Kissing dust

Chapter 1

A young girl was directed onto the middle of a wooden platform. Her dress was a never ending sea flowing down her curves. That dress was mismatched with her pale hue that had more spots of dirt then actual skin. Big blue sacks hung beneath her eyes, that soullessly stared onto the branches surrounding the wooden stage she was on. A peculiar grey dust decorated her form.

I took a tighter hold around the perfectly smooth hand, resting beneath my own callous palm.

"Once again, we've found a witch. Who murdered her own husband!" A man before the stage began preaching to the crowds. The crowds themselves looked at the woman with surprise and horror.

"This, is all that remains of him!" He continued by taking forth a sack, letting grey dust spill out and flow into the air. Gasps were heard through out the crowd has the dust flew out of sight.

"According to the laws of our lands and our dear lord, this crime can only be justified by being burnt at the stake." After being done with his speech a torch began creeping closer to the stage.

I was no longer clinging to a hand, but an entire arm instead.

"My lord, perhaps we could go somewhere more peaceful..." I leaned in closer before continuing. "...Alone." The word came out like honey has my breathe tickled his throat.

"Your wish is my Command, mi lady." He smirked and stepped down from his throne, me still clinging to his arm.

We passed the now burning woman in the mists of the town square. My gaze lingered on that silhouette has it disappeared beyond the houses. Despite the sight being gone, her screams echoed in my mind.

The city went by us has we reached the great castle, that had a lovely garden encircling it.

With a wave of his hand the guards left us alone. We wandered the stone brick pass, that was slightly obscured by fallen rose pedals. The bushes around us were in perfect circles and you could smell the new cut grass mixing with the roses.
A small pond, with water lilies decorating the surface, came before us. He sat down and patted beside him. I took it a step further and placed myself onto his lap.

I took a moment to look down into the pond that was next to us. Reflecting on it's still surface was my own fiery hair only blackened at it's roots. Said hair had curls with volume, not much unlike my body. An olive green dress embedded with golden details decorated my form. The only thing that destroyed this perfect picture was the average dirt brown eyes, that seemed to pale even more compared to the lords forest green ones. Despite that I held my head and chest high. My smile wouldn't waver even if I was at the brink of death.
Behind my form was the body of a boy. That did his best to imitate a man with his big shoulder pads and green silk cape. Yet beneath that cape there was more bone then there was muscle. Not to mention that he barely reached my height. Then again, it was few who did.

I averted my gaze from the lake, now giving my full attention to the lord by me.

"You know, when a lady comes into a nobleman's court she does not expect to be meet with an execution." I gave a slight pout.

His posture fell before answering "I know... my father would never-" He stopped himself has tears began prickling his eyes.

Something twisted in my stomach at the sight. Perhaps it was simply contaigious, or perhaps I recognized the feeling.

"I miss my family too. It's not the same, since mine is still around, but i haven't seen them for years." I spoke too him while placing my hand on his cheek.

Five years had gone since I saw my family.

I shook the thought away and focused on what to say instead.

"Besides, if it weren't for that, we would not be enjoying this lovely moment." My words earned a small blush on the lords cheeks. The blush deepened has I flashed him a smile. "But perhaps you could make it up to me in some way..." My eyes innocently looked through my lashes, has I uttered the words.

"What is it that you wish for?" His eyes widened with wonder, slightly sparkling after the dried tears.

"Hmm... What does a lady and a man do when no one else is there to see?" I swung a leg over him, now straddling his lap. Slowly I leaned in closer.

A single word left his mouth in response. "...Sleep?" Has I rolled my eyes at the comment,  the space between us shrunk. Until my lips touched his.

For a moment, I felt the warmth of a kiss. Smelled the roses, tasted the soft flesh and felt the slight tingling feeling within me.

But only for a moment.

The warmth disappeared. Yet I kept my eyes closed, avoiding the glassy stare his own ones held. Those eyes weren't open for much longer, nor was his body left in this world.

A dry aftertaste was left on my lips, that trembled out a sigh before continuing. I collected the green dust that scattered the place a lord had existed. More importantly, I began checking his pockets. Finding some small amount of pocket money was lucky in itself, but I felt myself lighten has I found a second pouch.

Immediately I poured over some of the dust into that pouch, before filling the first one with gravel to make it weigh what it previously did.

Cracking my neck I walked through the garden once more, this time making sure to go for an exit with only one guard.

For a short moment I consider if I could climb the walls instead. But in the end, I valued my own life more.

Nearing the gate I now saw the armed man leaning towards the wall. He immediately straightened up has I walked past him, flashed a smile and curtsied. Has he gave a bow in return, I took the opportunity to crash my lips onto his. A grey dust flew by has I continued striding forward.

In the shadow of the castle there was a carriage, a single horse looked half asleep in front of it. While a less asleep man sat in the front seat, glaring into nothing.

He was tall has a mountain and about as crooked has well. On his head you found strands of hair trying to keep him from being bald. The blonde color contrasted his tanned skin. While his yellow eyes complimented his glares.

"Told you that it would be done by today." I said has I rolled my eyes at the man.

He gave me the attention you'd give an ant.
Yet has I reached for the carriage door a strong, coarse hand latched onto my arm.

"Can I help you sir? Perhaps you should use your words." A smirk made it to my lips, only fading slightly has the mans grip tightened.

"What's wrong, Mute?" Shooting him a questioning look I tilted my head innocently. In response I was harshly pulled closer, a shiver went down my spine.
The pouch with dust was ripped from my grasp.

"After all this time, you still don't trust me? I'm hurt!" I spoke out once his grip was no longer on me, placing a hand over my chest to show the hurt.

When no response came I uttered "Still the same..." under my breath. My arm reached out once again, this time succeeding in opening the wooden carriage door.

Entering the small space I was met with two rows of seats on each site. Both seats were decorated with a olive green hue cloth, with branches and flowers embroidered into it. I brushed of the seats before placing myself onto it's softness.

While I reached out a hand to take away the olive colored curtain, the carriage began moving. Buildings and people passed us by, the city wall growing ever closer and the castle growing ever distant.

A gate was now in front of us. It's iron fence being pulled up at the moment. The place was crowded with guards, but none of them made any sign to stop our carriage on it's way out. They did however stop ever single person and being that tried to make their way in.

Buildings were replaced by trees. Soon the castles green flags were far out of sight.