"My horse," Laurent began, when the sparkling wind tried to lead him, but when he looked back, the horse was gone. Servants or magic had whisked it away, and Laurent could only hope that it was to a stable and not to the horse's doom.
He touched nothing as he walked through the castle. This fate had been bought at the cost of a rose. Laurent didn't dare risk further such affront. His kingdom in ruins for the price of a broken branch or trampled leaf.
The magic led him to a spacious bedroom, draped with vines. It looked riotous and ruined with overgrowth, but the glass of the windows was all intact, and the roses only surrounded the bed, leaving the cloth clean and untouched.
He picked up the card, turning it over in his fingers as he considered. So he wasn't to be devoured outright. It would be a waste to provide such lavish clothing for a sacrifice. Unless the beast liked his dinner... well-dressed.
His own clothing was soiled with travel, which made the change of clothes appealing. Laurent stripped himself efficiently, leaving his discarded clothing in a pile as he went to the pool to bathe. The water was warm, and it tingled at his skin. Laurent scrubbed himself with the soap he found waiting, which left him smelling of roses and spice, and then dried off and dressed in the beautiful white and gold suit.
No time had been assigned, nor did Laurent see any timepieces, so he took his time drying and brushing his golden hair. A coronet of gold and diamonds completed the outfit, more ornament than indicative any kind of status. Laurent hesitated over that, as it was his custom to prefer plain clothing in dark colors that discouraged attention. But here there was no one's attention to draw, other than the mythical beast, and Laurent found that he liked the way it made him look: beautiful and wild as a rose, and certain to have thorns. If the beast tried to eat him, he would be pricked.
Satisfied with his appearance as something inhumanly beautiful, and therefore unreachable by any lustful mortal who might desire to claim him, Laurent descended from his room, led down the corridors by the same golden wind to a lavish feasting hall and a table laid with an exorbitant array of luxuries.
no subject
He touched nothing as he walked through the castle. This fate had been bought at the cost of a rose. Laurent didn't dare risk further such affront. His kingdom in ruins for the price of a broken branch or trampled leaf.
The magic led him to a spacious bedroom, draped with vines. It looked riotous and ruined with overgrowth, but the glass of the windows was all intact, and the roses only surrounded the bed, leaving the cloth clean and untouched.
He picked up the card, turning it over in his fingers as he considered. So he wasn't to be devoured outright. It would be a waste to provide such lavish clothing for a sacrifice. Unless the beast liked his dinner... well-dressed.
His own clothing was soiled with travel, which made the change of clothes appealing. Laurent stripped himself efficiently, leaving his discarded clothing in a pile as he went to the pool to bathe. The water was warm, and it tingled at his skin. Laurent scrubbed himself with the soap he found waiting, which left him smelling of roses and spice, and then dried off and dressed in the beautiful white and gold suit.
No time had been assigned, nor did Laurent see any timepieces, so he took his time drying and brushing his golden hair. A coronet of gold and diamonds completed the outfit, more ornament than indicative any kind of status. Laurent hesitated over that, as it was his custom to prefer plain clothing in dark colors that discouraged attention. But here there was no one's attention to draw, other than the mythical beast, and Laurent found that he liked the way it made him look: beautiful and wild as a rose, and certain to have thorns. If the beast tried to eat him, he would be pricked.
Satisfied with his appearance as something inhumanly beautiful, and therefore unreachable by any lustful mortal who might desire to claim him, Laurent descended from his room, led down the corridors by the same golden wind to a lavish feasting hall and a table laid with an exorbitant array of luxuries.