forest, she filled the vessel with the wine and bread then climbed a tree. The satyrs smelled the wine so came and ate the bread. After they had eaten, they passed out so Costanza climbed down and tied one up. As she was walking back to the palace, the satyr woke up. He looked around and laughed at a child's funeral, a hanging, a crowd that hailed her as 'Costanzo' and when he was placed in front of the king.
"The king tried to make the satyr talk, but he wouldn't say a word. So Costanza bribed him with food, then threatened to starve him, then finally promised to free him. The satyr ate and talked. He said that he laughed at the funeral because the apparent father wasn't but that the priest was the father. He laughed at the hanging because the crowd was filled with officials who pilfered far more money than the thief. He told them that he would explain the rest the next day. The next day, he explained that he laughed at the crowd because they hailed Costanza by the wrong name. Then he explained that he laughed when he was put in front of the king because the queens maidens were actually disguised men.
"The king had his queen and her disguised lovers burned, then he married Costanzo," I finish. Quebec smirks at everyone who seem shell-shocked. The Carolinas' had been hanging onto my every word. When they realized the story was finished, they blinked.
"That's it? What happened to the satyr? Did the king and Costanza have any kids?" they ask eagerly. I sigh. "Can you please tell us another story?" they beg. Quebec and I glance at each other.
"No. Tomorrow Quebec will tell a story," I announce. The province beams at everyone. Canada smiles and picks up a sleeping Nova Scotia.
"Well, I look forward to the story," Canada says quietly, brushing Nova's longish hair out of his face. Nova curls into his father, making everyone smile at the cute thirteen year old. Quebec looks at his brother fondly before grinning broadly.
"Great! Now let's get to bed, eh?" he asks. I nod and everyone heads upstairs. I check each states room to make sure that they are all there. The Carolinas' are playing normal chess against the Dakotas'. Washington and Oregon are reading while Maryland tries to get W.D.C's hair to behave. Mass, Maine, York and Hampshire are huddled around papers. Alaska and Hawaii are drawing while West Virginia and Delaware watch TV. Done for the night, I go to my room. I turn on my lamp and scoot into my bed, taking out a book. After a while, I start to get sleepy so I turn off my lamp. I curl on my side and bury my head into my pillow.
A/N:
Okay, I'll publish the next part(s) tomorrow, either in the morning or at night, not sure yet. Anyways, this is the shortened version of Costanza.