”The night was growing colder, it had started to rain and the wind whipped Filippa and her tiny mare, chilling them to the bone. As much as she wanted to press on she knew that to do so would only weaken her and cause her to falter. As she cleared a thick stand of birch trees she spied a faint light in the distance. Her mare must have understood and headed straight toward it; Filippa’s energy flagging, she allowed the horse free rein.
She was exhausted and near to falling off her mare when she saw a sign announcing the ”Cavallo Bianco” Inn. Several coarse men were milling about the door, shouting and cursing. Filippa nearly passed by but she was so drained that she took her chances; tying her horse to a post she stumbled inside. “Ho! What have we here? Come girl, give us a kiss!”, shouted one of the men as she passed by. That started a great uproar and shouting from all the men, causing quite a din to arise. Poor Filippa was at her wit’s end and near to fainting when a short, fierce whirlwind blew through the men, boxing their ears and banging random heads with a pot. Surprised and startled into silence by the innkeeper’s wife the men settled back to the benches and resumed drinking.
“Come child, what is it you need?” Near tears Filippa poured out her sorrow as she sank to a table. Bustling about the stout little woman brought the young girl food and drink, all the while keeping a stern eye on the rougher patrons. After she had supped Filippa was led to a small bed in the room where the innkeepers children slept, there the kindly wife tucked her in for the night.
In the morning after a healthy breakfast Filippa was ready to resume her journey once again. After profusely thanking the innkeeper and his wife she pressed one of her treasures into their hands. The tiny wife of the innkeeper had never seen such a lovely thing and was at first reluctant to take it, saying it was far too much. “I pray you accept this, and if you feel it is too much then perhaps when I return you would be good enough to take me in again”, replied Filippa.
She was exhausted and near to falling off her mare when she saw a sign announcing the ”Cavallo Bianco” Inn. Several coarse men were milling about the door, shouting and cursing. Filippa nearly passed by but she was so drained that she took her chances; tying her horse to a post she stumbled inside. “Ho! What have we here? Come girl, give us a kiss!”, shouted one of the men as she passed by. That started a great uproar and shouting from all the men, causing quite a din to arise. Poor Filippa was at her wit’s end and near to fainting when a short, fierce whirlwind blew through the men, boxing their ears and banging random heads with a pot. Surprised and startled into silence by the innkeeper’s wife the men settled back to the benches and resumed drinking.
“Come child, what is it you need?” Near tears Filippa poured out her sorrow as she sank to a table. Bustling about the stout little woman brought the young girl food and drink, all the while keeping a stern eye on the rougher patrons. After she had supped Filippa was led to a small bed in the room where the innkeepers children slept, there the kindly wife tucked her in for the night.
In the morning after a healthy breakfast Filippa was ready to resume her journey once again. After profusely thanking the innkeeper and his wife she pressed one of her treasures into their hands. The tiny wife of the innkeeper had never seen such a lovely thing and was at first reluctant to take it, saying it was far too much. “I pray you accept this, and if you feel it is too much then perhaps when I return you would be good enough to take me in again”, replied Filippa.
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