Viena and the Black Mirror

[ 2 ] - 𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

      Viena ducked behind the Captain as the wind whipped through her hair, pulling her curls straight and drying out her eyes. She squinted as the horse came to a gallop across the stone bridge stretching across a glassy lake; lake Unda.

The Captain slowed the horse to a trot in front of the entrance gates, a solid wall made of basalt circling the entire premise with sturdy guard towers built at the corners. As he slid from the saddle, the Captain called to the guards posted at the entrance doors. The doors themselves are about three inches thick and made of compressed oak, polished and engraved with the royal crest.

He guided the horse forwards with the reins as he raised his arm in greeting. Both guards stood at attention, sharp halberds pointing towards the ground at ease.

"Captain! Are you requesting an entryway?" The guard at the left spoke.

"Yes, signal the lookouts." He handed the reins to the guard on the right, holding Viena's hand as she slid from the saddle. "His Highness would like a word with his daughter."

"Yes, Sir!" The guard on the left let out a shrill whistle pattern, alerting the guards at the lookout towers.

There would need to be some sort of protection without the security that came with spells and enchantments. Even now more than ever, with the solstice ball taking place at the palace tonight. Viena can see the courtyard flooded with pretentious idiots in carriages already.

The mechanism hidden within the walls rumbled to life as the wooden blocks sealing the door slid out of place one by one. Only when it finished did the guard on the left push the doors open with a heavy groan.

To fix her windswept appearance, Viena ran her hands through her caramel curls as they passed through the gated doors. The osprey glided after them in silence, flying out of view.

The guard from previous held the horse's reins, leading sturdy shire toward the stables while patting its neck. Another guard exchanged his post at the front entrance, giving each other nods of acknowledgement. A second whistle rang across the courtyard, the doors sealing shut with a thunderous close.

The osprey that had flown off somewhere in the castle returned, swooping over and perching on the Captain's arm. It held a different piece of parchment in its beak, one that the Captain grabbed and scanned through.

"The king says he's waiting for you in the conservatory." He crumpled the parchment and placed it in his pocket. "I'll walk you there."

Viena merely nodded.

The walk up the entrance stairs and through the castle hallways strained with words unsaid, never stopping too long between different hallways.

Direct confrontations with her father were never the most pleasant. They both knew that.

The layout would seem confusing at first. Especially for someone who has never entered the castle before. But Viena had spent her entire life living within these walls. She knew the area like a bee knowing where to return to the hive.

The Captain paused his brisk pace, standing in front of the doors to the conservatory. Their enormous frame made him appear short in comparison. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder in assurance. "If you need anything, just let me know."

"Of course, Captain," Viena mumbled, clearing her throat.

"Alright." The Captain sighed before turning back and pushing open the doors.

Her father pulled the book he was looking at away from his face, leaning against the marble railing overlooking the open-spaced, sun-touched room. Marble pillars separating floor-to-ceiling windows streamed light against the artificial pond circulating below the balcony.