Chapter 40: The Duchess

"Make way for Her Grace!" roared the guard.

All in arose to the greet the Duchess of Blackstone Hallow. The numerous chains of gold, and silver wrapped around the neck of every dwarf noble jingled like windchimes. All in the court did sure to lower their heads in honor and reverence to their ruler.

The only sounds made in the Great Hall were made by the stocky housecarl to the Duchess. Heavy boots and the end of his halberd struck the floors similar to hammers on an anvil. The bodyguard snarled at all he saw. He kept two haggard eyes on all that looked too suspicious to be in her majesty's presence.

In the back of the hall. One brave soul managed to catch a glimpse of the ruler on her way to her throne. The Duchess was a frightening, yet gorgeous sight to behold. Skin like a sandy beach. Hair of a dark brown held into a top bun. And her eyes shined like sapphires. A most rare sight amongst the Dwarven race. Her dress was tar black with white and red embroidered jewels around the bottom hem, and sleeves. Her collar held a square chained medallion of an inlayed jet stone cut in the shape of a three peaked mountain. Sitting perfectly atop her head was a gold circlet. And a square hilted dirk swung on her hip. Everyone knew that dagger was not for show. Numerous atrocities were whispered to have been committed with that blade.

The duchess strode pass. Head held high. Eyes fixed forward. Face as solid and blank as the stone of her palace. Her heels didn't even make a sound as they glided across through the gallery. She took her seat upon a polished black granite throne. Gold and red bronze adorned the armrests in blocky zig-zagging patterns.

The court sang in unison. "Honor to you, and your house, your Grace."

A dwarf man in a blue kaftan that wore a bulky silver chain necklace was the first to stand before the Duchess.

"Your grace." He said giving a deep bow. "I stand before thee to beseech your merciful heart. A fortnight ago, a score of bandits came by me farm. And robbed me and my kin. They took from us our grain for the winter and burned our field. I ask that you help us, My Lady. Don't let me kin starve."

The Duchess leaned back in her chair. She glared at the man with her icy blue eyes.

"Ferris."

At her right, a steward with a beard as white as snow stood. In his hands he kept a lead pencil and a simple book. "Yes ma'am!"

"See to it that these bandits are dealt with at once. As for your kin, sir. Have them toil your fields. If you go hungry, sell that chain on your neck."

"B-but, my Lady, my crops!" the man in the blue kaften unwittingly took a step forward, still trying to plead to the noble woman.

"Silence your tongue!" Growled the housecarl. The guard lowered his halberd to the man's gut. "Take another step and I will run you through!"

Two lesser guards came forth and grabbed the man by the wrists. They dragged him away and out the court.

Next an old human man in his late fifties grabbed a child by the neck and threw him to the feet of the throne. "Your grace! This wretched pile of shite was found stealing from my house. I gave the boy right throttling. I ask that you teach this cur the full might of your justice!"

The housecarl grabbed the child by scruff of their ragged clothes. Shirt torn, trousers appeared to be patched together. And cloth wrapping covered their feet. "On your feet before the Duchess!" he barked

The boy brushed their straw colored hair away. A greatly bruised face with remains of a bloody nose were the most damaging to the eye. He hunched over and hugged his sides.

The duchess arose from her throne. She stepped closer to look upon the child in question. Her slender iron like fingers grabbed at the boys face. With a blank sneer the duchess nodded her head in agreement to some internal discussion.

"Tell me boy, what is it that you did to spark the man's ire." Asked the noblewoman

The urchin stayed silent. Cowering in fear at all those surrounding him.

"Speak!" snarled the housecarl, stomping the end of his halberd into the ground

"I-I-I stole f-from him."

"Ya see? He admits to being a thief! By the law, I ask that you hang him by his dainty neck!" the man cocked his foot back and struck the poor child in the back.

Those in the front of the crowd cheered the man. The duchess raised a hand from her throne and all when silent.

"And what did you steal? She continued

"F-food, your grace. I hadn't eaten in three days. I was cold. And so very tired. Im so sorry. It was wrong of me to do it, but please. Dont kill me. I'm sorry!"

The duchess stood off her throne and knelt in front of the urchin. She placed a hand on the child's head and gave a soft sigh.

