across the stable floor. "Y-y-yup," she mumbled, "that should d-d-do her."

Spitting on her hands for added grip, she bent down and hoisted the mattress over her shoulder and marched stolidly to the Palace.

Neither of the guards tried to stop her. In fact, the elderly housekeeper was pleased to note that one of them actually groveled in the dust as she passed. "N-n-now THAT's respect," she huffed, pleased that her fearsome reputation had spread throughout the palace.

At the King's door, she raised her dainty size 13 armyboot-clad foot and kicked the door open. She shook her head as she passed by the shackled woman. "S-s-still there, M-m-missy?"

She dumped the mattress on the floor, then systematically stripped the King's bed of its silken sheets and thick furs, leaving the platform bare. "Here g-g-girl, make yerself c-c-comfortable," she sighed as she tossed the whole lot of bedding to the King's playtoy. "You m-m-must get powerful cc-c-cold wearing that skimpy l-l-little bit of clothing. W-w-watch you don't c-c-catch cold and give to Z-z-ziggy," she warned.

With a grunt, the tall Celt grasped the mattress as she bent over, then heaved it onto the platform.

"There n-n-now," she said to no one in particular as she straightened the mattress on the bed. "D-d-don't that look p-p-purty!"

She chuckled as she left the room. "N-n-nothin' like a h-h-horseblanket and s-s-straw mattress to g-g-give you a good n-n-night's sleep!"