The Witch's Mistake Chapter 3
Tsubaki didn't love the prince madly, but she liked him. He was so polite. And she thought it might be pleasanter to be a princess than to be the widow Gordon's daughter and Medusa's sister. Beside's it might be against the law to say no to a prince. So she said yes, and dropped garnet into his hand.
"I' sorry, sweetheart, I didn't hear you."
"Yes, you're Highness."
Clink. Clink. Two more garnets join Black*Star's collection. "You must say, 'Yes, Black*Star,' now that we're betrothed."
"Yes, Black*Star."
Clink.
The witch Blair was delighted that Tsubaki was going to be a princess. She deserves it, the witch thought. Blair was pleased with herself for giving her having given Tsubaki the perfect reward.
The widow Gordon agreed to the marriage. But she insisted that Black*Star give her all the gems Tsubaki had produced before their engagement. The widow was careful not to mention Medusa. She didn't want the prince to know Tsubaki has a twin sister who would also have a jewel mine in her mouth. After all what if he took Medusa away too?
Prince Black*Star swung Tsubaki onto his horse. He asked her to hold an open saddlebag on her lap. Then he mounted in front of her. As the rode off, he asked her about her garden, about the weather, about fly fishing, about anything.
The widow stood at the fence and waved her handkerchief. As she turned to go back into the cottage, she saw her favorite daughter in the distance. Medusa was loping long swinging thee bucket. The widow opened the gate and followed her daughter into the house. "Darling, speak to me."
Medusa sank into their only comfortable chair. "Hi, Mom, the stupid old lad wasn't-"there was tickle in the back of her throat. What was going on? It felt like her tongue had gotten loose and was flopping around in her mouth. Could she be making jewels too? Did it happen just b going to the well? Whatever it was –diamond or pearl or emerald- it wanted to get out. Medusa opened her mouth.
A garter snake slithered out.
The widow screamed and jumped onto their other cha. "Eeeeek! Get that thing out of here! Medusa!" She pointed a shaking finger. "There it is! Get it! Eeeeek!"
Medusa didn't budge. She stared at the snake coiling itself around the bedpost. How did this happened if the old lad wasn't at the well? The knight? The knight! The old lady turned herself into a knight.
Medusa jumped up and raced out, taking the bucket with her. "Bye, Mom." She called over her shoulder. "See you later." Two mosquitoes and a dragonfly flew out of her mouth.
The witch Blair watched Medusa scurry down the road. She patted herself on the back for having given Medusa the perfect punishment.