Unicorn Soul
by Draconic Spirit

Cassandra lay silently in the grass, watching the servants run about doing their chores. She was grateful for the tall grass. It hid her from the eyes of the head cook. Head Cook Madam Tessa was always assigning her the most distasteful chores. Cassandra had no choice but to take her orders being a serf girl. Madam Tessa was a free woman doing what she liked the most, bossing others around in a kitchen
"Where's that girl?" came a voice from the kitchen. The voice was high and shrill, grating on Cassandra's ears. "Find that girl, now. She has work to do." Cassandra could hear shuffling feet coming from the kitchen. She knew she had little time left to lie in the grass. If only she could escape to the countryside without being tracked down as a runaway serf. Cassandra stood up a trudged back to the kitchen.
"Madam Tessa," she said, "what do you need me to do now?"
"Where have you been, girl?"
"Outside, waiting for you to give something to do."
"Well, girl, today I have something special for you to do." Madam Tessa grabbed a bucket of steaming water and a rag. "You get the honor of cleaning the soot from the fireplace wall in the great hall." Cassandra took the bucket and rag from Madam Tessa and left the kitchen. She took the servants' passage to the great hall.
She entered the great hall and stared in wonder. She had never seen the great hall before. Most servants never see the inside of the hall. The tapestries took her breath away. There were depictions of great battles being fought and tournaments. What caught her attention was the tapestry of the rearing, flaming beast. It was shaped like a horse except it had a mane and tail of fire, cloven hooves of gold showering sparks and spiraling, golden horn in the center of its forehead. Near the flaming beast was a young woman dressed in red silk. The gown wiped about in a breeze making it jump like living flames. The woman's hair was flame red and whipping about her head in a similar fashion.
"Would you like to know who she is?"
Cassandra jumped and sloshed some of the water on the floor. She turned around to confront the person that startled her. Her eyes met those of a young man about her age of seventeen. He was dressed in soft leather pants and an open collar silk shirt. His longish auburn hair was neatly trimmed and held back by a leather thong. Cassandra dropped into a curtsy, sloshing more water on the floor. "Mi lord."
The young man chuckled softly. He took the bucket from Cassandra, placing it on the floor. He then took her hand and gently brought her out of her curtsy. "Please, none of that. I hate it when people are so formal." He gave her a wistful grin. "Call me Tyler."
"Yes, m'lord. I mean Tyler."
"So would you like to know who she is, girl?"
"Yes, sir."
Tyler gazed at the tapestry. "She was my great-grandmother, the Lady Rebecca. She was a unicorn soul."
"What's a unicorn soul?" Cassandra asked breathlessly.
"A unicorn soul is a young woman who has the friendship of a unicorn. According to legend, the unicorn chooses a young woman whose heart is pure. All unicorn souls became part of the nobility when they were chosen. Great-grandmother was born a serf. There aren't any unicorn souls left. Lady Rebecca was the last of the unicorn souls."
"Oh. Why was she the last?"
"I don't know. Most people think that her fire unicorn was the last of the unicorns, so when he died so did the existence of the unicorn soul."
"Do you think there are any unicorns left, m'lord?"
"I don't know, girl." Tyler chuckled again. "You know I can't keep calling you girl. What's your name?"
"It's Cassandra, m'lord." Cassandra glanced back at the tapestry in wonder. To be a unicorn soul would be amazing. If only she could be one then she wouldn't have to clean the stupid fireplace. "Oh no, the fireplace! If I don't get it done Madam Tessa's gonna kill me." She grabbed up her bucket a dashed off towards the fireplace.
Tyler watched her go with a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. She was a beautiful young lady. Her strawberry blond hair reflected the hair of is great-grandmother. She reminded him of his mother before she died. Her blue eyes held such wonder gazing at the tapestry. He had never seen a servant so interested in that tapestry. He thought he was the only one that admired that one. Tyler's face grew grim. His father certainly didn't. The only reason it hadn't been removed was that tradition demanded that all unicorn souls had to be portrayed prominately in the great hall. Tyler left the great hall pondering his father and the young girl, Cassandra.
Cassandra hurriedly scrubbed the grime off the fireplace wall. If she hurried she could spend some time outside the manor. She so wanted to be able to spend time in the splendor that nature offered. The woods would be beautiful this time of year. The flowers and trees were in full bloom. Cassandra set a record pace cleaning the fireplace. After ditching the bucket and rag in the wash room she dashed out the servants' entrance to the woods outside.
