pounding into the frosty ground.
Slowing abruptly as they entered the city, the Unicorns
sauntered sedately down the street. Tia looked left and right, anxiously trying
to see everything they passed. All of the buildings were made out of crystal
and silver with very little to distinguish one from the next.
Squinting
at a sign written in a language she didn’t know, Tia was shocked to hear a
whisper in her head telling her that the building housed a seamstress. Whipping
her head left and right to look at the different signs, she desperately wanted
to know how she could hear the signs!
Blacksmith, jeweler, laundress, and the voice in her head just kept talking!
Noticing
the Falkeries on the street, Tia realized that most were stopping to gawk at
her. Making a mental note, she told herself she would ask Cora why when they
reached their destination.
Trying
to ignore the many eyes following her, she concentrated on memorizing the lush
gardens they were passing. Plants and flowers she had never seen before were
thriving in the winter - With a start, Tia realized the air was no longer cold.
Twisting around on her mount, she searched all around her, trying to figure out
when the snow had vanished.
Moving
through a large gateway, Tia sighed discontentedly because her curiosity was nowhere near sated. Turning forward, she
paid attention to the large dwelling in front of her as the animals cantered up
to a castle doorway. The castle appeared to be made purely out of crystal. Even
as close as she was, she couldn’t see though the walls. Blinking at the bright
light reflecting off of the castles walls, she was surprised to see that
something – a shadow – appeared to be moving around in the walls of the castle!
Startled
as she suddenly lurched forward, she realized the Unicorn she was riding had
once again knelt to allow her to dismount. As she slid down, Tia was dismayed
at how quickly the good things she had been feeling disappeared. Pushing aside her disappointment, she turned
to the great beast.
“Thank you for the ride,” Tia addressed the Unicorn
appreciatively. “I have never felt anything so wonderful !”
“She knows.” Cora smiled as she walked towards them. “She
has a gift for you…if you would hold your hand out to her with your palm up.”
Holding out her palm, Tia watched avidly as the Unicorn
tilted her head and blinked a tear into her outstretched hand. Taking a step
back, the Unicorn lowered her long horn to rest in Tia’s hand. Bright light
began to flow from the fluid and spilt out in all directions.
The
tinkling of bells rang in Tia’s ears as her hand grew heavier and heavier.
Beginning to pant from the effort of holding up her arm, Tia cried out in pain
as the Unicorn’s horn pierced her skin drawing blood. Without warning, all of
the spilt light rushed back into her hand and the Unicorn stepped back.
“She has honored you,” Cora explained in a hushed voice.
“She has gifted you with a drop of her power, to be used only by you, as you
wish.”
“I thank you.” Tia bowed slightly to the horse before
turning to her companion. “But why would she gift me with something so
special?”
“Every Unicorn has a destiny too,” Cora replied with a
shrug. “Obviously, this was part of hers. But come, we will be late if we do
not go in now.”
Once again following her friend, Tia looked at the white
and pink jewels before slipping it into the pocket of her robe as she walked
into the giant castle. As she followed Cora, Tia remembered her earlier
question.
“Why
was everyone in the city staring at me?”
“Our
city is private,” Cora shrugged as she continued walking. “Visitors who are allowed
within our walls are rare enough that most don’t remember the last time it
happened.”
Tia
pondered this
Slowing abruptly as they entered the city, the Unicorns
sauntered sedately down the street. Tia looked left and right, anxiously trying
to see everything they passed. All of the buildings were made out of crystal
and silver with very little to distinguish one from the next.
Squinting
at a sign written in a language she didn’t know, Tia was shocked to hear a
whisper in her head telling her that the building housed a seamstress. Whipping
her head left and right to look at the different signs, she desperately wanted
to know how she could hear the signs!
Blacksmith, jeweler, laundress, and the voice in her head just kept talking!
Noticing
the Falkeries on the street, Tia realized that most were stopping to gawk at
her. Making a mental note, she told herself she would ask Cora why when they
reached their destination.
Trying
to ignore the many eyes following her, she concentrated on memorizing the lush
gardens they were passing. Plants and flowers she had never seen before were
thriving in the winter - With a start, Tia realized the air was no longer cold.
Twisting around on her mount, she searched all around her, trying to figure out
when the snow had vanished.
Moving
through a large gateway, Tia sighed discontentedly because her curiosity was nowhere near sated. Turning forward, she
paid attention to the large dwelling in front of her as the animals cantered up
to a castle doorway. The castle appeared to be made purely out of crystal. Even
as close as she was, she couldn’t see though the walls. Blinking at the bright
light reflecting off of the castles walls, she was surprised to see that
something – a shadow – appeared to be moving around in the walls of the castle!
Startled
as she suddenly lurched forward, she realized the Unicorn she was riding had
once again knelt to allow her to dismount. As she slid down, Tia was dismayed
at how quickly the good things she had been feeling disappeared. Pushing aside her disappointment, she turned
to the great beast.
“Thank you for the ride,” Tia addressed the Unicorn
appreciatively. “I have never felt anything so wonderful !”
“She knows.” Cora smiled as she walked towards them. “She
has a gift for you…if you would hold your hand out to her with your palm up.”
Holding out her palm, Tia watched avidly as the Unicorn
tilted her head and blinked a tear into her outstretched hand. Taking a step
back, the Unicorn lowered her long horn to rest in Tia’s hand. Bright light
began to flow from the fluid and spilt out in all directions.
The
tinkling of bells rang in Tia’s ears as her hand grew heavier and heavier.
Beginning to pant from the effort of holding up her arm, Tia cried out in pain
as the Unicorn’s horn pierced her skin drawing blood. Without warning, all of
the spilt light rushed back into her hand and the Unicorn stepped back.
“She has honored you,” Cora explained in a hushed voice.
“She has gifted you with a drop of her power, to be used only by you, as you
wish.”
“I thank you.” Tia bowed slightly to the horse before
turning to her companion. “But why would she gift me with something so
special?”
“Every Unicorn has a destiny too,” Cora replied with a
shrug. “Obviously, this was part of hers. But come, we will be late if we do
not go in now.”
Once again following her friend, Tia looked at the white
and pink jewels before slipping it into the pocket of her robe as she walked
into the giant castle. As she followed Cora, Tia remembered her earlier
question.
“Why
was everyone in the city staring at me?”
“Our
city is private,” Cora shrugged as she continued walking. “Visitors who are allowed
within our walls are rare enough that most don’t remember the last time it
happened.”
Tia
pondered this
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