ent

r household had been torn apart between the warring Fae and humans, the men folk and ol

tended to, the gardens watered, linen laundered… Everyone turned their hands to whatever task needed to be done, and mealtimes mor

the animals and bringing the dirt into our food. Tsk. Go on, now, and scrub your nails,” she scolded t

to Arithen’s most trusted aid, Fre

from the hook over the fire, using cloth to pad her hands whilst

from there passed behind the shelves to where the entrance to the deeper cellars were hidd

“That the lads have been watching for some time. We’ll flush it

ere rarely fat with meat. How many rabbits were in the

The hall opened into a larger room where the wine was kept lowered from another entranceway which led out beyond the curtain wall in th

ners, but the doors had long ago been removed. Due to the frequency of use, the cell held straw-filled mattre

re hollow, Yelena saw with sadness, the look in their eyes recalling Sylvin’s face tha

but she put a welcoming smile onto her lips. “You are welcome and safe

r comfort, she thought ruefully, with her almond-shaped eyes, high cheekbones and pointed ears. Too human

y, both human and Fae, and welcoming all the peoples of this world onto our lands

ax and caught at the hems of her skirts and her hands, pressing kisses of gratitude to cloth and skin. “Oh, no,” she plea

bedroom, although she continued to sleep in it, because it had been where he had last slept beside her. She lay upon

every month would see him sneak through the nursery window, for a handful of moments, occasionally for a day or two, and once for

utcher of Breochen, the Silver Soul Slayer, Macedius’ Knight of the Silver Dragon. He had been awarded a Lordship before he had come to marry her, and since the Fae

into her mind, she thought, irritably. It did not help that it was not the first time she had heard something of their ilk. No, no, she told herself

ere true and Sylvin no longer wanted his provincial back-water bride, she did not know if she could carry on, and Sylvin’s