Tale 62: The Thorn Spinner (Ash)

(real tale: The Nettle Spinner)

"In a far away land, there once was a count that was feared by everyone." Ash begins. "His name was Count Randall, but he was known as 'Count Randall the Mightyena' in private. Many a rumor flew about how he would harness people to his plow, and force them to till his fields like Tauros."

Mai hisses at Ash's description, appalled a human would harm another human. "Countess Randall, on the other hand, was very kind and generous to all she met." Ash assures Mai. "In fact, whenever she heard of her husband's cruelty, she would move heaven and earth to set things right again."

"Hm..." Brock ponders what sort of story Ash plans to tell with these characters.

"One day, Count Randall was out walking in the forest when he passed by a small house. He met a girl spinning thread nearby--we'll call her Silvana--and invited her to his castle. Silvana declined, saying she had to work to support herself and her grandma, but Count Randall insisted she come, saying he would be expecting her that evening."

"What part of 'no' does this guy not get?" Misty grumbles.

"As if that weren't enough...." Ash intones. "Silvana was already in love with a boy named Keith, and had no intentions to marry the count."

"Sorry milord--Silvana's taken." Brock muses to himself, as if Count Randall is actually there in the tent.

"So when Count Randall came storming back three days later wanting to know why Silvana didn't come, Silvana reiterated she already loved another." Ash continued. "This wore on for a few weeks--but two years earlier, when Silvana's mom had died from a terrible disease, Countess Randall had made Silvana food and gave her a little money to live on. If Count Randall planned to marry Silvana, Countess Randall would fiercely object."

"Methinks Count Randall doesn't know the meaning of the word 'no'." Misty agrees.

"One day, Count Randall saw Silvana spinning again, and challenged her to make a wedding gown and a burial shroud from the thorns that grew in the forest." Ash continues. "For he told her she would not be married until he had died."

[That would possibly take a long time...] Korra purred.

"It didn't help that Count Randall was bragging on how strong and agile he was." Ash agrees. "Not long after Count Randall had left, Keith arrived at the house, and Silvana told him everything. Keith offered to kill Count Randall if he ever came that way again, but Silvana reminded him of how kindly Countess Randall had treated her--so the only way out, it seemed, was to spin the items from the thorns."

"And then?" Misty is interested now.

"So after being told how to spin the thorns by the town wise woman, Silvana set to work on the dress and the shroud, with Keith bringing more thorns when she ran out." Ash continues. "Oddly enough, as Silvana worked, the count grew sicker and sicker, and was dead as a doornail by the time both items were done."

[Serves him right for saying she would marry when he died...] Mai muses.

"After Count Randall was buried, Keith and Silvana were married, and they all lived happily ever after." Ash concludes.

"Moral of the story--be careful what you wish for..." Brock interjects as he applauds.

"It just might come true!" Misty agrees.