Madame Swan

(Swords with Souls)

Cover by Darren Joy

Dark Fantasy Fiction

(Adult content)

Madame Swan is sitting in the backroom of her brothel, Savory Moments, counting coins when Delphia bursts into the room. Madame Swan looks up and asks, “What’s wrong?”

“Everyone is talking about it!” Delphia blurts out. “Sir Ganbold cut off Prince James’ hand. He also killed Baron Rupert!”

Madame Swan brushes past Delphia and pulls back the blinds from the main hall window. She peers out and sees a crowd gathering in the street. For a moment she sees Sir Oisin on his horse in the midst of the crowd before he forces his way through. King Leopold will be in a rage but nothing compared to the Queen. She tries to picture Sir Ganbold’s face. He has never entered her brothel. She remembers his hair was black and so were his eyes, as if all he had was one large pupil and no iris. His skin was tanned and creased with weather wrinkles. A northeasterner from across the sea. She turns to Delphia, “Tell Erdenechimeg to go to the farm, now!”

She tries to think if there any other of the girls who might look like a female version of Sir Ganbold. There isn’t much time. Patrons would start arriving during the twilight. Always hooded, with their horses stabled somewhere else. Some would be soldiers or officers of the court.

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