King's Quest

CHAPTER 4: CAPTURING THE UNICORN

Rosella looks about, but can see little in the darkness. She needs a place to bed down for the night, as she is not willing to go exploring in the dark, if she can help it. There are two places she might find shelter.

The fisherman's house, which is quite a distance away and the dwarve's home, which is near by. She's about to walk west, to the house under the tree, when she sees a shadow near the back of the diamond mine. She figured it's one of the dwarves, she is wrong.

As she nears the shadowed figure it becomes obvious it's not a dwarf, its far too big and sports wings. Could it be Cupid? No, he's too little. Who is this new figure? She stands just inches from the silhouette, when the moon breaks from the clouds and beamed down upon the open world, illuminating the stranger entirely.

Rosella gasps, it's a squat man, or what appears to be a man, whose exposed skin is ivory white. He is clad entirely in black, including his boots, with a bright purple belt that matches the bat-like wings that protrude from his back.

He takes hold of our surprised heroine's arm and holds fast as a second one, identical to the first, descended from the sky and took hold of her other arm. Together, they both hoist her into the air, up toward the dark castle above.

The entire scenario seemed outside of reality and so shocked is Rosella by the turn of events that she doesn't utter a single word, at least not until she's deposited in the throne room. Before her sits a hideous woman with green skin, a pitch black dress and a red medallion hanging by a chain around her neck. Beside her stands a green skinned man who is dressed very simply, and who seems very uncomfortable.

"Who are you and why are you in my kingdom?" the ugly woman demands of our heroine.

"Please, milady-" Rosella starts, but is cut off.

"Silence!" the vile woman barks. "You are a spy for Genesta, aren't you?"

"Please, I'm just-" again Rosella cannot finish her statement.

"You deny being a spy? Very well," the hideous female quickly rallies. "If you are not a spy then you will have no problem with performing a few tasks and as an added bonus I will give you exactly what you're after."

Rosella is ready to clarify the vague promise, but this time she didn't even have a chance to speak.

"Take her to her room," the wicked woman commands her guards. "She will sleep her for the night and in the morning bring her to me."

The winged men do not even respond. They simply take the brave girl to one of the castle's many bedrooms and lock the door behind her. The room isn't luxurious by any strectch, but comfortable enough. If only she could sleep.

Thankfully, they had not taken her belongins, but there is nothing she possesses to get her out of her current predicament. What's more, her father is still on his death bed and the cure is in her pocket. She needs to find Genesta, so she can get back home.

Then a sneaking thought enters her mind, what of the fairy queen's weakness? Could she still send her home, after all she is here to complete a quest for her, she just doesn't know what that quest is. She will need to find her, but how?

So far only the elderly couple had imparted any useful information. What's more, while she remains locked up her father withered away. Would she be able to return in time, or would she endure all of these trials only to learn she's too late. The thought drives her to tears and she falls asleep on a wet pillow.

A sharp banging rattles Rosella awake. She rises from the bed, wiped the sleep from her eyes and checks her pockets, nothing is missing. The door opens wide and she's once again escorted to the throne room, where she stands before the vile woman and her silent cronie.