Interlude – Duchess of Leeside.

The Duchess of Leeside plucked at the fountain of grapes that spilled out over a silvery bowl. The grapes were ripe to burst with violet juice. Lianne grew restless listening to the Lord Treasurer widdle on beside her.

“I suggest,” Treasurer Ashford continued in his usual laborious tone “we set a modest increase in tax to compensate the losses we look to endure”

The men around the table all nodded their agreement at the Treasurer’s advice, Lianne tossed another grape onto her tongue and squeezed it beneath the roof of her mouth causing it to burst. She had barely touched the roasted duck leg, marinated in an orange sauce that had been served to her.

“Your Grace, I believe we should hear the treasurer’s council,” Sir Longbow added, his armor rattled as he ate. He was her knight and seldom removed his armor for anything, let alone feasting. “The city watch requested more men months ago; now that half of the city guard is joining the Emperors host, we need to hire sell-swords to keep the peace.”

Lianne did not like the idea of sell-swords enforcing her cities rule, let alone the coin it would cost to hire them.

“There is talk of criminal guilds sprouting all over the city too,” said Lord Bromford, sucking the duck grease from his fingers. “And Cedrick Broome informs me the growing boldness from one such guild, apparently they’ve taken the liberty of calling themselves the ‘webbed children’ and hide beneath the city.”

Lianne listened patiently and watched the men’s reactions carefully. These were her subordinates, her loyal subjects; but she knew each one of them would gladly take her position given half a chance. Her brunette hair was neatly tied as the fitting of a Duchess of Leeside and wrapped in a silver hairnet laced with pieces of jade.

“How many men have we sent to join the Emperor’s host?” Lianne asked.

“Two thousand afoot your Grace,” answered Sir Longbow. “Two hundred a horse and about three hundred citizens have left on their own accord, each carrying their work tools as weapons. No doubt hoping to aid the Emperor's army and gain his favor”

The room filled with mutterings of disapproval from the men.

“Bah,” said Lord Bromford. “Peasants with hammers, sickles, and scythes have no place in the Emperor’s host. Not when discipline rules; if the commander has any sense, he’ll put them in the vanguard, and we can bet none of them will return from their folly”

Every man agreed, while the Duchess remained silent and picked silently at her duck leg with her silver knife; it was tender even to the poke. If her people wanted to follow the host, let them. She wasn’t their jailer.

“Has the Empire mentioned any favor to re-pay the great city of Leeside for its aid?” Lianne asked curiously.

“Oh no doubt,” laughed Lord Bromford. “In Empire curtsey perhaps. I trust they’ll be singing our praise when the fighting is done.”

The other men chuckled too; all except Lianne. She figured as much, she still fell under Empire rule and not exempt from its laws. If the Emperor called for men, Leeside must answer or risk rebellion, and ask for nothing in return. The whole ordeal annoyed her, Wetbrook was a town far out to the east, on the very corners of the Empire’s borders, and the Empire had no business extending its borders so distant. Especially if Lianne had to send half her city guard to fight and retake such places.

“Any attempt to request homage from the Emperor would be most unwise,” the Treasurer said slowly. Ashford was old but maintained a sharp mind. “We must prove that Leeside is loyal your Grace, the Emperor does not reward those that ask, but those that serve loyally.”

“Agreed,” said Sir Longbow.

Lianne pulled a shred of duck meat from the bone and bathed it in orange sauce.

“Very well,” she finally announced. “Set a war-tax on the city Lord Ashford, and hire the soldiers you require Sir Longbow, stick to citizens of Leeside—baker’s sons, blacksmiths and such”

The treasurer nodded feebly while Sir Longbow pierced his lips tightly

“Maintaining the peace is paramount but I will not have foreign soldiers ruling my city,” Lianne continued. “Lord Bromford I want you to root out these ‘Webbed Children’ and bring them to justice. I will not have them multiplying in my sewers.”

All three men nodded and said in unison: “Yes, your Grace.”

*

When the meal was over, Lianne returned to her bed chamber and removed her shoes. She sat on her bed and rolled her eyes when her door suddenly knocked. ‘No rest for the ruler’ she thought.

“Enter,” she said and was pleasantly surprised when she saw her bed maiden come in. Katlyn was just shy of twenty and grew an impressive length of mouse-brown hair that fell below her waist. Lianne liked the girl for her beauty and appointed the girl to her service herself. Katlyn’s mother (a cook in the castle) had been honored when her daughter was asked to serve as Lianne’s bed maid.

“Your Grace,” Katlyn said, bowing softly. Lianne could not withhold a smile at the sight of her bed maiden.

“Come in Katlyn,” Lianne said.

Katlyn did as she was ordered and began to prepare the room like she did every night, pulling the drapes to conceal the moonlight that beamed into the chamber, casting its pale white shapes across the floor. Lianne laid back on her bed to stare up at the ceiling and listen to the busyness of Katlyn, she felt her eyes grow heavy and darkness consume her mind; she dreamt of spiders that night and awoke to find one on her bed.