Falcon Peak
By Lady Star
Chapter 1 The castle in Chinelree
A small castle surrounded by glorious shades of gray. Mountains of cobalt gray cover the area for miles around. The castle of Sweet Water Cove, nestled in midst the great southern border, Chinelree. Stokes of trees settle in the closest mountains to one side of the castle. Two giants with few foliage adorn the back of Sweet Water Fief's secondary castle. The crudely built castle would never stand a change to even the smallest group of attacker. That was never a problem considering the treacherous mountains, and wilderness surroundings.
"Lady Star! Lady Star! "
A young girl of nine years slowly walks down a set of red stairs into a high echoing hall. The rough walls, made of large native stones, pile like bricks. The sheets of gray on either side seem to go on very far up and across. Near the top of the outer wall, windows niched into the wall shine a drab stormy light into the hall. Other than the windows, the hallway is barren.
The girl looks tall for her age. Her long hair radiates as black as the black gods robe. Her eyes are empty emotionless pools of darkness. They look like the K'miri. Almond, rounded at the ends. She wears a dress designed for a child much younger. A drab teal short sleeved dress with an empire waist. The plain skirt comes down to her scabby knees. Her old scuffed boots silently tread on the cool stone floor.
"I'm here Methlaude." she says dully. "I'm not a Lady yet and I never intend to be one." She stops; knowing it would do no good to argue.
A woman looking in her late fourties grabs the girl crossly. She wears a traditional servant's outfit. Grey kimono with aquamarine trim, and black buttons. Her thin tight lips, wrinkled gray skin, and streaked black hair make her look like a menacing ogre.
"Don't be so frank with me. You know you can't use that tone with any other servant." She leads the girl down the right side of the hallway.
"No of course not. I save it for my favorite nanny.", the girl replies curtly, giving a fake grin. "Who would care anyways? It's not like my father would care for anything but sunrises and sunsets."
"Lady Star! You know your father can't have too many things to worry about. Especially with his weakness, his heart condition."
The girl shrugs indifferently and continues walking on her own. " That's just the point. Father is weak. Mother is strong, she is the Shang Unicorn." She slows, dreaming delicious thoughts. "Was. She was. Before she left anyways", she adds sensibly.
The two fell silent. Methlaude felt a twang of sympathy for the young girl. She could be considered an orphan. Her mother had left when she was very young. Apparently the Shang Unicorn never really wanted to be a mother or to be a noble, but it was the will of the gods for her to be both. Kylaia al Jmaa, The Unicorn of the order of Shang, was desperately restless. As much as she loved her husband and child, she needed to escape the tyrannies of noble life. The gods granted her wish when Shakith, the Seeker came to her in a dream.
