I spent the afternoon in moody silence in the library, trying to imagine what the lady wanted and what would satisfy her, but I finally give it up as something that was hopeless, as there seemed to be no telling what she wanted, and as far as I knew, no had ever satisfied a woman — at least he had not lived to boast of it.
So, to pass the time, I read of the temptations of Saint Anthony, and a most weary time he had of it, what with the desert dust and the lively women he did not yield to — at least he boasted that he did not yield. Suddenly, to my great surprise, two walked into the library: young FitzHugh and the unusual person who had by his mystical powers made me Overlord of Cornwall. My mysterious friend has dressed as a priest, but I had no difficulty recognizing him, especially when I looked at his feet
"Hail, my dear sib,” he said with a lilt in his voice, "and how do you like your new position of power?”
"In a way it is most satisfactory," I replied, “but with the Irish on one side of the castle and the Welsh on the other I feel somewhat like a squirrel in a cage. How did you and my loyal FitzHugh come here?"
"By a secret tunnel. We bring you news. The nobles of Cornwall have come to your aid. The entire country is in arms. Belvidere, Mallory, and Arthur have surrounded the Welsh King and are only waiting for your command to crush Harold Dha and his entire force. Now all you have to accomplish is to make your peace with Queen Broda and the Welsh must make peace or die."
"This is far better than I expected," I replied, "but it seems to that the hardest has been left to me, and my loyal Cornwall knights have only solved the Welsh while I am left to deal with a woman."
"Use your charm, Cecil," the priest advised.
After supper I donned my best and walked slowly over the drawbridge to the grassy spot in front of the castle.
Queen Broda sat silent in her den chariot was rather easy to look at and I certainly could not blame young FitzHugh for his infatuation. In fact I even considered the possibility of explaining to her that I from France and that things might come to a worse pass than uniting giving the Welsh a sound thrashing, followed at an appropriate moment by a marriage that would unite the kingdoms of Ireland and Cornwall. But there a determined glint in her eye and a pert way of holding her head that made feel it would be best for me if I could induce her FitzHugh on faith — I could do more with some other woman than I could with her— maybe FitzHugh could handle her better and more easily.
She did not wait for me even to introduce myself, but began, "Are you going to give me what I want?"
"Well, that depends. So far, I have not the least idea of what you desire. Now if you want me to help you fight the Welsh, I think we can come to an understanding."
"Don't be silly. I had another reason for coming to Cornwall than thrashing the Welsh, though I have every reason to hate them. Harold Dha was foolish enough to think I would marry him, and his offer was a deadly insult. I just want one thing, and that is the head of your Lord FitzHugh."
I raised my eyebrows slightly.
"Why Queen Broda! I am astonished. I thought you and the young man were friendly. It would be too bad to deprive him of his head, and he so young and wonderfully debonair. What can the poor fellow have done, that you treat him thus?"
"He courted me and when I promised to marry him, told me that he was of Cornwall."
"Well, what, of that? He had to be from somewhere, did he not?"
"Now, listen to me, Cecil, son of James and grandson of David, you who hold your place as Overlord by some chicanery that has caused endless talk in this part of the world. In my country we have elephants, cametunnus, metacollinarum, white and red lions. We have satyrs, pigmies and forty-ell giants, but we have no tailed men, and we most certainly are not going to have any, at least not as the husband of Queen Broda; so I have crossed the Irish Sea for the head of this man who has insulted me."
"Ireland," I replied, "must be a most interesting country. Have you ever heard of what we have in Cornwall? Have travelers told you of our Cyclopes, fauns, and centaurs; of our wild oxen, hyenas, and lamias; of our white merles, our crickets, and men with eyes before and behind? Just as soon as I can I intend to destroy all these evil monsters, and I really am surprised. Queen Broda — in fact I cannot understand at all- why it is you have allowed your fair land to be overrun by such trash as you tell of. Allow me to offer my services after I have cleansed Cornwall of its monstrosities. Did you know I have magical powers? How surprised were Gog and Magog when I conquered them, and Agit and Agimandi were absolutely dumbfounded when I bound them in chains and cast them into the Mare Nostrum. I have eaten of the plant Assidos, which protects the eater from evil spirits. I wear on my body the stone called Nudiosi, which prevents the sight from growing feeble and makes it possible for the wearer to see a great distance. For example, at this very moment, I can sec how this matter is going to end."
I could see that she was impressed, for she replied, "Just from looking ill yon, Lord Cecil, one would hardly believe you had all these powers; yet there must he something about you, because in no time at all you have assumed great authority here."
"Well, it is hard to tell about a man just by looking at him. But tell me one thing, what put this idea into your head about Lord FitzHugh having a tail?"
"He is a man of Cornwall and all men of that land are thus shaped. Are yon sure?"
"Certainly. You are not doubling my word, are you? You will not I all me a liar. It happened this way. Years ago a saintly priest visited Strode, one of your villages, determined to convert the people and have them accept the Christian way of life. The Cornwall men living in that place, wishing to put a mark of contumely on the godly man, did not scruple to cut the tail of the horse he was riding. For this profane and inhospitable act, they covered themselves with eternal reproach. Since then all the men of Cornwall have been born with tails and no such man shall ever sit by my side and help me rule Ireland. The only way I can ease my pride is to take his head back with me" — here the poor lady began to cry— "and he should have thought of that and how it would make me feel, before he did speak of love to me. How would it be for me to,e the mother of a poor little princess with a tail like an ape or a monkey?"
"That would not do at all," I replied in my most soothing way, and when I try to soothe the ladies I usually succeed. I remember very well how I completely changed the desire of a lady in Araby. At first she was minded to kill me, but by my power and a certain talisman I carried I compelled her to other ideas. So I soothingly said: "That would not do at all. But how would it be if, by my magic. I removed his tail? Suppose I made Lord FitzHugh like other men? Would you still demand his head?”
"Don’t be silly." she replied archly. "Of course I would rather marry him than kill him, but I had no thought such like could be done. You mean without a scar? And if there was a little baby, would she be all right? Just like any other little baby?"
"If I promise you everything will be all right, everything will he all right. All you need do is trust me. Of course it will take a powerful magic. I will at once begin my sorcery, and it would be best to begin with rhadomancy; later I may have to use the blood of a newborn child, but I would rather not do that unless it become necessary. Lord Fitz-Hugh is at present in the castle. Tomorrow you can be my guest for supper. I will invite King Harold Dha to join us. Since he is practically my prisoner he will be glad to eat with us and sign at that time a treaty of friendship, which he probably will keep, knowing he cannot fight both Cornwall and Ireland. After supper you, FitzHugh and I will go to my special cavern in the bowels of the earth, under my castle, and there I will do what is necessary to your lover and make him closer to your heart's desire."