Black as Night

Decivecy

Raul had woken up on the side of the street.  His head aches and his hand was caked with dry blood.

The street had a thin layer of frost covering it. A sure fire sign that the first snowfall of winter would be occurring soon.

He remembered Winter being taken away by Duke Wendall. Raul felt a chill down his spine. He would kill him. If Duke Wendell did anything to the Princess then he would personally stab him in the heart.

Shaking away the anger to clear his head, he walked ignoring the pain from his head and the numbness of his feet.

He had to make it to Duchess Martha and deliver her the news. She could summon a search party to look for Winter, she was a supporter after all.

Duchess Martha of Alloster lived in the outskirts of the capital in the village of Alloster. You would have to go through various districts and cross the river via bridge to get to her residence. He saw it before when following the vet to assist him. A giant Mansion sitting on top of a hill overlooking the river.

The bridge was crowded today due to the end of the festivities. Most of the traders prepared to leave before the snow fell.

He dodged carts, horses and people before he made it up to the hill. The wind picked up and Raul could see the trade ships leaving the bay.

The iron fence surrounding the mansion was meant to keep out fairies. There were rumours that Duchess Martha detested fairies due to a trade she made with them that went bad. Ever since she made a iron fence to protect herself.

There were several guards at her door, each drinking coffee and gossiping about the ball. They paused as they saw a half dead boy walk up to them, bloodied and blue.

"I need to to see the duchess," Raul said in a surprisingly strong voice.

"And what business do you have with the duchess?" One of the guard asked.

Raul didn't have the energy or  patience to deal with them. He reached into his shirt and pulled out the Snow Pendent.

"I need to see the duchess," he repeated once more.

Once Raul was rushed in, he was given a bath, some food and some decent clothes before he could see the Duchess.

He felt uncomfortable in this type of clothing, he preferred his trousers and simple work shirts. The collar of the poofy white shirt he was wearing was too tight. A jacket over it made it much harder to move in. The shoes he had to wear were boots and they were confining. He wanted an audience with the Duchess not to be dressed up like a girl.

He waited in one of the drawing rooms, overlooking the lands as the snow started to fall. Raul felt his stomach twist.

'Winter's out there in the snow. What is she dies? We won't find her body until spring.'

The door opened, and he turned to face the Duchess of Alloster looked at him. She looked different without her makeup and poofy dressed. She sported a simple blue shift with a decorative shawl around her shoulders. Her gold hair was loose and hung down to her waist, not a single strand out of place. She walked over to one of the couches and sat down. Raul remained standing out of politeness.

"Well, I heard that you have some news?"

Raul fought to keep his voice even, "You're grace." He bowed. "Her majesty, the Princess, is missing," said.

"What?" She said. "No. Not Winter. Not now."

The Duchess clutched at her heart and collapsed into a chair.