In the hallway outside, the two servants listened to the noise and exchanged a knowing look. “He’s found one with some fight in her, hasn’t he?” “Remember that one from Pesht with the dark hair last fall? The duke spent three days in bed once he was finished with her.” “Too bad about the woman, […]

Erika watched in distaste as the duke picked up his fish and ate it in two large, rapid bites. She took a dainty bit of trout from her plate and chewed it thoroughly before swallowing. “You need to eat more, my dear,” the duke said, grease from the fish glistening on his lips and beard. […]

Erika was pulling the gown over her head when the matron and the rest of the servants came through her door. Behind her, the sun was just touching the horizon. “My lady, you should have waited for us,” the matron gently scolded. “Oh, I’m not used to servants anymore,” Erika replied airily, “My apologies.” The […]

Olo, the sergeant of the gate, watched as the brightly painted wagon rattled to a halt on the paving stones in front of him. He waved his oaken rod at the flies humming around his head, which bothered him almost as much as the rivulets of sweat which ran down through his beard. “Where’re you […]

Erika sat on a stool before a bronze mirror as a girl brushed her hair out. The soldiers had handed her over to the Duke’s guards late the night before, and the marks on her wrist showed how she had struggled against her bonds as she rode. She felt some satisfaction in knowing that her […]