First published Awakenings 177
Not all is peace even in the land where the sun always shines though. High up in the only mountain on the island lives a great red demon with three horns...he is known as the Great red three horned demon. The story you are just about to hear is about how the Great red three horned demon became the Great red three horned demon...
"Once upon a time there was a terrible beast high up in the mountain of our beautiful land. Luckily he didn't come out of his cave very often...luckily because he was bigger than anything you have ever seen. As tall as five of the biggest sprites, and just as wide, and with no less than four huge horns on his forehead. The beast was as red as the brightest rose, with tiny coal black eyes that would freeze your blood when they met with yours. Although he didn't come out very often the terror he spread in the land was enormous. Every time he DID come out cattle would be slaughtered, maidens would run for their lives, and even the strongest and bravest sprites would feel their knees shaking underneath them.
From the very first time he was seen in our land, brave young men had ventured to his cave in order to prove their worth in the eyes of the sisters of the girl they wanted to marry. Hundreds and hundreds of young girls never got wed because of this test, but the beast grew bigger and bigger with the tender meat of handsome young sprites.
Enter our hero. In the year 145 the handsome Comte Valancay asked for the hand of the beautiful Lady Montlouis in marriage. The Lady Montlouis had only one sister, but a sister who wanted nothing but the best for her sister. Comte Valancay was asked to prove his love for the Lady by entering the cave of the beast and end its life. Now, no-one could accuse the Comte of not being brave, and he had already proven his skill with a sword although he was only 21 years old, but upon hearing what his test would be he could not but fear. The Comte was a man of honour, and his love for the Lady was strong, so with no concern for his own life he set out to climb the mountain.
The sun was shining as bright as ever high up in the sky when the Comte reached the cave of the beast, but when he entered a shiver ran through his veins. The cave was damp and dark...and it was cold. The Comte had never felt the cold before, and his chances to win the battle must be said to have decreased by it. Nonetheless, the Comte ventured further into the cave, and rounding a corner he saw the terrible sight most would run from without being called cowards. Standing before him on its hind legs was the beast...even bigger than he had imagined, and with its four horns lowered and pointed in his direction.
The Comte took to the air and attacked without hesitation. He fought long, and he fought brave but the beast would only shake off the thrusts from the Comtes sword as had it been mosquito bites. Almost out of breath after hours of dodging and counter attacking, and with the picture of his wife to be inside his head, the Comte gathered up all his strength and charged forward. One final charge to either defeat or be defeated. The beast must have been surprised by this decision, for instead of raising its claws it took a step back, stumbled, and fell against the wall of the cave. The Comte followed through his charge, but instead of hitting the beasts heart as intended his sword met with one of the beasts horns.
The power of one mighty and desperate sprite was enough to make the horn come clean off with a terrible sound. Upon receiving such a blow the beast retreated to lower depths of the cave, and as sprites are known to be wise, the Comte decided to pick up the horn left on the floor and head home. Wife or no wife, the beast was too much for one man.
That is how the Great red four horned demon became the Great red three horned demon. What happened to Comte Valancay and Lady Montlouis is another story".
Bordelaise tucks you in and kisses you on the forehead before closing the story book and returning to her office without a sound.