Iron of the Innocent: The Dark Judge (Vol 1)

Chapter 18: Observer

249 I.C.
Sacren
Black Sword Kingdom
Black Sword Castle

Twenty-five years in the past...

Lady Julianna Corsornos Blacksword was a woman in her early thirties. Her hair was a dark brown with streaks of light gold. It was the sun that kissed her hair to give it the unique look as she was out-of-doors as much as possible. She was a woman of nobility, a daughter of the Corsornos family married to the Baron of Black Sword. Her clothing was of the highest quality, dressed in the coming spring's greens and colors of new life. Her hair was perfect, braided and adorned with a gold and diamond ornaments. Her eyes were the color of a fine brandy. She took great care in her beauty and keeping herself at the top of her societal stature.

She did not intend for it to happen, nor would she have ever expected to find herself in her current position. The baroness had recently volunteered to host refugee families from the south after being overrun by the distant rampaging armies. It was a generous and kind act, and she wanted to be an example to her people. She was so vibrant and giving, but it would end in a bitter turn of events she had not imagined.

The Shelvor refugees that moved into the castle from the south were counted at seven families. There were many more housed across the barony. The Black Sword estate and castle were vast and had many areas they could host the people they agreed to shelter. She was happy and joyful that they could be of assistance. It was the least she felt they could do, but she knew seven families was the most they could house within their walls. They could not do more.

Her husband was an outwardly giving man, yet stoic and withdrawn. He gave her the finest, yet there was a hollow place in their marriage. She often felt alone and isolated. Their daughter's birth had been desired and met with great celebration. Yet it did not fill the void in her life she had hoped to erase from her heart. And in some ways it brought even more loneliness as she raised her child mostly alone. Her husband traveled a lot for many governmental functions as well as business, and there were long stretches of time he was away.

Many months passed and she was beginning to get to know the refugee families. They would have multiple dinners a week. Lady Corsornos Blacksword would attend, and the evening would involve lovely conversation, card games, and even dancing. Tonight's dinner party would include a number of merchants, as well from other kingdoms. They had been helping with the refugee issues by bringing food, clothing, and other needed items. She felt that the necessities were always in short supply. With such a great number of refugees in the kingdom, the resources available were heavily burdened. The King of Ordain called for help from their allies.

One man in particular caught her eye, but she refused to even look at him after the first time. She was a lady and would uphold the moral standards of her society and beliefs being brought up by religious parents that attended temple services regularly. Though it was not the first time she had met him or looked at him.

He visited Black Sword a few times and would sometimes travel with her husband on different business trips. Her husband grew to like the man. The merchant held lands in the kingdom of Solorn outside the capital city in Harting Forest. His father was a decorated war veteran, who had served his king beyond his obligation and call of duty.

The merchant she tried to avoid looking at was very business oriented because he ran his family's estate and successfully increased the family's wealth by procuring markets and selling what they produced. Therefore, he was useful to her husband in his work and had been granted special access to her family. The merchant's wife was lovely, gracious, and endearing. They had become friends over time.

There were five additional couples that arrived that night who were staying in their home a few days. Late in the evening, they enjoyed dinner together and plenty of wine. The wine was her first mistake. As the dinner party progressed, she felt herself relaxing into a haze of alcohol. The conversation was delightful, the humor shared, with everyone other than her husband of course, and she could not help how her heart would warm anytime she watched the merchant smile or laugh.