the Leathermines

<--------Chapter 46

“And-tell me again how this happened?”

Laun had cold cloths on her shoulder over strongly scented salves.  “Ali and I were out riding, she was showing me some moves and there was an accident.”  Laun looked at Lucaris and didn’t blink, until the healer lifted one of the wrists.

“And this?”

“From the sex.”  Laun did not like to lie, but thought putting some distance between the sex and the shoulder would put Ali less in the line of fire.  She saw both the start of a smile and the start of a scold on the healers’ face, but neither of them came out.

Instead, Lucaris asked, “Was it good?”

Laun looked away.  “Yes, until my mind turned it into a nightmare.”

“Has it gotten worse?”

Laun shook her head and then nodded.  “It was the circumstance...  I was...at the peak and there was a shadow and my mind turned that into someone attacking.  Ali took care of me.  She always will.” »Read More

Back to Chapter 44

It only took a few minutes to spread the word that Laun would like to have a meeting on Lady Hellon’s Hill of certain people.  Laun rode Grace to the Hill and only dismounted after the people she wanted were there.  She had asked for certain protector teams to join them and had them positioned far enough away that they would not be able to hear everything said.

Laun was shaken to her core.  The internal recriminations that sped through her were getting bloodier and bloodier in her mind.  The things she should have done.  The things she should not have done.  The things she should have known.

The bird had been put back in the coop.  Geralk pointed out that it was slightly too big to get out the fly-hole.  It probably saw the other birds, came in to eat and could not leave.  The messages were copied down, the originals given to Laun to keep.

Laun did not even bother to put another tunic on when she rode out of the keep.  It was warm enough for her and she was concentrating so hard on not breaking down in front of anyone that she did not even think to cover herself. »Read More

Back to Chapter 42

Laun ended up having several days worth of fever.  It was low for a day or so and then spiked as a huge rainstorm rolled over the land.  Laun was not sure if the hissing she heard was inside or outside her head and her mouth was thick so she could not ask.  The coughing stopped after the fever broke, letting Laun sleep for most of a day.

Three more came down with the same illness.  They all were tended to in Laun’s chamber to keep them out of the general population.  Unfortunately for Disa, she was one of them.

When Disa woke from her first restful sleep in several days, she found that roles had been reversed.  Laun was not well enough to leave the chamber for great lengths of time, but she was well enough that she was slightly restless.  She volunteered to look after the people who had been in the sickbed with her.

Disa sat up.  Laun was in the chair, a candle burning on the table.  The brasier was set with enough coals to warm the room and the kettle on it.  Laun saw that Disa was awake and carefully climbed around the others to get to Disa’s side.

A hand was on Disa’s forehead and Laun smiled.  “Feels like it broke and you are on the mend.”

The hand maid looked at either side of her at the other two who were still sick and in bed.  “I feel better, I think.”

Laun held out her hand and said, “If you are anything like me, you really have to go to the privy.”

“I didn’t until you said something.” »Read More

A drawing of a rose

Back to Chapter 39

War council.  There had been gatherings, meetings before.  That morning, after the morning household gathering and meal, many people stayed in the Great Hall for the news and serious business of the day.

Dreng was in charge.  There was no doubt about that.  He had taken a white sheet from the laundry, since he knew where it was, and put it on the floor.  Starting from the middle of the Midlands, people were creating a map.  Charred sticks from the fires were used to mark mountains and rivers and cities.  The land around the Salam-Dir  household was well marked and the different wards tried to put their blood households on the map, too.

It took close to an hour for the map to come together.  Some discussion happened between those marking and those observing.  The map was fairly complete and attention started to drift, so Dreng stood and paced the outside of the map.

“We have here the kingdom that we live in.  It is made of land and water and mountains.  But more importantly, it is made of people.”  Dreng stood on the mark for the Capitol City.  “Right now, people who are led by my son are in control.”  He turned and pointed at Jake.  “You have the most current news from outside.  Tell us.”

Dreng went back to his bench seat and drank from a mug handed to him by the laundress that had been his escort the day before.  Laun noticed the hand on her leg and smiled. »Read More

Back to  Chapter 37 - If this is the first Chapter you have seen, start back at Chapter 1

The day was promising to be a good one.  Quiet preparations for Dreng’s birthday were underway, the celebration to be during the household dinner that night.  Dreng must have known something was up, but he was busy helping one of the young female servants carry some of the laundry from the rooms he and his men had taken back and forth to the keeps’ laundry, keeping him busy for most of the day.

Laun had been out on the horse several days in a row, learning from both the mare and Fount how to ride.  The training for the palfrey was subtle, the way the beast moved under her and felt the directions sometimes even before Laun thought she had given them.  Her back and legs were tired, but she was settling into the role of rider.  This had been after a session with the protectors, learning and re-learning movements that were both dance and weapons-work.

Word came from the protectors that there was someone with mules coming up the road.  Laun paced Grace back to the stable and headed for her chamber.  She sent out word to the household that they had a possible ally coming, and they were not to mention her by name, or gender.

Edgar was the one who greeted the man.  He was kept in the Great hall as the evening’s preparations were made around him.  He had hot tea and fresh bread in his hand and his stomach.  Neils sat next to him and, for once, drew out stories from the man instead of expounding upon his own.  Orgia sized him up and offered him a basin with water and a cloth to clean himself with.  He was comfortable and drowsy from the fire at his back, the food in his belly and the welcoming companionship letting him relax. »Read More