Free Goose Chase by Patrice Kindl Page A

doubt I shall ever marry, myself. My judgment is not what it should be. I do not know when I have ever been so mistaken in anyone before. You seemed quite a
nice
maid if somewhat—"
    "O do hush!" I said, abandoning the smashed skull. "Let me untie you. We must away as soon as possible and you will be ill prepared for walking until you have shaken up your limbs awhile."
    I did so and then returned to my primary task: finding a way to free my hair. Could I, I wondered, pluck out each hair from my head until I was as bald as an egg? 'Twould take eons to do, I feared.
    "Goose Girl," said the Prince, who had been wandering aimlessly about, easing his cramped limbs, "did you know
that your hair goes all the way over here to this iron ring on the doorpost?"

    I ignored him. Could I
burn
it off?
    "I
said,
Goose Girl, did you know that—"
    "Yes! Yes, Your Highness, I did know that my hair goes all the way over there to the iron ring on the doorpost! How, in the name of all that is reasonable, could I
not
know such a thing?"
    "Well, you need not be so vexed at my asking," said the Prince, offended. "I merely thought 'twas a remarkable fact, and so I remarked upon it. You cannot blame me for that, can you?"
    I crossed my eyes at him and stuck out my tongue. He quailed before me and then rallied.
    "You may make what fearsome faces at me that you please, Goose Girl, and I may not resent them, for I have promised my obedience to your will. But tell me, pray, how are we to leave this place if you are tied by the hair?"
    "A most excellent question, Your Highness," I said through gritted teeth. "I confess I do not know. Have you any suggestions, perchance?"
    The Prince appeared pleased at having his opinion sought.
    "I should think that some cutting tool, such as a knife or a scissors..." He broke off, looking somewhat embarrassed. "I do not believe that I have any suggestions at this moment in time. However, allow me to consider the matter and I will do my best to produce some."
    "I thank you, sire." Then, knowing 'twas futile, I asked, "What happened to your own blades? Have you anything about you?"

    He shook his head mournfully. "My sword was taken by the two-headed lady, and my knife by the one with the arms. I regret to say that I am without a blade of any sort."
    We both sat in silence for a few moments.
    "How did your hair come to be so bound?" he asked at last.
    A surge of irritation washed over me. Could the fool not be still and let me think? I was about to say so when it occurred to me that my mind was as barren as a barley field in winter. I had no ideas whatsoever. Why should I not tell him what he asked? 'Twould pass the time until my approaching death as well as aught else.
    I told him. He wanted all the details, which I gave in a resigned tone of voice. When I had done, we sat again in silence for some time, I trying to bestir myself to tell him to flee for his life and leave me to my fate.
    "Why," he said finally, "could you not do the same, Goose Girl?"
    "What do you mean?" I asked drearily, wondering exactly how the Ogresses would choose to kill me.
    "Could you not ask the hair to let go? Politely, of course. You would have to be polite. But could you not ask?"

CHAPTER NINE
On the Run
I T HURTETH NOT THE TONGUE
TO GIVE FAIR WORDS.

    â€”J OHN H EYWOOD,
P ROVERBS
    "O beauteous hair, most daintevous rare..."
    I swallowed. 'Twas bitter gall and wormwood to be forced to flatter my own treasonous hair. I nearly asked the Prince to do it, but in the unlikely event that his idea had any effect, I could not bear to allow his lordship to gain mastery over my hair when I had it not. I would most humbly petition my hair though it choked me.
    I could not remember exactly what Lucinda had said, but it had not seemed to be a set rhyme. I began again, making up my own words.
"Never was there
Beauty so rare,
As my hair!"
    "Do you know," I interrupted myself, "I shall feel a perfect fool if this does not work."
    "Go on, go