The vision described a beautiful and kind princess who was being held prisoner by an evil sorcerer and his two ugly henchman far away to the North. Anrol knew well of this princess, who was a true woman for Christ and had spread charity and goodwill throughout the land. She was kind to all animals and children and was renowned for her potato soup. Though she was of royal blood, she was not ignorant of hard work and domestic skills.
With this in mind, Anrol collected a few things and made plans to rescue the princess. She gathered her magic purse (that was always filled with gold), her magic mirror (that connected her with the spirit world) and wrapped herself in her best woolen cape. Then, she hopped on her golden Palomino and set off for the story teller's house.
The story teller had risen early that morning. Although she was not gifted with the sight of the wise woman, she could tell that this would be an auspicious day. Aliehs, as she was called, was a child of the woolly-headed tribes and was forever forgetting where she was and what she was doing. So, getting ready for the day was proving somewhat difficult. She was just collecting one of her whatsits for her thingamajig when there came a knock at her crooked, little door.
The wise woman, Anrol, quickly explained the situation to Aliehs, who was just pulling on her second adoraboot made of thick, brown angora. Time was of the essence. Anrol reminded Aliehs to bring her magical memory saver and her enchanted script before mounting the Palomino and heading West. They still had to collect the healer and her little, pink-haired pixie.
When they arrived, the healer was distraught to hear news of the princess. She, too, had heard of her generosity and her potato soup. In fact, she had spent many joyous hours at the castle before the princess had been captured. But, there was not enough room on the Palomino for Lyrehc and her pink-haired pixie, Eely. So, the story teller, who had learned some witchcraft in her travels, turned an eggplant into a special coach that would seat seven people comfortably.
The coach traveled fast along the highway. Fast enough that they managed to help a stranded maiden in the city of Starbucks whose Roan horse had fallen ill along the road. With the help of the healer and the gentlemen of Caa, the fair maiden was able to make it safely home.
Soon, the four women were heading North. The further they traveled, the more beautiful landscape they saw. Although the coming of winter had stripped the trees of their brilliant colours, the deep greens of the conifers shone like emeralds against the brilliant blue sky. The many lakes in the North were like dark, blue looking glasses. They longed to stop and appreciate the beauty of the land, but thoughts of the poor princess urged them ever onward.
Although the land was beautiful, it was also filled with danger. The roads were treacherous and, eventually, the magic items of the South lost their power. The magic mirrors and enchanted script could not function between the rocky hills of the north.
They continued for days (or about an hour) to the city of Bancroft where they prepared for the pending danger with the sorcerer and his evil henchmen. They traveled east towards McArthurs Mills and soon came to the inconspicuous wooden shack on a hillside where the princess was being imprisoned. The sorcerer himself was sitting on a wheeled throne just outside the shack. His two evil henchmen, dressed in green uniforms, were perched on their horses on either side. When they saw the eggplant coach, they knew there was trouble and the sorcerer scurried off his throne and escaped into a hole in the side of the hill. His henchmen followed quickly after him, but not before the four women saw them; their faces pulled tight against their skulls and their teeth bared like rabid raccoons. They wore masks over their big, beady eyes and they lit from their horses like crippled monkeys before disappearing into the hole in the hill.
Anrol, Aliehs, Lyrehc and Eely raced into the shack, expecting to find the princess in shackles and poor health. However, they were surprised to find her doing dishes in a thin, cotton apron and singing gospel songs. Anrol was confused and panicked. Surely the princess was sick and required attention from the healer. The princess insisted she was fine and suggested that they go for lunch at a nearby inn.
The princess was not only healthy and happy, she was also free to go as she pleased. The vision had been misleading. However, Lyrehc determined her blood sugar level was low and confirmed that food would be a good idea.
They ate and drank at a dirty little inn at McArthurs Mills. The serving wench was grouchy, the potatoes had been cooked in dirty oil, there was no milk for the tea and not enough roast beast for everyone. But, it mattered little. The princess was elated to be breaking bread among friends.
She explained that she had decided to help the sorcerer and his henchmen many years ago and, although she missed her family and friends in the South, she felt that her god had called her to do his work in the North. It was true, she had lost some of her beauty after living among so much evil and hate. But, she had lost none of her enthusiasm and love for all the things her god had made. She was thankful.
The four women returned the princess to her shack on the hill and traveled back home to the South. They understood the princess felt she had a duty to perform, but they hoped to return regularly to the North country for visits. They talked of people they had been in past lives, spoke of the terrible prices of gas and guessed about future events - including what their next misadventure might be.
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