Cassandra raced through the woods, she hair streaming behind her. She always felt so free in the woods. She climbed a nearby tree and sat in it with her skirts wrapped around her legs. She loved resting in the high branches. She gazed around contentedly. She thought back to her conversation with Lord Tyler. The story he told her was so fascinating. She had never heard of unicorn souls before, but then she never had a mother or father to tell her stories at night, only the other girls sleeping in the girls barracks. None of those girls ever told stories about young women of the lower classes being made nobles by association with unicorns. That would be wonderful. Freedom to do what she desired without restraint. No more being told what to do by Madam Tessa. Cassandra sighed and gazed wistfully into the woods. It was a beautiful dream, but only a dream.
She caught a flash of color in the corner of her eye. It was a color not usually seen in these woods. It was ice blue and not on the ground or in the sky. Cassandra climbed down from her tree and moved silently towards where she saw the flash of color. It was near one of the many pools in the stream that ran through the woods.
She lowered herself to the ground and crawled forward. She parted the underbrush and peeked through the gap she made. She gasped silently and what she beheld. Drinking from the pool was a unicorn with an ice blue mane and tail with golden hooves and horn. Its main body was a pearly white color. It appeared to be slender and fleet of foot.
"She's beautiful," whispered Cassandra.
"Thank you."
"Who said that?" Cassandra looked around her. There was nothing and no one there except the unicorn. The unicorn lifted its head from the water and looked right at Cassandra. Its eyes were a clear liquid blue.
"I did, unicorn soul." The voice seemed to come from nowhere. The unicorn whinnied and shook its mane. "Come here." This time the voice seemed to be in her head. Cassandra rose and walked to the unicorn. The unicorn lowered her head and nuzzled Cassandra's shoulder when she was in reach. "I choose you as my unicorn soul."
"I'm a unicorn soul?"
"Yes." The unicorn raised its head and looked into Cassandra's eyes. Cassandra was captivated by those eyes. "Get on my back." Cassandra climbed onto her back. "Grasp my mane in your hands and squeeze my torso with your knees." Once Cassandra had a firm grip on the unicorn it took off at a trot. As they cleared the trees, the unicorn increased her pace to a ground eating gallop. They raced about the countryside with hair, tail and mane streaming behind them in the wind.
They returned to the woods where Cassandra found the unicorn. She remained seated on the unicorn's back.
"That was fun," Cassandra said breathlessly. The unicorn twitched her ears back to listen. "What am I suppose to call you?"
"Icya."
Cassandra rubbed Icya's neck. "It's a beautiful name. I love it. I'm Cassandra."
"I know. It's a beautiful name, too."
"Thank you." A faint blush graced her face. Cassandra climbed down off Icya's back. "I need to return to the manor, Icya." She hugged the unicorn around the neck. "Will you come with me?"
"Of course."
"Let's walk." The unicorn and girl walked out of the woods side by side back to the manor. The walk was peaceful and quiet. Cassandra was lost in the wonder of being a unicorn soul. Her dream of just a few hours ago had come true. She had the freedom she always wanted.
The guards at the manor weren't quite sure what to do when they saw a beautiful unicorn walking with a young woman dressed in serf rags. They called for Lord Joseph, the lord of the manor. When he got there his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Impossible," he muttered. "They are just fairy tales." He couldn't deny the evidence before his eyes. "Let them enter," he said to the captain of the guard. Lord Joseph went down to the plaza to greet the unicorn soul and unicorn.
His son watched the proceedings from the window of his quarters. His father had him locked up after their latest disagreement, something about him being too much like his grandmother and mother. He was surprised and pleased to see the unicorn and her partner walk through the gates. He couldn't see much due to the distance. He had no idea what the unicorn soul looked like. The unicorn herself was beautiful to behold. Tyler gazed in wonder hoping to have a chance to meet both the unicorn soul and the unicorn. He had dreamed of seeing one all his life.
Cassandra and Icya walked into the plaza together. Cassandra was nervous about being greeted by the lord of the manor. According to rumor, he disliked women with any claim to power. She hoped he wouldn't hate her after all she knew of no other place she could go. She approached Lord Joseph and curtsied with her head held high. Lord Joseph bowed his head in acknowledgment.
"Welcome, unicorn soul. We shall have quarters made up for you shortly."
"Thank you, Lord Joseph, but I've lived here all my life." Lord Joseph was a bit taken aback.
