About half the crowd had slunk off by the time Atalanta returned to the starting line.
"Who is next?" she called. There was much foot shuffling and coughing before a man stepped to the front and bowed courteously.
"My lady, I would be honored to endeavor to win you fair hand. But alas, I fear the price is too high. Life is short, 'tis true, but why make it shorter? Thus, farewell!" With a flourish he disappeared into the crowd.
Atalanta stared.
She ran five more races that day. Five more suitors were disposed of. King Iasus hired a dozen new ambassadors and went to bed early with a headache.
YOU ARE READING
Seventeen
Short StoryOn her seventeenth birthday, Princess Atlanta of Tegea is given a present: she is told she is to be married, but that she may pick the suitor. Determined not to marry until a certain person comes along, she comes up with an impossible challenge. Cov...
