Page 47 - RotalTutor

chicken, even as Alexander quietly ate at the same table. It didn’t seem to take away her mixed-up feelings, but it changed the subject. All who heard it seemed less than excited at her attempts to humiliate Alexander. After eating, they retired to their rooms. She had to relate the whole chicken episode to her ladies-in-waiting. Their laughs seemed forced, which annoyed her further. She was tired from the long ride, and had barely laid down in her bed before she was fast asleep. She slept deeply, but as morning came around, she started to dream. She dreamed a dragon held her prisoner. It snorted its stinking breath into her face. Its breath smelled fermented, as if it had been drinking wine. It made high- pitched squealing and grunting sounds as it belched. When she awoke, she found herself looking directly into the face of a pig. She let out a scream; the drunken pig squealed and ran around her bedroom, knocking a pitcher of water to the floor, breaking it into shards. She stood up on her bed and continued to scream, and the pig continued to squeal and run, knocking over lanterns, furniture, and the wash basin. Elizabeth and Marina came running. There was a large chair pulled in front of the doorway to her room, which blocked the pig’s escape. The commotion brought servants and others quickly from every direction. Elizabeth and Marina called some servants to help pull the chair from in front of the doorway. The pig scrambled through, and they chased it as it continued 45