I've got a short story for you! I hope your weeks have been filled with fantastic events and that you don't require too much distraction, but if so, here you go! Enjoy
The House of Red and Black
In the kingdom in the clouds there were three classes of society: the Regulars, those who comprised the working classes – the maids, the bakers, the candlestick makers; then there was the House of Red, the upper echelons that held their heads up with pride and were regarded with great respect; then there was the House of Black, those who were shamed. Only the greatest of offenses marked one as a wearer of black and thus it was with great scandal that one of the highest regarded members of the Red fell from grace and was forced to dawn the Devil’s blanc.
Margaret Farcey, a lady of the House of Red was adored by those around her. She was a gentle soul with mercy and care as the rules that governed her life. The people in the kingdom often came to her for advice, for she was wise. Regardless the situation or the class, she would play as mediator to the issues that afflicted their hearts. She never turned a trouble away, which proved to be the spark of her demise.
On a clear, sun filled day, Covetina, the squeeze of the King came to the open door of Lady Farcey.
As soon as Covetina’s red dress breezed through Margaret’s doorway, a feeling of dread fell upon the lady. Covetina was known to be cruel and viciously jealous. Great scandal came upon the clouds when she stole the throne from their previous queen, who now sat front and center in the great hall dressed in robes of black.
Yet, Margaret’s heart was pure and her intent was to bring counsel to any and all who crossed her path. ‘Perhaps she has come to seek reprieve,’Lady Farcey thought greenly.
“Come in, Covetina,” Margaret welcomed. “Come in from the clouds and tell me your tales.”
A smile of intrigue passed across Covetina’s face. She knew that her king had often come to seek the counsel of this woman. He trusted her more than he did any other soul in the expanse of the skies. She would be perfect for this task. “My dear, Lady Farcey,” Covetina slowly walked through Margaret’s square room, touching all the objects within as if sizing each up to be bartered. “I have a request that only you could see through,” Covetina spoke in whispers. The Regulars believed she did this to conceal her lies and deceit from the blind yet ever watching king. “I have been entrusted by the Keeper of the Sun with the key to the dawn.” She pulled out from the pocket between her breasts a small, black object. The skeleton key had on its back the symbol of the dawn – a bursting sun.
This was not news. Only last week the Regulars had been talking non-stop about the Keeper’s poor form of trusting this wicked woman with the key. The world below depended on the door to the dawn being opened every day for their life to be whole and complete. To trust this horrible woman with this chore was as poor as the king’s to choose her as his future bride.
Lady Farcey was concerned where this could head and yet she was hopeful. If Covetina passed this duty on to her, she could correct a possibly terrible situation. But, with Covetina, there was always a catch. Covetina never gave anything that did not return something of greater value. Taking a deep, calming breath, Margaret cautiously asked, “Pray tell, dear lady, what it is you require?”
Covetina knew that Lady Farcey was sharp. Persuading her could prove to be an exhilarating challenge.“Well you likely know that I am a child of the wind. I am flighty and blissfully distracted. I have no business with the key to the dawn. That is why I give it to you,” she paused, waiting, for a reaction. But Lady Farcey was far too poised to be betrayed by so much as a blink. Finding the woman to be a tad irritating, Covetina continued, “You also know as well as I that the only soul responsible enough to take on this duty is Lord Night, but he sleeps during the day and it is forbidden for his slumber to be disturbed, so a clamoring wayward child like me couldn’t possibly slip in and out without being…well, distracted by so great a being.” Covetina raised her brow and there was no disguising what she meant. “You are the only one I trust enough to get the job done, by placing the key in his chest of nightly duties. He’ll never know if it is done while he sleeps.”
Lady Farcey was no fool. She knew the penalty that awaited her if she dared to disturb The Lord while he slept during the day. But she had to choose her words well – this woman before her was notorious for her childlike temper. Angering the lover of the king was the last thing Margaret intended. “My dear lady, could you not ask the King to pass the key? Or better yet, why not return it to the Keeper of the Sun. I am sure he would be happy to resume the duty.”
Covetina’s cruel, coy laugh echoed in the small, large windowed room. “My dear,” her tone was so demeaning it cut through the red fabric of Lady Farcey’s dress and pierced her heart. “You must understand; the king intends to take me as his wife. I cannot go around embarrassing him by returning a duty. Lord Night is so sleepy all the time, he won’t notice if another duty is added. He’ll do it without a second thought. But The Lord of the Day will know and he will report my lack of enthusiasm to every Regular he sees. Don’t you see, dearie, you have to do this for me.” She held the key out closely to Margaret who hesitated. Covetina was not a patient woman. She closed the distance between the pair of them and shoved the key into Lady Farcey’s chest. “As your future queen,” she growled, “I insist.”
It was plainly clear to see that there was no other option but to obey.
~*~*~
What will happen to cause the fall of Lady Farcey? You'll just have to tune in next week to see!
Your humble author,
S. Faxon
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