Autumn was just beginning to turn the trees in Yarrin beautiful shades of copper, red and burnt yellow. The leaves as they fell created mottled carpets that lined the cobbled streets of the market town and were crushed underfoot as people went about their business. There was nothing remarkable about this day compared to any other which had come before that season. Farmers trundled in on wooden wagons with their crops freshly reaped from the fields, bakers brought out their goods fresh from the oven, and merchants haggled over the top of one another as they attempted to entice new customers to their stalls. There were poor and there were rich, as was always the way in towns such as this, but for the most part it fared betted than its neighbouring towns Lysfar and Kitrel. Their Lady was kinder than their Lords and when times were hard or scarce she did ease the taxes and ensure the people could at least feed themselves.
Yarrin was also lucky for it had not yet seen the hoards of Bandits which apparently had begun to roam the countryside this side of the River Krish.
The townspeople believed themselves to be too far North to be a target on the Bandits radar but even so, wariness had not made them complacent. The town was usually ringed with a wooden wall and in the past few weeks men had worked to strengthen it. Rotten wood was replaced, new arrows and bows made and dotted along the low wall for men to have plenty of ammo should the need arise, and volunteer guards now stomped about enjoying their new position of power. There was a particularly dedicated young fellow who had also installed a bell to ring should Bandits be sighted.
Not that any of those troubles were at all on the radar of one young Serafina Marcell.
"Come on Sera!" Georgina, the seamstress, had a pinched face and dark long hair. She was also a terrible gossip and liked to throw her weight around as one of the more senior Handmaids. Sera puffed out her cheeks which were red from the exertion of running up several flights of steps already and threw a dark look at the shrews retreating back.
"I'm going as fast as I can, I don't see you carrying anything here," her arms were full of piles and piles of beautiful fabric for Lady Violet to choose from for her new gown. "Besides, you have six weeks to make Lady Violet's dress before the Yuletide Ball," no need to make Sera break her neck hurrying quickly up the stairs, the petite woman thought sourly. Georgina either didn't hear her or chose not to and continued with her hurrying words. Bitterly, Sera wished the day would be over soon.
Yarrin was also lucky for it had not yet seen the hoards of Bandits which apparently had begun to roam the countryside this side of the River Krish.
The townspeople believed themselves to be too far North to be a target on the Bandits radar but even so, wariness had not made them complacent. The town was usually ringed with a wooden wall and in the past few weeks men had worked to strengthen it. Rotten wood was replaced, new arrows and bows made and dotted along the low wall for men to have plenty of ammo should the need arise, and volunteer guards now stomped about enjoying their new position of power. There was a particularly dedicated young fellow who had also installed a bell to ring should Bandits be sighted.
Not that any of those troubles were at all on the radar of one young Serafina Marcell.
"Come on Sera!" Georgina, the seamstress, had a pinched face and dark long hair. She was also a terrible gossip and liked to throw her weight around as one of the more senior Handmaids. Sera puffed out her cheeks which were red from the exertion of running up several flights of steps already and threw a dark look at the shrews retreating back.
"I'm going as fast as I can, I don't see you carrying anything here," her arms were full of piles and piles of beautiful fabric for Lady Violet to choose from for her new gown. "Besides, you have six weeks to make Lady Violet's dress before the Yuletide Ball," no need to make Sera break her neck hurrying quickly up the stairs, the petite woman thought sourly. Georgina either didn't hear her or chose not to and continued with her hurrying words. Bitterly, Sera wished the day would be over soon.