The sun was beginning to set on the lush hilly countryside. Theremore was beginning to light their torches in the distance, the shops staying open to account for everyone’s distractions from their errands. Merrium breathed in the quiet. William would be coming home soon, he usually does. At this hour it will probably be fish again. But just in case she had prepared a broth, hopeful for venison stew this time.

The unmistakable trot of hooves filled this air, and Merrium nervously looked out the window from the kitchen. The horse’s pace was triumphant, and the lump of fur tied behind where her husband sat filled her chest with elation. He finally caught something.

She met him at the mud room door, a smile on her face. “Welcome home William!”

“Don’t patronize me,” he spat, arming her out of the way.

“I’m just happy you’re home,” she said, holding back a flinch and bowing.

“Just make dinner, I’ve had a long day. Don’t bother with the deer, I’ll take care of it, there’s fish as well.”

She lowered her head again as she withdrew the already gutted and prepped trout from his basket while he went back to the mud room to skin the deer. Despite the gruff attitude she was happy; a catch like this was something they needed. With the new projects going into the works with the new king, their wages from William’s service has been a little more scarce. They had to let go of all their staff to keep up his desires for spice, so she had been picking up the slack to make up for it. The deer meant not only food, but furs to sell as well. She’ll be able to take it to the market when William is done curing it for extra coin.

She set the salted and seasoned fish in the smoker to cook and began to clean. It wasn’t terrible, doing the extra housework. Before she had met her husband, she had lived in the common ward in another town. Her parents had raised her to be a house-worker, preparing her for the kind of household that would be expected of her should she be wedded, or to fair for herself if she should not. Their hopes for her had been to be a maid of an esteemed knight or lord, where she would be given food and board as part of her wages, but then Sir William had caught her in his eyes, and they saw their prayers answered. He was charming when he wooed her, and had ensnared her heart in his hands. Her parents were gifted from her marriage to him, and she has been with him ever since.

It was a much better life, to be sure, than where she had come from. She was very grateful to William, and despite her concerns about their coin they were doing well. She had not yet been short of change when shopping, and, other than time, they had been wanting for nothing. Well, she had been wanting for nothing. William had been bitter ever since letting go of their staff. During his off shifts from guard patrol, he would spend his time hunting. They didn’t have much time together anymore save for dinner time.

After a couple hours of smoking, the fish was ready. Merrium set the table with the leftover bread and cheeses, a bit of the broth she prepared earlier, and wine for the two of them. She set the plates and gently called for William through the door.

“It’s ready, dear.”

“Finally,” he pushed the door aside, his hands still stained from skinning the animal. “I’m starving.”

“Don’t forget to wash your hands,” she urged gently, feeling nervous at the sight of his dried and bloody hands.

He cast her a glare and she retained a flinch; he hated it when she flinched. But to her relief he made his way to the wash bowl and cleaned his hands.

“How was your day?” she asked.

“It was hunting, what else is there?” he grunted, taking a bite out of a slice of bread and cheese. “What news from town today?”

“Well,” she began carefully, thinking over her next words. “The foreigners arrived today.”

He spluttered. “WHAT? The Istel Envoy came? Today?!”

“Yes, I caught a glimpse, it looks like the king and queen, and their son, have come--”

“That should have been the first thing you told me! I wasted so much time on that fucking deer, I should have been up there with Victor to receive them--don’t you dare flinch!!”

Merrium couldn’t help it this time; his raised voice awoke a primal fear within her that she could not stop. But he didn’t lash out at her this time, preferring instead to throw his plate and glass against the wall and leave the table.

“Wh...where are you going?” she asked feebly as he pulled on his armor.

“Where do you think?!” he said. “Clean this mess up, while I clean up your mistake!”

She flinched again as he slammed the door, feeling dejected and bitter. She stood up and picked up the wasted pieces of fish and pottery; she’ll need to get another dish soon.

Unable to finish her own meal she instead prepped it for storage. Yes...it was far better to have not mentioned her day with the prince.