From the top of top of the spiralling staircase weathered fingers drummed against the cold stone. Empty eyes watched the Lady Amalthea move with unknown grace through the open foyer towards the worn wooden doors of the castles main entrance. He pulled against the long tuft of hair, crooked teeth emerging from behind cracked lips. How he did love to watch the woman but not for the reason one may think. He was one of the few that knew what she was and he held that knowledge close to his icy heart. For nothing in the world brought him happiness but the vision of the unicorn, no matter the form it took.

	The doors opened of their own accord for the Lady Amalthea as she drew a ragged navy patchwork cloak over her shoulders and slipped out of the castle. Silent feet fell along the cobblestone courtyard as her ivory hair whipped in the salt sprayed air, the scent carried heavy and she breathed it it in as she stepped past the two scraggly armored guards at the open gate and proceeded in a dream like fashion down the narrow winding path.