The Princess's Blood

1-Twilight

  The cool morning air whipped through my hair, stinging my eyes and nipping at my nose. The tall grass just barely managed to brush my strapped in feet with it's farthest reaching strands. The beautiful roses the kingdom of Palas y Rhosynnau was so famous for were in full bloom, giving the landscape bright splashes of color between the yellow grasses. The strong horse moved smoothly underneath me, each pounding hoof beat sending vibrations up my spine. It seemed as if we were moving at the speed of light, with freedom etched in every dust particle that we sped past. The sun was still in the early phases of showing it's face, and most of the world was still a dark dream-like place most people didn't bother to ever try and see.

This was the part of day that I had always loved the most. When the exhaustion had yet to catch up to me, and no one could tell me what to do or where to be. The only time when I could sneak away from life to ride the horse I loved so much. He was a beautiful animal, pure black with a bright white mane, and the strongest horse owned by anyone in Palas y Rhosynnau. I only wished he was really mine. I wished anything was really mine. I used to own things... I stopped myself. No use reminiscing things that had past. I couldn't do anything to change the past. Right now I just had to focus on getting back to Ty Ofnau, Master Turner's mansion. I would be punished severely if I was late, and if Master Turner found out I took one of his horses out.

Soon we were back in the city racing through the cobblestone streets as the buildings that bore down on us turned into colored blurs. A huge black gate rose up to meet us at the end of the street. Behind it, and the wall that it was attached to, a huge manor towered over the buildings around it. Ty Ofnau. It was a foreboding place though the gardens were beautiful and it appeared well tended. It had four stories all in dark brown with pure black trim and three turrets that rose up to extend the height even farther. The roof was the same soul-sucking color as the trim with many adornments around the edges to show the wealth of it's occupants. I rode past the main gate and went to a side gate half covered in plants that was unknown to most, including the current owners of the house. I smoothly dismounted Twilight and pushed the gate open before carefully walking through it and closing it behind me. I walked to the stables and listened carefully. The only sounds were the scraping of the stable boys cleaning the stalls. I walked in slowly. I had been correct. The only person in the stables was Deryn cleaning. Deryn was the youngest stable boy, and therefore got the worst jobs. He had tan skin from working in the sun, dark eyes, and dark brown hair. He was short, but rather stocky, much like most of the people in Palas y Rhosynnau. He and I were good friends.

"Good morning Deryn." I said as I walked in "Are the Masters still asleep?"
"Dusk! Yer back!" He answered, leaving me in suspense for a moment longer then I had wished. "Put yer fears away. The Masters have yet to figre out yer wanders. 'nd yer secrets safe wit me."
"Thank ya kindley Deryn." I responded, only now remembering to watch the formal accent which I had tried so hard to make my voice forget.
"You'd best be gettin' inside quick Dusk. The Mistress is bound ta get up soon." Deryn informed me.
"Much thanks." I sighed. I glanced back at the beautiful horse I had just walked into a freshly cleaned stable. I watched a minute as Deryn started brushing him. I wished I could stay with Twilight, flying over the fields and drinking in the morning air. I turned back to the hideous manor. I walked into the foreboding house, mentally preparing myself to limp through yet another day of what had once been one of my worst nightmares.