Tyler couldn't help noticing the shocked expression on his father's face. Curiosity filled his mind. The unicorn soul had said something to put that bewildered expression on his face. He would have to wait till dinner to find out. He watched as his father escorted the young woman into the manor. The unicorn elegantly walked to the plaza fountain and lay down next to it. Tyler could see the light reflected off the water shining on her flank. He was entranced by the beauty of the mystical beast. Every time she moved her head the sun was reflected off her horn.
The unicorn turned her head and looked up at the window where Tyler stood. She could feel his eyes watching her in wonder. She sensed no malice coming from him, unlike Lord Joseph. The young man watching her was special. He had a touch of magic similar to her soul. She would have to find out about him through Cassandra. She turned back to watching the serfs scurry around the plaza doing various chores. She contemplated what she sensed from the young man. Cassandra's magic had a cool touch, like ice, but the young man's was fiery. She wished she knew more about this young man.
Cassandra followed the servant to her new quarters. She was excited and nervous at the same time. She was now of the nobility. There would be no more chores like scrubbing the fireplace. She could leave the manor freely. She was free. But she was unsure how to act. She was comfortable around Icya and Lord Tyler, but she felt like a little child around Lord Joseph. Lord Tyler made her comfortable because he was so informal with her and Icya was her best friend and would always be there. Lord Joseph was stiff and extremely formal. He was cold and aloof. He gave her the creeps.
Cassandra entered the room and gasped in wonder. The room was richly appointed in satin and velvet. The decor of a riotous display of subdued pastels. The four poster canopy bed was adorned in silk with gossamer veils. Laid out on the bed was a midnight blue velvet and satin gown.
"All this is for me?" she whispered, breathlessly.
"Yes, Milady." The servant stepped aside and watched Cassandra spin around the room, gazing with wide eyes at everything. "Would Milady like help dressing for dinner?"
"Oh, yes, please."
Tyler fidgeted in his seat at the high table. The unicorn soul would be joining him and his father at the table. He was thrilled. Meeting the first unicorn soul since his great grandmother. His father hadn't divulged her name yet; he kept referring to her as unicorn soul. Tyler started tapping his feet on the floor. He looked in anticipation at the double doors at the side of the great hall.
Lord Joseph glanced at his son in annoyance. The boy was irrational. He believed the girl was something special. He didn't see anything special about her. She was a serf girl with a unicorn, nothing else. Not even Lady Rebecca was special., but his son and deceased wife thought she was. He was determined to prove the girl was nothing more than a serf.
Cassandra walked down the hallway, following the servant assigned to her. She had her hands clasped tightly in front. The servant stopped outside the tall double doors and whispered something to the doormen. They pulled the heavy doors open and bowed toward Cassandra. She wrung her hands and stepped into the room. She watched as all the people rose to their feet. She stood there nervously. Cassandra unclasped her hands and gripped her skirt. Shee hesitated. Lord Tyler saw her nervousness. He left his place on his father's right side and walked over to Cassandra. He offered her his arm. Cassandra glanced at his arm and looped her hand in the crook of his elbow. He smiled approvingly at her. Cassandra returned it with a timid smile. Lord Tyler, then, proceeded to escort her to her seat on his right. Once she was seated, everybody took their seats. Lord Joseph snapped his fingers and servants came into the room bearing heavy platters of food. Cassandra gazed in wonder at the bountiful amount of food. Lord Tyler filled his and her plates as the platters were passed. Once the plates were full, they began to eat.
Tyler gazed at the young woman. She looked stunning in the satin and velvet dark blue dress. Her pale hair and fair skin contrasted sharply while her blue eyes complemented the dress. She looked familiar, but he couldn't place where he saw her before. He watched her daintily pick at her food.
"My Lady," he said, "I'm afraid I didn't catch your name."
"She put down her utensils and looked at him. "I met you earlier today, Lord Tyler."
He raised an eyebrow at her statement. "I did? Where?"
"It was this morning at the tapestry of Lady Rebecca and her unicorn."
"Cassandra," he said, wide-eyed. "You're the girl that was fascinated by the tapestry."
"Yes."
He smiled at her. "And now you have a unicorn companion of your own."
"Uh-huh."
"Amazing." The two young people continued to talk about Cassandra's experiences of that day.
Lord Joseph gave the couple a glance of irritation. 'Foolish children,' he thought. 'Unicorn souls were no one special, just normal young women.' Lord Joseph ate his meal brooding over what to do about this unicorn soul. He determined that she would have to be gotten rid of. She was a bad influence on his son. His face assumed a grim countenance.