"Do not worry. You shall not be put to death. Rogal!" she beckoned to her guard dog with the halberd. "See to it that this child is cleaned and fed. Once he's eaten, cut off his hand."

the old man cheered with a horrific grin. As guards emerged to take the child away "Justice! Many thanks your grace! Damn little rat!"

"And Rogal..." she added with the slight markings of a smirk. "See to it that this man is given 30 lashes in the streets."

"What?" gasped the old man "but, your Grace"

"The penalty for striking a child in my presence in this city is as such. 30 lashes across the back."

Vina rolled her eyes as the man was carried off and a new case was brought before her.

A dwarf man wearing the robes of a scholars emerged from the crowd. His beard long with thick streaks of silver. He produced a pair of spectacles from his robes and rested them on the bridge of his nose.

"Your grace." he addressed with an overly flamboyant bow "I am Fulk Fyrebreak of your esteemed Runic Council of Letters that has been elected to come before you and the throne to bestow to you the wisdom and the observational learnings members of our council have gathered to present to you on the status of you most noble of holdings, Dear Lady."

The housecarl's halberd struck the stone floor and sent the wiseman shaking in fright. "Be on with it! You are boring the Duchess!"

"Of course, of course!" The scholar said regaining his composure once more. "The community Hospitals of Blackstone Hollow. Have brought forth the most troublesome of discoveries. Now I am not well versed in their medicinal jargon as it gets lost on me, but the-

"Speak plainly." Vina sighed losing interest

The scholar removed his spectacles. "It appears there is a mysterious ailment plaguing the people of your great city."

The council whirled with hushed whispers

"SILENCE!" roared the guard

"The physicians have examined those of study and have found them to be in rather unusual conditions. Those afflicted suffer from the following." a little scroll was produced and he read off from the list "tremors, paranoia, profuse perspiration, and several other varying ailments. At times a treatment brought on by isolation and regular diet has been found to aid in recovery but during these times, the afflicted become...quite hostile. Yearning to be freed and to be let loose into the city."

Vina crossed her arms and let out a sigh. "Ferris."

"Yes, my Lady?"

See to it that all distress of a possible plague are squashed post haste. There is no virus, but a form of disease afflicting them. One that will be dealt with.

"Aye, your grace. I do not dare question you, but pray tell, in you're judgment can you forsee this affliction to not be off any form of pestilance?

The rest of her day was spent in similar fashion. Grievances were given and her iron-fisted judgment would be brought down. Once she was done for the day and her usual tasks of signing decrees, and staying informed on royal gossip was over, she could finally get to work on more personal matters.

She lowered her quill and rubbed the tire from her eyes. "Rogal. Take the night off." she said to her patient guardsman who propped himself up against with his halberd.

"Your Grace. I cannot. I am sworn to protect you till my last breath."

She rolled her eyes at the overly loyal guardhound of a dwarf "Its a quiet night. There is no danger. Go have an ale for me." she said flipping a gold coin towards the man.

"As you wish." he said with a bow and clanked his way to the door.

Vina smirked as the door shut behind the old salt. Once free of her sentry. She could begin her afterhours work. The duchess motioned towards her wardrobe closet and changed out of that drab itchy gown for the comfortable attire of a dirty commoner. A patched shirt, ragged trousers and simple leather shoes replaced her velveteen slippers. Over loose fitting shirt, the duchess buttoned on a leather vest. To the naked eye it looked like a mere common man's garment, but held a series of pockets for a rogue's repertoire. Lastly she stashed away numerous vials of mysterious concoctions into a belt pouch and her dirk belted next to it. Before snuffing out the light on her desk. She paused to admire a small painting on her mantle next to her writing desk.

Three children stood together. She in the center with two older boys on either side of them. Her blue eyes shining with joy. A wooden sword raised triumphantly in the eldest boys hand. The second eldest smiled a toothy grin and the only one who had rich-brown eyes. The sight of the painting gave a warm nostalgia to her heart, but the call for her night's tasks was needed before reminiscing.

Vina cracked open her door to see if her guard had truly left for the night. She slid through the shadows and hid in the vast network of the lesser servants of her keep and from there, into the city.