The Castle of Solange Pt. 1

So, while I'm putting the final edit on Teacher's Pet, I'm working on something new. Here's a bit of it. Let me know what you think!

The forest was thick and cool, despite the heat of the sun. A gentle breeze blew through the trees as Lysee rode on her horse, Sal. The white mane fluttered in the breeze, the horse moving steadily through the winding path. Soon they would be free of the forest. Ahead of them, somewhere, was the keep where Princess Ren would be found. The weight of the sword on her back, bouncing against her with Sal's gait, reminded her of the danger lying in wait. If she failed, the princess would be lost forever. And, if she failed at the hands of Solange, Lysee might also be lost.

Rumors of Solange's powers spread through the five realms. Her spells were powerful and deadly. Those who traveled to Solange's keep were gone forever. When the King and Queen realized that their only daughter was counted among that number, six of the best knights were sent to retrieve her. None had returned.

Lysee shook off the dark thoughts that threatened to overwhelm her. This was what she'd trained for all these years; this was why she was here. It wasn't fear that made her stomach tighten in knots. It was excitement. She could feel it inside her. This was her chance to prove that she was an equal to any man who came before her. Still, when the forest finally broke and a field of tall white flowers appeared before her, Lysee shivered. Ahead, barely seen through a shroud of mist, was the keep. Inside, Solange awaited.

She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth to spur Sal on, the horse's pace speeding as they cut across the field of flowers. Lysee felt like a child again, running across a meadow on the first warm day after a long winter. But there was no laughter in her heart now. There was only the determination to reach the other side of the field and to reach her destination.

Sal's hooves kicked up dust, along with some kind of fluffy pollen from the leaves as they brushed against the sides of the horse. The air was thick with it, like snowfall. She could smell it, a scent sweet and cloying. The taste was in her mouth, too, and she winced against it. Sal slowed beneath her, too, as if they were both experiencing the same effect. The pollen was making it hard to breathe, to think. There was something about it, something that made her arms feel leaden and her thoughts run slow and heavy. It was too late when she realized that the flowers were a trap. Sal was hardly moving beneath her now, and then his legs folded beneath him. Lysee lifted her sword from behind her, but it slipped from her hand as soon as it was free of the sheath. Her muscles were sluggish and soft. Years of training, and she was undone by flowers. She took two staggering steps forward before she collapsed. The last thing she knew was the taste of the flowers and the feeling of floating... floating...

The first thing she was aware of when she regained consciousness was the singing. She was inside because she could no longer feel the warmth of the sun on her flesh, and she was lying on her back, staring up at a stone ceiling. The singing was coming from somewhere nearby, but she could not see who it was that sang. The voice sounded feminine, but that was all she could tell from the wordless tune being hummed. As she lay there, trying to regain her bearings, the song changed slightly and she recognized it as one she'd heard before, but couldn't place the melody. Then, just as suddenly, it stopped.

Lysee tried to move, but she found her wrists and ankles were held by iron shackles. The flowers had done their job. She was trapped.

"Who are you?" she called out, though she already knew the answer.

"Oh! You're awake!"

There appeared above Lysee the face of a jester. A white-faced harlequin with black diamonds painted over each eye and deeply red lips. On her head was a jester's cap in the same red and black. Her eyes were wide and pale blue, and she wore a smile that suggested more than a touch of madness.

"Where am I?" Lysee managed.

"MIstress's castle, silly. Isn't that where you were going? We just helped you along. At least you're not one of those boring old knights. Mistress doesn't like men. Nope. Not one bit. No sirree." The woman's laugh was high-pitched and musical. "They were given to the wolves. But a pretty girl like you? Mistress loves pretty things. And when we saw how strong you were, I just knew you'd make the best acrobat for our little circus. So Mistress gave you to me!"

"Who are you? Where's the Princess?"

"Princess? Of, you mean Ren! She's with Mistress Solange. She's one of her special daughters. You can see her when we perform. As for me, I'm Tienna. I'm sort of the ringmistress of the circus. Mistress says I have the best imagination of any of us. Well, except maybe for our clowns, but I don't let them do anything dangerous. And I'll take good care of you, too."

"You're under some kind of spell," Lysee said, struggling in the chains that held her. "Let me go and I can free you."

"Free me?" Another of Tienna's high-pitched giggles followed. "Who says I want to be free? Don't I look happy?"

She grinned, the expression made more dramatic by the red-painted lips and the very white teeth beneath.

"Don't worry. You'll be happy soon, too. See, everyone who comes here struggles at first. But everyone finds their place. You'll be so happy keeping Mistress and the others entertained. It's better than being one of the boring old cooks or maids."

"I won't allow you to do this to me," Lysee spat. "I'll never serve your infernal Mistress."

Another of those infuriating giggles.