Cursed: The Legend of Sleeping Beauty

Chapter Twelve - Whitewater

CopyrightⒸ 2019 by B. R. Bailey All Rights Reserved

"Welcome to Whitewater Inn, the last stop on the way to Alagil," the stable boy greeted, wiping the sweat off of his forehead. "May I take your horse?"

"Yes please," Briar Rose answered, sliding out of the saddle. "He needs washed and then a good nights rest."

"I'll see to it. He'll have a full bucket of feed and fresh water afterward."

"Thank you," she answered, shouldering her pack. "Lance will like that very much," she urged, petting the side of Lances' muzzle. "He's earned a day off."

Walking past the stables, Briar Rose looked up the small hill to the Inn, shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight overhead. Summer in Whitewater was hotter than she was used to in the forests of Alagil.

Once inside the Inn, she stood by the desk, waiting for the host of the building to emerge. A middle-aged woman came out within minutes of her ringing the bell. "Welcome traveler. Can I get you a room?"

"Yes please, one room and a nice dinner, whatever you have. Thank you," Briar Rose answered, thankful to have the chance to take a bath and a full meal after two weeks on the road.

"Second Floor, first door on the right. We have hot water on a pump in the attached bathroom. There's complimentary lavender soap. When you're ready you can come down for dinner. It's cold chicken and lemon pie."

"Thank you." Unlocking the door, she couldn't help but sigh as the bed came into sight, locking the door quickly behind her before dropping her bags onto the floor, rolling her shoulders and neck to loosen the muscles that had become stiff from hours of riding Lance across the countryside.

This was the first Inn Briar Rose had come across since leaving home that felt comfortable stopping at. The border had been tempting after sleeping outside for a week, but it was marked, Grey. Tired and sore though she was, a warm bed and roof weren't enough to make her stop and pay for a room.

Taking a long bath, she scrubbed her hair extra hard. The large hat had protected her from the sun and kept a lot of dust out of her pinned up braids but it was still matted with sweat and frizzy from the humidity of this country.

Heading downstairs after towel drying and braiding her hair, she scarfed down the food, drinking two cups of lemonade immediately.

"Been on the road a while then?" the Hostess asked, her eyes wide as she sat down across from Briar Rose. "Not many people through anymore alone. It's almost always families and groups looking to move away. You only had a small pack on you. I feel silly asking, but are you coming or going?"

"Coming in. I've been on the road a couple of weeks now," She admitted. "I'm looking for a castle. Merlins Keep?"

The Hostesses jaw dropped as she rocked back in her chair. "That place is Cursed! It's no place to visit idly. If you go there, you'll be turned into an animal."

"I'm a Curse Breaker," lowering the neck of her shirt, she revealed the necklace with the medallion.

"A Curse Breaker," The Hostess sighed, shaking her head. "We've had one through here before, many years ago. Couldn't break the spell."

"I'm going to see if I can manage it. What can you tell me about the Castle and the Curse?"

"The Castles ancient, been here for over a thousand years," she admits, holding her chin thoughtfully. "Legend says a great Wizard helped build it. At any rate, it's withstood many sieges, including an all-out attack from the United Magic Defense Force ten years ago. The most they could do in the end was curse the inhabitants of the castle after making a hole in the wall's defenses."