attack.
I even thought I might be ready to fight.
But no fight came and no attacker appeared. Instead, I heard a low, booming voice that seemed to come from all around me.
“It has been my pleasure to escort you to your new home. Your palace awaits.”
Looking back over my shoulder, I saw a palace so magnificent it made me gasp. The alabaster walls were blindingly white. Even without the sun’s rays, they sparkled as if encrusted with a million diamonds. And the roof was the purest gold, glistening like no drop of rain had ever fallen on its eaves.
Each of the massive columns supporting the roof was an intricately carved figure. Some were beautiful women, with their dresses billowing around them. Others were athletic young men displaying their muscled torsos. The two center columns, leading to the massive entrance doors, each had two figures. On one, a man and a woman were locked in an embrace, staring deeply into each others’ eyes. On the other, the couple was kissing in a gentle and soulful way.
It took me awhile to process the sheer enormity and beauty of what I was seeing. I can’t even say how long it was that I sat there staring awe-struck at the palace.
When I finally came back to my senses, I told the invisible voice, “Are you who I’m supposed to be meeting here?” I thought that sounded considerably better than are you the one holding me prisoner?
The voice laughed as loud as thunder. “No, my lady. I am but your humble servant. You may call me Favonius, or simply the West Wind.”
I should’ve been shocked at having a discussion with air particles. Instead, I asked, “My servant? Does that mean you can carry me back home?”
“No,” he answered. “I serve you only because I serve him. He would not appreciate my stealing you away.”
I’d known even before asking that the answer would be “no.” Still, I twitched my nose to hold back the fresh tears I felt coming on.
“Do not despair, Psyche,” he said, and then was gone. As Favonius left, the haze that had filled the valley lifted as quickly as if it was being pulled away on the tail of a comet. The sun now radiated all around me and the magnificent palace that lay before me glittered invitingly.
Which reminded me of another one of Mother’s sayings: if something appears too good to be true, it probably is.
Chapter 17 - Psyche
I looked around the valley for escape, but there was nowhere to run. Up behind me was the impossibly sheer cliff I’d just been standing on. Ahead of me lay the palace. And all around was thick, dark forest. The trees looked so tightly woven together that I wasn’t even sure I could pass through them, much less run away.
Besides, why run now? I’d accepted my fate. I told myself there was no more cause for alarm walking toward this palace than there was looking out over the hilltop and waiting for death. If the palace was some sort of opulent trap, so be it. There had to be worse places to die.
Moving to the entrance, I paused in front of the palace doors. Solid gold and tall as trees, they were decorated with a gem-encrusted garden scene. Flowers of rubies and sapphires bloomed amidst beds of emeralds. If nothing else, I couldn’t complain about the exterior of the place.
I lifted my fist to rap on the door, but then pulled it back. Was I supposed to knock?If this was going to be my home, then knocking wasn’t really necessary. Still, I couldn’t imagine just barging into this palace like I owned it. I lifted my hand again, but the door swung open before I could touch it.
“Greetings, my lady. We’ve been expecting you.”
I peered inside the door and all around the palace hall, but no one was there. At least, no one I could see.
Then a strong hand took hold of my forearm and steered me inside. “Don’t be frightened. Come in.” Whoever it was, he was apparently
I even thought I might be ready to fight.
But no fight came and no attacker appeared. Instead, I heard a low, booming voice that seemed to come from all around me.
“It has been my pleasure to escort you to your new home. Your palace awaits.”
Looking back over my shoulder, I saw a palace so magnificent it made me gasp. The alabaster walls were blindingly white. Even without the sun’s rays, they sparkled as if encrusted with a million diamonds. And the roof was the purest gold, glistening like no drop of rain had ever fallen on its eaves.
Each of the massive columns supporting the roof was an intricately carved figure. Some were beautiful women, with their dresses billowing around them. Others were athletic young men displaying their muscled torsos. The two center columns, leading to the massive entrance doors, each had two figures. On one, a man and a woman were locked in an embrace, staring deeply into each others’ eyes. On the other, the couple was kissing in a gentle and soulful way.
It took me awhile to process the sheer enormity and beauty of what I was seeing. I can’t even say how long it was that I sat there staring awe-struck at the palace.
When I finally came back to my senses, I told the invisible voice, “Are you who I’m supposed to be meeting here?” I thought that sounded considerably better than are you the one holding me prisoner?
The voice laughed as loud as thunder. “No, my lady. I am but your humble servant. You may call me Favonius, or simply the West Wind.”
I should’ve been shocked at having a discussion with air particles. Instead, I asked, “My servant? Does that mean you can carry me back home?”
“No,” he answered. “I serve you only because I serve him. He would not appreciate my stealing you away.”
I’d known even before asking that the answer would be “no.” Still, I twitched my nose to hold back the fresh tears I felt coming on.
“Do not despair, Psyche,” he said, and then was gone. As Favonius left, the haze that had filled the valley lifted as quickly as if it was being pulled away on the tail of a comet. The sun now radiated all around me and the magnificent palace that lay before me glittered invitingly.
Which reminded me of another one of Mother’s sayings: if something appears too good to be true, it probably is.
Chapter 17 - Psyche
I looked around the valley for escape, but there was nowhere to run. Up behind me was the impossibly sheer cliff I’d just been standing on. Ahead of me lay the palace. And all around was thick, dark forest. The trees looked so tightly woven together that I wasn’t even sure I could pass through them, much less run away.
Besides, why run now? I’d accepted my fate. I told myself there was no more cause for alarm walking toward this palace than there was looking out over the hilltop and waiting for death. If the palace was some sort of opulent trap, so be it. There had to be worse places to die.
Moving to the entrance, I paused in front of the palace doors. Solid gold and tall as trees, they were decorated with a gem-encrusted garden scene. Flowers of rubies and sapphires bloomed amidst beds of emeralds. If nothing else, I couldn’t complain about the exterior of the place.
I lifted my fist to rap on the door, but then pulled it back. Was I supposed to knock?If this was going to be my home, then knocking wasn’t really necessary. Still, I couldn’t imagine just barging into this palace like I owned it. I lifted my hand again, but the door swung open before I could touch it.
“Greetings, my lady. We’ve been expecting you.”
I peered inside the door and all around the palace hall, but no one was there. At least, no one I could see.
Then a strong hand took hold of my forearm and steered me inside. “Don’t be frightened. Come in.” Whoever it was, he was apparently
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