Katherine’s Transformation

As the fisherman unloaded the last barrel of trout from the back of his small, rusty truck, he heard a weak trumpet coming from the east. He put down the barrel, and looked beneath the low morning sun. One lone trumpeter stumbled, instrument in one hand, and in the other he grasped the reins of a strong, black draft horse. Sitting on its back, riding sidesaddle, was a figure in white and red clothing.

The fisherman woke from his awestruck stare when his young nephew dropped the barrel he was carrying next to their cart. “Tarin, are yoo seein’ what I’m seein’?” the old man cried in a thick Irish accent.

“Ay, Uncle. They don’t look a bit Irish,” the strong young man remarked casually. He glanced once more over his shoulder at the approaching pair and returned to his work. The old fisherman, Shamus Tufts as he was known around the small village, continued to grow more excited as the two visitors approached.

The trumpeter started to sound once more, but collapsed and fell, crumpled, on the ground. He did not move. She patted the Friesian stallion on his thick neck, and continued towards the center of the marketplace. Everyone slowly withdrew behind their carts and out of sight slightly. As she approached, signs of her wealth and power became more obvious: exquisite jewelry, furs, and expensive-looking clothing.

Someone, recognizing her perhaps, sent a child forward to hold her horse while she dismounted. The young boy cautiously went forward, eyeing the tall black draft horse. He bowed quickly, and said in a frightened voice, “Ello miss. Welcome to—“

“Aren’t you a little small to help me dismount?” she interrupted. She turned up her nose and sat, rigid, in her saddle. Tarin rolled his eyes at her ridiculous behavior, but suddenly felt Shamus’s strong sea-arms shove him out into the open away from the safety of the outer ring of carts. He stumbled out, and just barely caught himself before falling on the cobblestone street. Tarin tossed a nasty look over his shoulder at his uncle, who only gave him two thumbs up and wink.

Tarin sighed, straightened his shoulders, and walked steadily towards the woman. “My lady,” bowed respectfully, but forcedly. He offered his hands to her, and carried her down, holding her by her thin, corset-hardened waist.

When down on the ground, she smoothed her dress, took off her cloak and tossed it over the saddle. She wore an ivory dress delicately decorated with pearls and gentle lace which crawled up her neck and down her arms. The woman’s hair was tied in a tight updo. “Thank you,” she whispered under her breath. Now she proclaimed nervously, to all the people in the market, “I am Katherine of Foxley, betrothed to your Prince Amos in Kerry.”

“Betrothed? She looks too young a lass to be getting married,” someone whispered.

“My crew died of fever on the voyage over from England. I am in much need of a guide to bring me to County Kerry,” she continued. No one said a word. These simple peasants wanted nothing to do with this snobbish piece of royalty, or rather, royalty to be. All the anxious faces glanced around, waiting to see who’d volunteer. The lady’s face dropped, but she remained tall.

“Tarin will do it!” a teenage boy yelled mockingly. Tarin, who was still standing at the horse’s head, flushed bright red under his shaggy blonde hair and freckles. He took a step back, but the stallion’s large head behind him shoved into his back painfully. He put a hand where it hurt, and glared back at the horse, who just snorted and bobbed his head.

Katherine asked the crowd, “Come forward.” Her eyes scanned the crowd, searching desperately for any sign of movement. A look of confusion and surprise came into her eyes as Tarin knelt on one knee in front of her. “State your name.”

“Tarin Tufts,” he said regretfully, not knowing what he was getting himself into. However, he didn’t want to disobey her now.

“Do you accept my conditions, Tarin Tufts?” she asked in a strong voice.

He nodded slowly, “Ay. I mean, yes.”

She nodded once in approval, then concluded, “Very well. I shall need a place to stay tonight. We leave tomorrow,” she finished, feeling very pleased with herself. Shamus ran up to Tarin and Katherine and exclaimed, “We can keep ya, lass! Come with Tarin and I! We’ll prepar yoo a seafood feast!” Tarin sighed once more, and returned to his uncle’s cart ahead of Shamus and Katherine.