the Leathermines

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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

Back to Chapter 35

The curtains shaded the lamp light into the sleeping area.  Laun woke and was aware that she was watching the flickering of the lamplight on the sheer curtains.  She could not tell what time it was, but it must have been early as the lamp seemed to be the only light in the room.

She started to carefully turn under the covers.  Her back was a low tone in her body, her legs singing of the fatigue that had set in.  Her bladder, on the other hand, was the loudest of all.  She had to get out of the bedding or else it would be a very wet morning.

She listened for other breath sounds so she knew how to move.  She did not want to disturb whomever might be in the bed with her.  She heard the slight pop coming once in a while from the lamp, but that was it.

Laun moved the covers aside and pulled herself upright.  She was alone.  It was the first night in over a month that she did not have at least one person in under the covers with her.  She panicked for a moment, thinking that there had been an emergency in the keep and that she had been left behind.  Then the sleepy, but more reasonable, part of her mind took over and she thought about it.

From piles of people to alone.  It was natural for people to change and since coming back into the castle and keep, there had been a drift to have people pair up and sleep in the traditional places, such as the room full of stacked beds for the wardsmen. Edgar had started to spend most nights outside of the sleeping chamber.  Even Fount had been absent more before the last week. »Read More