A yard in a shape of a circle is surrounded by sad, dried down trees, long ago have they died and give no sign of life. The ground in the middle is apparently not producing any fresh grass, all that can be found there is a bunch of rocks here and there. There is many barrels laying on the ground, all bearing signs of passed time on them, broken and useless. There is an  air of mystery surrounding the place and a smell so unpleasant no one dares to wander around this place.
the acid yard, Outside Castle
spider
subjects
As the King's subjects, we have little say. Being a vassal requires obedience. At least he is a fair and just Lord.
Oh, I didn't see you.  I'm passing here to deliver the taxes to the Lord.  I'm late so I have to take a shortcut through here. It is such an evil place. Would you consider taking me to the Lords house to escape the smell of this place? You should not be here, little spider. It's an evil place.  You can come but, why do you need to see the Lord? I was turned into a spider by an evil witch and only the Lord knows the spell to make me a Lady again. Amazing.  Then we must go to him.  But we must still pass through here to get there in time.  He is fair but if I am late it will be the death of me. I'll spin a quick web around your bag and we can be on our way.  Wait!  Don't do that.  The bag must be clean.  The Lord's adviser will check on it first and if he sees anything he'll reject it.  You also have to hide. He won't let you see the Lord I imagine.  I am a master at disguise...the adviser will never see me...I'll be on my own way as soon as we get to the kingdom. As a reward I will spin for you a web of gold.  A web of gold?  You are an amazing spider.  I will take you there posthaste then.  How can such a good creature end up in such an evil place? The witch brought me here and I've never been able to find my way back to the kingdom. No one but you have past her in many years. I will be forever in your debt tax collector. Well worry no longer. We are almost out of the yard and the Lord's castle is next door.  But I am no a tax collector.  We farmers have to come to the city to collect.  The Lord got rid of tax collectors last year after all.   I will be grateful to you none the less. I will spin my gold on the way and you will be rich beyond your dreams. Then I will go to the Lord's castle and he will use the spell to turn me back into the daughter he lost so many years ago.